華嚴法界玄鏡 2.52

2.52

Question: In this “looking from all to the one”, all is at the beginning of each; then in “looking from the one to all”, why is the one not at the beginning of all four propositions? Answer: If the one were only at the beginning, there would be only two propositions: “the one takes in all and the one enters all” would be one proposition, and “the one takes in one phenomenon and the one enters one phenomenon” would make two propositions. Now, because of mutual involvement, in the second proposition “all” is what was previously taken in acting as capable of taking in; the third proposition faces one another as one; the fourth proposition faces purely as all; thus they form four propositions. Therefore, one cannot have the one at the beginning of all four propositions. However, the correct meaning is as stated before. There is yet another interpretation: as in “taking in the one and entering the one”, it means that when all are precisely taking in the one, they can enter the one, etc. If so, how does it differ from the eighth? In the eighth, “the one takes in one and the one enters one” means the one enters into the one that is taken in. Here, whichever one is taken up, that one enters all, because just as it is identical to principle's vast accommodation, it is identical to principle's all-pervasion. If so, how does it differ from the seventh? The seventh has only two propositions, and also enters into the one that is taken in by itself; therefore, here all, precisely taking in the one, also enter another one, and also enter all, etc. If explained in terms of the ten mirrors: one mirror is the one, and nine mirrors are all. First, the nine mirrors take in one mirror, and the nine mirrors can also enter one mirror; second, the nine mirrors take in nine mirrors, and the nine mirrors enter one mirror; third, the nine mirrors take in one mirror, and the nine mirrors immediately enter nine mirrors; fourth, the nine mirrors take in nine mirrors, and the nine mirrors also immediately enter nine mirrors; this is “taking in all and entering all”. Although this explanation is feasible, we do not adopt it now. Some also say: the previous eighth gate consists of compound four propositions, where two clauses—the one takes in one, the one enters one—combine to form a single proposition. Here, “taking in one” merely means taking in that one to enter into my one; the second merely means taking in all to enter into my one, etc. If so, there is only the clause of taking in, and no meaning of entering; therefore, we do not adopt it.