大般涅槃經集解 1.41

1.41

案曇准曰：此經不出三別。第一序，即〈序品〉也；第二正說，從〈純陀品〉至「阿難何在」也；第三流通，從顧命阿難訖經也。又撰曰：此經有八別。第一序，即〈序品〉也；第二開宗，即〈純陀〉、〈哀歎〉二品也；第三明緣因境及經功德，從〈長壽品〉訖〈四倒品〉也；第四明正因佛性，從〈如來性品〉訖〈現病品也〉；第五廣緣因行，從五行訖十功德也；第六廣正因性，從〈師子吼〉訖〈迦葉品〉也；第七廣明果相，即〈憍陳如品〉也，故云「因滅無常色，獲得常住解脫色」也；第八付囑，從「阿難何在」竟經也。

Tanzhun comments: This sūtra does not go beyond three distinct parts: first is the introduction, namely the "Introductory Chapter"; second is the principal teaching, from the "Cunda Chapter" up to "Where is Ānanda?"; and third is dissemination, from turning to charge Ānanda through the end of the sūtra. He also wrote: This sūtra has eight distinct sections: first is the introduction, namely the "Introductory Chapter"; second is the establishment of the tenet, namely the two chapters "Cunda" and "Lamentation"; third is clarifying the cognitive objects of the contributory causes and the merits of the sūtra, from the "Longevity Chapter" through the "Four Inversions Chapter"; fourth is clarifying the buddhadhātu as the primary cause, from the "Tathāgata-Nature Chapter" through the "Manifestation of Illness Chapter"; fifth is the elaboration of practice as the contributory cause, from the Five Practices through the Ten Merits; sixth is the elaboration of the primary cause nature, from "Lion's Roar" through the "Kāśyapa Chapter"; seventh is the elaboration of the characteristics of the fruit, namely the "Kauṇḍinya Chapter", hence it says, "Because impermanent form is extinguished, one obtains permanent form of liberation"; and eighth is entrustment, from "Where is Ānanda?" through the end of the sūtra.