大般涅槃經集解 44.48

44.48

Sengzong comments: Having completely cultivated the three practices, their virtue is analogized to a baby, and it also means manifesting as a baby. This chapter has three sections: first, analogizing the Buddha; second, from 'not knowing suffering and pleasure' onward, analogizing bodhisattvas; third, from 'further, like a baby' onward, analogizing sentient beings. It clarifies why the teaching of the five vehicles had to be taught in the past. Baoliang says: This chapter has five sections: first, clarifying that the Buddha himself acts as a baby; second, clarifying that bodhisattvas act as babies; third, clarifying that the Buddha uses upāya for transformation; fourth, clarifying that the Buddha taught the fruits of the two vehicles as the true ultimate; fifth, clarifying that for those with the view of nihilism, he taught the existence of real sentient beings.