Thus, for Fazang, at the initial stages of the path (after having given rise to faith and bodhicitta), a bodhisattva already has access to the limitless merit of all the other stages (since all stages are mutually interfused with each other).
In the early stages of the path for Fazang, after cultivating faith and bodhicitta, a bodhisattva has immediate access to the limitless merit of every stage.