大般涅槃經集解 19.128

19.128

案僧亮曰：即涅槃者，常樂我淨一也。自悟者佛，為上也。所悟者法，法為次也。歸法者僧，僧居下也。如彼梯橙者，度眾生故，有階級之差別也。法瑤曰：此答難云「我今無預知，當行次第依。」

Sengliang comments: 'Directly nirvāṇa' means that permanence, bliss, self, and purity are one. The Buddha is the one who awakens himself, and is supreme. Dharma is that which is awakened, and Dharma is next. The Saṅgha is those who take refuge in the Dharma, and the Saṅgha is below. 'Like that ladder' means that for the sake of delivering sentient beings, there are gradations of distinction. Fayao comments: This answers the objection: 'I do not have advance knowledge now, and must practice sequential reliance.'