新華嚴經論 38.11

38.11

第二推德勝進中，從「如諸菩薩摩訶薩」已下至「辭退而去」有八行半經，約立六門：一推德勝進、二示善知識所在云去此不遠、三舉夜神名號寂靜音海、四舉夜神徒眾主之神數、五勸善財往問、六聞善知識所在禮敬辭去。釋曰：前云眾會中：此云不遠者：表前是精進波羅蜜：總將眾行會菩提體：不離菩提體中：故言眾會中；此明以禪定進修勝位，於此位中習世技術工巧諸餘藝能勝前位故，不離菩提體故、不離精進行故，而有巧能名。去此不遠夜神名寂靜音海者，明寂用遍周也。寂靜是定也，音海是用故，明依此第五地禪門因定起慧，用如海廣大故。坐摩尼幢莊嚴蓮花座者，明定體無垢，無染著也。百萬阿僧祇夜神前後圍遶者，明定體遍周，行亦遍周。百萬者，數之長也。舉百萬阿僧祇，此方云百萬不可數也。數既不窮其源，但約行十方攝化益眾生之行遍故。此寂靜音海夜神，是普救眾生妙德夜神之母，表定能成精進行故。若無定者，一切諸行皆有疲勞。

In the second section, on deferring virtue and advancing upward, from "As all the bodhisattva-mahāsattvas..." down to "taking his leave, he departed," there are eight and a half lines of the sūtra text, which are briefly divided into six parts: first, deferring virtue and advancing upward; second, indicating where the kalyāṇamitra resides, saying it is not far from here; third, bringing up the name of the night goddess, Samanta-svarāṅga-sāgara-nirghoṣā (Ocean of Serene Sound); fourth, bringing up the number of spirits under this night goddess's command; fifth, encouraging Sudhana to go and inquire; sixth, hearing where the kalyāṇamitra resides, paying homage, and taking leave. In explaining the meaning according to the text: previously it said "within the assembly," whereas here it says "not far," which signifies that the preceding was the vīrya-pāramitā, collectively bringing the myriad practices into convergence with the essence of bodhi, not departing from within the essence of bodhi, hence saying "within the assembly." Here it clarifies that one cultivates and advances to a superior stage by means of dhyāna; in this stage one practices worldly arts, crafts, and other technical skills, surpassing the previous stage, and because this does not depart from the essence of bodhi and does not depart from the practice of vigor, yet possesses skillful ability, it is called [being] "not far from here." The night goddess being named Ocean of Serene Sound clarifies that serenity and function are all-pervading. "Serenity" is concentration (samādhi), and "ocean of sound" is function; this clarifies that based on the dhyāna-gate of this fifth ground, wisdom arises from concentration, its function vast as an ocean. Her sitting on a jewel-banner adorned lotus throne clarifies that the essence of concentration is spotless and free of defiled attachment. Her being surrounded before and behind by one million asaṃkhyeyas of night goddesses clarifies that the essence of concentration is all-pervading, and practice is also all-pervading. "One million" is the longest of numbers; citing "one million asaṃkhyeyas" means in this land "millions beyond count." Since the numbers cannot be traced to their ultimate source, this is solely discussed in terms of the all-pervading nature of the practice of gathering, transforming, and benefiting sentient beings throughout the ten directions. This night goddess Ocean of Serene Sound is the mother of the night goddess Sarvajagad-rakṣā-praṇidhāna-vīryaprabhā (Wondrous Virtue Rescuing All Sentient Beings), signifying that concentration can accomplish the practice of vigor. If there were no concentration, all practices would entail fatigue and weariness.