新華嚴經論 9.2

9.2

第十會在〈法界品〉者，明此一會普含諸會及十方剎海法界虛空界總為一會，重重無盡，一切諸佛海及一切眾生之海總以此〈法界〉一品總為一體。一切境界隨眾生心，以此為別，以六相十玄該之，以無思之心照之觀之可見。或以〈世主妙嚴品〉為一會，以普光明殿三會為一會，通前〈世主妙嚴品〉為二會。上昇須彌、夜摩、兜率、他化第三禪等天為五會，通前兩會為七會。〈法界品〉祇園人間為第八會，善財大塔廟處為第九會，以虛空法界一切處會為十會。即該收前後十方總盡，亦是一家所釋，亦不違道理。古人云：九會者，為未知有十一地在第三禪說。此經總十法為准，不可說九也。如善財覺城東會，明前諸會但且寄成五位之法，未寄顯能修行之人。如覺城一會，即明能修行之人及菩薩攝生方便法則。

Regarding the tenth assembly being in the Chapter on the Dharmadhātu: this clarifies that this single assembly universally embraces all assemblies, and the lands of the ten directions, the dharmadhātu, and the space realm are collectively a single assembly, layered without end; all the oceans of Buddhas and the oceans of all sentient beings are united into a single body by this single Chapter on the Dharmadhātu. All realms vary according to the minds of sentient beings, distinguished by this; one can encompass them through the six characteristics and ten mysteries, and see them by contemplating with a thought-free mind. Alternatively, one may take the Chapter on the Wondrous Adornments of the Rulers of the World as one assembly, and the three assemblies in the Universal Light Hall as one assembly, which together with the preceding Chapter on the Wondrous Adornments of the Rulers of the World make two assemblies. Ascending to the heavens of Sumeru, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, and the Third Dhyāna makes five assemblies, which together with the preceding two assemblies make seven assemblies. The human world at the Jeta Grove in the Chapter on the Dharmadhātu is the eighth assembly, the place of the Great Stūpa of Sudhana is the ninth assembly, and the assembly everywhere in the dharmadhātu of empty space is the tenth assembly. This completely subsumes beginning and end throughout the ten directions, which is also an interpretation of one school and does not contradict the principle. Ancient masters spoke of 'nine assemblies' because they did not know that the eleventh ground is taught in the Third Dhyāna. This sūtra takes the totality of ten dharmas as its standard; one cannot speak of nine. As for Sudhana's assembly east of the City of Awakening, this clarifies that the preceding assemblies only provisionally established the dharmas of the five stages, without yet provisionally displaying the persons capable of cultivating the practice. The single assembly at the City of Awakening clarifies the persons capable of cultivating the practice and the bodhisattvas' rules and methods of expediently embracing sentient beings.