大般涅槃經集解 5.10

5.10

Daosheng comments: Verifying it through principle, one knows this is not real nirvāṇa. Indeed, having a body derived from delusion, the body inevitably generates delusion; how could it reverse this? It must depend on a teacher to awaken. Receiving awakening, one attains understanding, and delusion is deeply subdued. Being deeply subdued and not arising is also termed 'extinction', but it is not yet eternal extinction. Only when one reaches the state of having no teacher is it finally completely exhausted, which is called ultimate severance. Thus, having long been without it, casting off the body today clearly demonstrates that it is not real extinction. Since extinction is not real, why request of him when he is merely manifesting identity [with ordinary mortals]?