新華嚴經論 9.26

9.26

Second, as for explaining the meaning following the text: from 'Thus have I heard: at one time' down to 'such immeasurable merits,' there are seventy-one lines of the sūtra text, which are broadly divided into four parts. First, from the initial 'Thus have I heard: at one time' down to 'first attained correct enlightenment,' within which there are eight clauses of the sūtra, generally clarifying the part on severing doubt and establishing faith. The first six characters clarify the master who compiled and heard the sūtra; the latter five clauses introduce the place where the Tathāgata attained the Way. Second, from 'the ground was firm' down to 'wondrous sounds reached far and wide, there being nowhere they did not reach,' within which there are twenty-six and a half lines of the sūtra, generally clarifying the part praising the Buddha's circumstantial and primary fruitions, [and] the bodhimaṇḍa adorned by this land, other directions, and the bodhisattvas' spiritual power; this is like other directions in Indra's net. Third, from 'At that time, the World-Honoured One sat upon this seat' down to 'caused all adornments to be manifested,' within which there are thirteen lines of the sūtra, the part praising the Buddha's attainment of the Way and fulfillment of the fruit of cultivation, the virtues of the primary and circumstantial retributions, and the unconstrained, boundless embrace of sentient beings through compassion and wisdom. Fourth, from 'There were bodhisattvas numbering as many as the dust motes in ten Buddha-worlds' down to 'immeasurable merits,' within which there are thirty lines of the sūtra, clarifying the part on the great assembly of bodhisattvas encircling [him]. Furthermore, from the initial part on severing doubt and establishing faith, the meaning is divided into three: first, determining the person transmitting the teaching; second, determining the time of expounding the sūtra; third, explaining the literal meaning of the sūtra text.