大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 77.32

77.32

Regarding the Commentary's statement "the virtues of fruition transcend words and depend on causes to be revealed": this text has four sections. This one explains the meaning of symbolizing through a flower. The fundamental doctrine of the sūtra has two divisions, cause and fruition; the Ten Stages having already clarified the flower introducing the fruit.

Second, from "cause and fruition being simultaneous" downward, it symbolizes the meaning of the lotus. That is to say, an objection is raised: "If this flower introduces fruition, why must it be a lotus?" Thus the answer says: "Other flowers mostly have the flower first and the fruit afterward. With this flower, if it does not exist, that is all; but when it exists, flower and fruit are doubly contained. Furthermore, because it is unstained, the lotus is adduced."

Third, it is asked again: "There are four kinds of lotuses; why must the blue one be adduced?" Thus the answer says: "Because it is the most supreme. A treatise states: 'Among flowers born in water, the superior one is the utpala flower.'"

Fourth, a single lotus also has many seeds, symbolizing that the one contains all. This explains the meaning of "storehouse" (garbha).