分別功德論 1.16

1.16

Ānanda again thought: "The meanings of these three baskets correspond to the three liberations. How so? The wonderful wisdom of the sūtras accords in principle with emptiness; the vinaya's restraining of evil subtly aligns with signlessness; the right view of the great Dharma traces the same path as wishlessness." Therefore it is said that the three baskets and the three liberations obscurely trace and profoundly unite. Ānanda again thought: "The great root of the sūtras is divided in meaning into four sections. How so? The texts and meanings are mixed together; it is appropriate that matters and principles follow one another, and large and small be arranged in order. The first is Ekottarika; next is Madhyama; the third is Dīrgha; the fourth is Saṃyukta. Taking one as the base and proceeding up to ten, one, two, three increasing according to the matters; hence it is called Ekottarika. 'Madhyama' means neither large nor small, neither long nor short, the matters being moderate and fitting; hence it is called Madhyama. 'Dīrgha' speaks of ancient matters continuing through kalpas without end, their origins and development, extending through the seven Buddhas and the seven treasures of a cakravartin; hence it is called Dīrgha. 'Saṃyukta' consists of the various sūtras severing fetters, difficult to recite and difficult to remember, the matters being mostly diverse and fragmented, easily causing people to forget; hence it is called Saṃyukta."