華嚴一乘教義分齊章 1.41

1.41

Second, harmonizing root and branch: this means that as stated in the same text, the various vehicles and so forth are merged without duality, identical with the one dharma realm. There are two approaches: 1. The approach of dissolving the expedient to return to the real, which is the One Vehicle teaching; 2. The approach of gathering the real to form the expedient, which is the teaching of the Three Vehicles and so forth. In the first, without destroying the expedient it is immediately dissolved; hence the Three Vehicles are identical to the One Vehicle without obstructing the three. In the second, without differing from the real it is immediately the expedient; hence the One Vehicle is identical to the Three Vehicles without obstructing the one. Therefore the one and the three are harmoniously subsumed, their substance being without duality. Question: "If so, the two approaches being equal, how can one still speak of expedient and real?" Answer: "Because the doctrinal approaches are different, expedient and real are ever preserved; because principle is universally pervasive, the entire substance is without duality. How so? The arising of the expedient must unreservedly depend on the real; therefore, when gathering the real, the real is not lost. The appearing of the real does not necessarily unreservedly rely on the expedient; therefore, when dissolving the expedient, the expedient is not established. Therefore, when the Three Vehicles are identical to the one, although preservation and destruction are both present, ultimately there must be an end; when the One Vehicle is identical to the three, although concealment and manifestation are both present, ultimately it is ever endless. Due to this melting and fusion, there are four propositions: 1. Or only the One Vehicle, as in the distinct teaching; 2. Or only the Three Vehicles, as in the teachings of the Three Vehicles and so forth, because they do not know the one; 3. Or both one and three, as in the common teaching; 4. Or neither one nor three, as in the ocean of fruition above. Among these four meanings, following any single approach completely embraces the substance of dharmas; therefore, that the various vehicles are either preserved or destroyed does not obstruct one another. Thinking by analogy, this can be understood. The remaining explanations of the vehicles, elucidation of the substance, and so on are all as explained separately."