大般涅槃經集解 1.39

1.39

Zhixiu comments: This sūtra has two distinct parts: extensive and concise. The first is the concise division, from the "Introductory Chapter" through the "Questions of the Great Multitude Chapter"; the second is the extensive division, from the "Manifestation of Illness Chapter" through the "Kauṇḍinya Chapter". Within the concise division there are three sections: first is the preamble, namely the "Introductory Chapter"; second is the principal teaching, from "Cunda" into the "Questions of the Great Multitude Chapter"; and third is the entrustment, from "At that time the great assembly addressed the Buddha" in the "Questions of the Great Multitude Chapter" through the end of the chapter. Within the extensive division there are two sections: first is the elaboration of the previous principal teaching, from the "Manifestation of Illness Chapter" through the "Kāśyapa Chapter"; and second is the elaboration of the previous entrustment, from the "Kauṇḍinya Chapter" through the end of the sūtra.