法界圖記叢髓錄 1.46

1.46

The Ten Sentences Chapter says: Regarding "sectioning the text across intervals to freely establish meaning," this is intended to establish the meaning of the first assembly. If the places, dharmas, sentences, and so forth of the other assemblies are in this first one, they can be freely established; as with the meaning of the first assembly, so too should it be understood for the others. What is its characteristic? If it is asked: "What is the name of the first assembly?" Answer: "It is the assembly in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven." If it is asked: "What dharma is spoken?" Answer: "It is the dharma of the ten abodes." Speaking in this manner does not contradict, and can establish, the meaning. Why is this? Because in terms of time, the first assembly is the root of the various assemblies, and therefore can subsume the various assemblies. As with the first assembly, so it is with the other assemblies: whichever is taken as the root can subsume what precedes and follows it.