華嚴經內章門等雜孔目章 2.85

2.85

The seven persons are also called the seven great persons, and also called the seven noble ones: 1. follower by faith, 2. follower by dharma, 3. liberated through faith, 4. attained through view, 5. bodily witness, 6. liberated through wisdom, 7. liberated both ways. Crossing over through faith in another is called follower by faith. Having faith not from another is called follower by dharma. The dull-rooted three fruits are attained by the follower by faith; when the fruit of faith is freed from bondage, it is called liberated through faith. The sharp-rooted three fruits are reached by the follower by dharma, hence called attained through view. The correct absorption of cessation resembles nirvāṇa in its nature; because it unites with the body, it is called bodily witness. There are two kinds of hindrances: first, the affliction hindrance; second, the liberation hindrance. Eliminating only the affliction hindrance is called liberated through wisdom. Eradicating both hindrances is called liberated both ways. This meaning is identical to the meaning of the seven stages in the Mahāyāna and Triyāna. As for the seven stages, as the Bodhisattvabhūmi states: first, the stage of lineage, which is prior to the ten understandings; second, the stage of understanding and practice, which is the ten practices and ten dedications; third, the stage of pure mind, which is the first bhūmi; fourth, the stage of behavioral traces, which is the second to the seventh bhūmis; fifth, the stage of certainty, which is the eighth bhūmi; sixth, the stage of certain practice, which is the ninth bhūmi; seventh, the stage of culmination, which is the tenth bhūmi. The stage of the Tathāgata, because both cause and fruition are consummate, is collectively named the stage of culmination. Being firm in what is relied upon, it is called "stage" (bhūmi). Being what is returned to, it is called "destiny" (gati); destiny means that toward which one tends. Person and stage are identical when viewed in relation to each other. The remaining meanings are as in the separate chapter.