Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 23. (Budapest, 2004)

Imre HAMAR: Hermeneutical Methods in Chengguan's Commentary to the Avatamsakasütra

taste the joy of bodhi. In both cases, he dries beings [like the sun]. bl7-19. (C) causes plants and trees to grow (4) causing growth of faculties, powers, and elements of enlightenment Commentary: Due to the different practices on the way to enlightenment the plants and trees of the three vehicles will grow. b 19-20. (D) matures crops (5) causes beings to develop profound faith and expels impure thoughts Commentary: Faith has two meanings. On one hand, completing the meaning above, faith calls all teachings into life, on the other hand "maturing" implies that faith can bring someone to the world of the Tathägata. 7T/RW-ÍI • -i%±m • mmmR-m^ • b20-22. (E) permeates the sky (6) enables them to see inevitable cause and effect (7) fosters in them the celestial eye to see where beings die and are born Commentary: The sixth and seventh [benefits from Buddha] are parallel with [that the sun] "permeates the sky". The wisdom that understands the Four Noble Truths and the cause and result, the three clarities, as well as the wisdom of ten powers are like the sun that makes the space bright. b22-24. (F) causes lotuses to bloom (8) causes their minds to be unimpeded and not destroy roots of goodness (9) causes them to cultivate illumination by knowledge and open the flower of awakening Commentary: The eighth [benefit from Buddha] has two meanings. As the mind becomes unimpeded, above it pervades the space, as the roots of goodness are unharmed, below the lotuses are blooming. Just like if the red flower of the lotus does not have sunshine, it will die in the shade without doubt, the roots of goodness of three vehicles can stay alive, if they meet the sun of wisdom. The ninth [benefit from Buddha] is parallel with the "blooming lotuses"

. Formerly it is said that the roots of the lotuses that have already been blooming remain unharmed, but here the lotuses that have not bloomed yet, now start to bloom. b24-28. (G) allows travellers to see the road (H) allows people to do their work (10) causes them to determine to fulfill their fundamental task. Commentary: The tenth [benefitfrom Buddha] is correspondent to the last two parts [of the parable]. After taking the Bodhisattva vow, they see the great way, carry out their fundamental task, and do their job at home. b28-29. In these examples, Chengguan not only draws parallels between the two lists, but also introduces several important Buddhist terms and refers to other scriptures. He tries to contextualize the sütra into the Buddhist knowledge and practice of his days. In his commentary and especially in his Subcommentary, he often quotes from other scriptures, treatises, Chinese Buddhist and non-Buddhist works. He even has philosophical arguments with other Buddhist schools to prove his own Huayan stance.

31 His commentary is meant not only to decode the text of the sütra, but also to provide the background which helps understanding the text, or, from a modern hermeneutical point of view, gives us some clues about the knowledge that presupposed the understanding of a sütra