大般涅槃經集解 66.36

66.36

Sengliang states: "The Buddha's meaning is that disputes miss the middle path due to one-sided clinging. Now, as the principles of phenomena differ, there are four kinds of answers, which cannot be stated unequivocally in a single way." Sengzong states: "Here, citing the four kinds of answers first aims at answering by distinguishing." Baoliang states: "This is not yet directly answering the objection, but merely bringing up that the Buddha has four modes of discourse. Below, he explains them sequentially, employing the answer by distinguishing as the response." Zhixiu states: "The four modes of answering questions constitute a distinct doctrinal rubric. Here, taking distinguishing and setting aside to resolve his objection, he first lists the four general chapter headings, and below explains them individually."