大般涅槃經集解 9.72

9.72

Sengliang comments: Because the fruit does not constantly manifest and the traces cannot be distinguished, he relies on a parable to explain it. In this parable there are four parts of meaning: first, it illustrates when the Buddha was in the world, one read, recited, obtained the purport, and cultivated to become a Buddha. Second, it illustrates when the Buddha had just entered extinction, one obtained the Buddha's bequeathed teachings, did not understand the deep meaning, yet still attained [rebirth among] humans and gods. Third, it illustrates using one's own wisdom without compassion, wishing to seek self-deliverance, failing to understand the ultimate, and not accomplishing the fruit of Buddhahood. Fourth, the mind seeking permanence ultimately produces wrong views; if one's views are many, one loses humans and gods, and if few, one does not lose them. 'The elder' illustrates the Buddha. Baoliang's explanation is the same as this, except he combines the fourth into the third; Sengzong opens the fourth parable into a fifth.