大般涅槃經集解 62.26

62.26

案僧宗曰：此下修道之第七也。向以有性故，所以勸修。言修行者功業轉深，不復退轉；若不能深識經旨者，則有退轉也。如此苦行，多是住前。言因經修行無利益事尚為之，豈況有益而當不為此？明人於經修行，得其理味，永不復退也。寶亮曰：此下修道之第七，正出修道人相。上來雖勸其修道，諸人咸然不知修道之法；佛今略示其相，若能作如此苦行者是也。

Sengzong comments: "Below this is the seventh [section] on cultivating the path. Previously, because [sentient beings] possess the nature, he encouraged cultivation. This says that as the practitioner's karma of practice becomes progressively deeper, they no longer retrogress; if one cannot deeply understand the sūtra's purport, there is retrogression. Such ascetic practices mostly occur prior to the dwellings. If one even does unprofitable things on account of practicing according to the sūtra, how much more so for what is beneficial—would one not do it? This makes clear that when people cultivate practice in accordance with the sūtra and attain its flavor of principle, they never retrogress." Baoliang says: "Below this is the seventh [section] on cultivating the path, directly setting forth the marks of a person cultivating the path. Although he encouraged them to cultivate the path above, all the people were completely unaware of the method of cultivating the path; the Buddha now briefly reveals its marks: if one can perform such austerities, that is it."