大般涅槃經集解 8.22

8.22

Sengliang comments: Lifespan is the culmination of the fruit; the precepts and refuge are the beginning of the cause; he encourages them by bringing up both cause and fruit. Mingjun comments: The preceding chapter encouraged asking about emptiness, non-emptiness, and so forth, solely bringing up the fruit. At the beginning of this chapter, he again proclaimed morality, concentration, and wisdom, solely bringing up the cause. Now he mentions both precepts and refuge, calling upon both cause and fruit together. The precepts are the root of the myriad practices; refuge is the three jewels of one essence. Below this, we enter the "Chapter on the Questions of the Great Assembly", which is the second section within the brief exposition, consisting of questions and answers as two rounds. Within the questioning there are two tiers: first, the gradual approach to the question, which is the prose; second, the question proper, which is the verse. Within the prose there are four rounds: first, the Buddha commands everyone; second, Kāśyapa obeys the command; third, the Buddha grants permission; fourth, Kāśyapa shows modesty. This is the first round, commanding them to ask.