The Ninth Abode: Spiritual Prince

In the ninth abode, the abode of the spiritual prince, practitioners know how people are born, how afflictions arise, how habits continue, and what techniques are to be employed to liberate people. They know innumerable teachings and understand manners. They know the differentiations of the world, they know past and future events, and they know how to explain both conventional and ultimate truth. (pp. 1551-1552)

Excerpted from "Commentary on Book 39 by Li Tongxuan: Translator's Introduction" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary

The Eighth Abode: Youthful Nature

The eighth abode, called the abode of youthful nature, or innocence, is characterized by flawless thought, word, and deed. (p. 1551)

Excerpted from "Commentary on Book 39 by Li Tongxuan: Translator's Introduction" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary

The Seventh Abode: Nonregression

In the seventh abode, the abode of nonregression, the practitioner is firm and does not backslide[.] (p. 1551)

Excerpted from "Commentary on Book 39 by Li Tongxuan: Translator's Introduction" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary

The Sixth Abode: Correct State of Mind

In the sixth abode, called the abode of the correct state of mind, the practitioners' minds are unwavering[.] (p. 1550)

Excerpted from "Commentary on Book 39 by Li Tongxuan: Translator's Introduction" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary

The Fifth Abode: Skill in Means

The fifth abode, called the abode of full equipment with skill in means, calls for practitioners to cultivate virtues for the salvation and benefit of others, to free others from trouble, to free others from the miseries of compulsive routines, to inspire pure faith, to harmonize and pacify others, and to enable others to experience perfect peace. (p. 1550)

Excerpted from "Commentary on Book 39 by Li Tongxuan: Translator's Introduction" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary

The Fourth Abode: Noble Birth

The fourth abode, called the abode of noble birth, is characterized by permanent access to the presence of the enlightened; deep and pure faith; careful examination of things; and knowledge of beings, lands, worlds, actions, consequences, birth and death, and nirvana. (p. 1550)

Excerpted from "Commentary on Book 39 by Li Tongxuan: Translator's Introduction" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary

The Third Abode: Practice

The third abode, called the abode of practice, involves contemplation of phenomena in certain specific ways: as impermanent, as irritating, as empty of ultimate reality, as selfless, as having no creation, as senseless, as not corresponding to the names conventionally given to them, as having no locus, as being beyond conception, and as lacking stable solidity. (p. 1550)

Excerpted from "Commentary on Book 39 by Li Tongxuan: Translator's Introduction" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary