大華嚴經略策 1.35

1.35

Twenty-eighth: Shallow and Deep in Realization and Entry. Question: Having attainment and having realization constitutes excessive pride; how can it be said that there are gradual and sudden realization and entry? Answer: Having attainment and having realization and seizing marks is erroneous; non-attainment and non-realization is true realization and entry. Therefore the Heart of Prajñā Sūtra says: 'Because there is nothing to be attained,' the minds of bodhisattvas are without hindrance, and all Buddhas attain bodhi. Principle has neither shallow nor deep; how could there be sudden or gradual? Relying on the shallow to reveal the principle, entering gradually and deepening gradually, it is therefore called gradual; looking directly at the substance to illuminate the principle, it cannot be divided, so it is called sudden. Outside of the sudden there is no gradual; the gradual is subsumed by the sudden. The gradual and the sudden encompass each other, being neither one nor different. In realization such as this, both gradual and sudden perish; relying on verbal explanation, they are forcibly named sudden and gradual. Respectfully answered.