大般涅槃經義記 1.128

1.128

次顯正義。此經始終文別五分，備如前判。上來序分；此極〈哀歎〉，第二開宗顯德分也；「三告」已下是其第三辨修成德；「若能知此是名沙門婆羅門」下是其第四破邪通正；第五一分如來滅度，人天大眾闍維供養，外國不來。五中，初分化益方便，中三正益，末後一分化訖取滅。中間三分正化益中，益人有三，文別有四，細分有六。益人三者，化益凡夫、聲聞、菩薩，是其三也。文別四者，從初訖盡星喻已來化益聲聞，令其學大，故下文中多明如來破小歸大；二「譬如日出眾霧除」下化益凡夫，令入佛法，故下文中多明化益三罪人等令入佛法；三〈聖行〉已下化益菩薩，故下文中純明菩薩所修所證；四〈迦葉品〉下盡〈陳如品〉化益凡夫，故下文中明化闡提、諸魔、外道，令入佛法。細分六者，前第二中相別分二：從初極盡〈大眾問品〉多明化益有罪凡夫，令離三罪，趣入佛法；〈現病〉一品多明化益有苦凡夫，現通說法，令其離苦。第四重明化益凡中，相別亦二：初〈迦葉品〉明化闡提，令信佛法；〈陳如品〉中化魔外道，令歸佛法。通餘說六。中間三分益人如是。

Next is to reveal the correct meaning. Throughout its entirety, the text of this sūtra is divided into five parts, fully as determined earlier. The preceding was the introductory section; up to the end of "Lamentation" is the second section, which establishes the central doctrine and reveals virtue; from the "Three Announcements" onward is the third section, which clarifies cultivation and the perfection of virtue; from "If one can know this, it is called a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa" onward is the fourth section, which refutes the heterodox and communicates the orthodox; the fifth division is the Tathāgata's extinction, where the assemblies of humans and devas conduct the jhāpita and make offerings, which was not brought from foreign lands. Among the five, the first section is the expedient means of converting and benefiting; the middle three are the actual benefiting; the final section is the completion of conversion and taking extinction. In the middle three sections of actual converting and benefiting, there are three types of persons benefited, four textual divisions, and six subtle divisions. As for the three types of persons benefited: converting and benefiting ordinary beings, śrāvakas, and bodhisattvas—these are the three. As for the four textual divisions: from the beginning to the end of the star metaphor converts and benefits śrāvakas, causing them to learn the Great [Vehicle], and thus the text below mostly clarifies the Tathāgata breaking the Small to return to the Great; second, from "Just as when the sun rises, all mists are dispelled" onward converts and benefits ordinary beings, causing them to enter the Buddha-Dharma, and thus the text below mostly clarifies converting and benefiting the three classes of sinful persons and so forth to cause them to enter the Buddha-Dharma; third, from the "Holy Practices" onward converts and benefits bodhisattvas, and thus the text below purely clarifies what bodhisattvas cultivate and realize; fourth, from the "Kāśyapa Chapter" to the end of the "Kauṇḍinya Chapter" converts and benefits ordinary beings, and thus the text below clarifies converting icchantikas, Māras, and non-Buddhists, causing them to enter the Buddha-Dharma. As for the six subtle divisions: the former second [textual division] is subdivided by characteristics into two: from the beginning up to the end of the "Chapter on the Questions of the Great Assembly" mostly clarifies converting and benefiting sinful ordinary beings, causing them to leave behind the three sins and advance into the Buddha-Dharma; the single "Manifesting Illness Chapter" mostly clarifies converting and benefiting suffering ordinary beings, manifesting supernormal powers and preaching the Dharma to cause them to leave behind suffering. In the fourth division, which again clarifies converting and benefiting ordinary beings, its characteristics are also divided into two: first, the "Kāśyapa Chapter" clarifies converting icchantikas to cause them to have faith in the Buddha-Dharma; in the "Kauṇḍinya Chapter," converting Māras and non-Buddhists to cause them to take refuge in the Buddha-Dharma. Together with the rest, these are said to be six. Such are the persons benefited in the middle three sections.