大般涅槃經集解 8.32

8.32

Sengzong states: Although the title of this sūtra takes vimokṣa as its designation, when speaking of its complete substance, it is the dharmakāya and prajñā. Therefore, the opening words raising the questions first take prajñā as foremost. Although this is framed unidirectionally, its meaning combines cause and effect; the intent rests upon the fruition, but one cannot fail to ask about its cause. Although there are two aspects of intent, they together constitute a single question. As for 'long life': a single lifespan is 'life'; a long span is 'long.' The permanent fruition is not a temporal span; 'long' is merely borrowed phrasing. It refers to the insight of wisdom being inexhaustible, which is prajñā. 'How is it attained' asks about its cause. Baoliang states: The answer below says that cultivating the four immeasurables and conferring the precept against killing are the cause, and attaining the permanent lifespan and the substance of dharmatā is the fruition. Zhixiu states: This question has two parts: first, asking 'how is it attained'; second, asking about the marks of the fruition of long life.