顯密圓通成佛心要集 2.17

2.17

IV. Rejoicing in Encountering the Teachings and Expressing Personal Sentiments: The holy teachings of the Tathāgata's entire lifetime do not go beyond the two gateways of the exoteric and esoteric. (The Commentary on the Benevolent Kings Sūtra states: "All teachings of the Tathāgata do not exceed the two schools of exoteric and esoteric.") In the exoteric teaching, although the five teachings differ, the Avataṃsaka Sūtra is the most revered and most wondrous: it is the marrow of all buddhas and the heart of bodhisattvas, fully encompassing the three piṭakas and totally containing the five teachings. (The Sanskrit text has one hundred thousand verses; of those already translated in this land, there are editions in eighty fascicles, sixty fascicles, forty fascicles, and so forth. Although the text and meaning are vast and extensive, the most essential among them is exclusively the single-fascicle text of the separately circulating 'Chapter on the Vows and Practices of Samantabhadra'. It is the key to the Avataṃsaka and the pivot of cultivation, worthy of praise and reverence, and practitioners of the Western Heavens without exception rely upon it in their practice.) In the esoteric section, although the five divisions differ, the single mantra of Cundī is the most efficacious and supreme: it is the mother of all buddhas and the life of bodhisattvas, fully encompassing the three mysteries and totally containing the five divisions. (The Sanskrit text has one hundred thousand verses; of those already translated in this land, there are various editions by various masters. Although the rituals differ slightly, the most essential outline among them is based on the single fascicle translated by the Tang Tripiṭaka Master Śubhakarasiṃha. It is the leader of all altars and the medicine for the seven assemblies of disciples, worthy of transmission and esteem, and eminent virtuous masters of the Eastern Xia without exception rely upon it in their recitation.)