本業瓔珞經疏 1.4

1.4

From "At that time Śākyamuni Buddha" down to the assembly at the bodhimaṇḍa tree is the second part, which explains the presentation of the main theme. Within this section there are altogether two passages. The first, from the beginning down to "the dharma gate of the jeweled necklace," clarifies the Tathāgata Śākyamuni praising the most capable among the multitude of bodhisattvas of the ten directions who can formulate questions. The second, from "Śākyamuni Buddha first arrived beneath the tree" down to the assembly at the bodhimaṇḍa tree, clarifies the Able Sage Śākyamuni wishing to expound the roots of the worthy and noble, examining the faculties and conditions of sentient beings in the dharmadhātu, and preparing to expound the Dharma appropriately.
Within the first passage there are again four parts: first, praising the purity of the land; second, praising the Buddha's virtue and precepts; third, praising the causes of the forty-two worthy and noble stages; fourth, praising the ability to expound the Dharma, adapting to pure and defiled lands, where Jingshou raises questions on the dharma gate of the jeweled necklace.
"The foremost of that land": all are at the culmination of the causal stage of being bound to one last birth.
"Together with countless superior beings": clarifies that the bodhisattvas of the ten directions are immeasurable in number. As for listing the names above, why is only one person listed for each of the ten directions? If they were to be listed extensively, the bamboo and silk would not accommodate them; therefore, for each single direction above, only the single leader is briefly listed.
"Bowed their heads to the Buddha's feet": clarifies the etiquette of comprehensive respect. Bodhisattvas are people in the causal stage, while the Tathāgata is one in the fruit stage, holding the status of our master; in principle, respect must be paid. The head is the highest part of a body, and the feet are the lowest part of a form; using the highest to touch the lowest expresses that the feeling of respect is supreme.
"Seated upon precious lotus seats": the myriad practices of merit that can evoke the buddha fruit are the flowers; the place where the body is settled is called the seat. Alternatively, true emptiness is the seat.
"The foremost bodhisattva was named Jingshou": he is the bodhisattva from the eastern direction. Because he has a karmic connection with this assembly, he is the foremost.
"Praised, saying: 'Decisively assembling in this gathering'": praising the great benefit at the time of gathering.
"Observing that the buddha-land where he dwelt was pure": praising the purity of the dwelling place, as in the Vimalakīrti Sūtra, pressing the earth with the toe, the world becomes pure, and so forth.
"The Tathāgata's mental precepts": by the Buddha's divine power, deportment is strict and comprehensive, without extravagance or negligence, matching the eagerness of listening to the Dharma. Therefore the Daśabhūmika-śāstra says: "Strictness contrasts with the defilement of deportment."
"The causes of the forty-two worthy and noble stages": praising the assembly's long-accumulated cultivation.
"Attaining the Buddha's transformations and supernatural penetrations, adapting to the purity and defilement of lands to liberate people boundlessly": being able to broadly transform sentient beings in accordance with both pure and defiled lands.
"From 'in other buddha-lands they also expounded the jeweled necklace' down to 'what was spoken was no different'": explains that the principle of the Mahāyāna is harmonious and the turning of the Dharma wheel is unified.
"Entering the lion's roar of the divine powers of all buddhas of the lands of the ten directions": citing the fearless questions raised through the Buddha's divine power.
"The great precious treasury-ocean adamantine jeweled necklace dharma gate": storing up merit and meaning is called a precious treasury; being deep and vast is an ocean; the substance of practice being firm is called adamantine; and adorning the dharmakāya is the jeweled necklace.