大般涅槃經義記 1.14

1.14

此經始終，文別有五：一者序分、二「純陀」下開宗顯德分、三「三告」下辯修成德分、四「若人能知是名沙門婆羅門」下破邪通正分、五如來滅度闍維供養分。此後一分，外國不來。化必有由，故先明序；由序既興，宜顯所明，故次第二開宗顯德；宗謂諸佛圓極妙果，果成由因，故次第三辯修成德；真法既開，欲以所明傳化不絕，故次第四破邪通正，故下文中對破外道以通正義、對破眾魔以通正說；為化既周，遷影歸寂，故次第五如來示滅，人天大眾闍維供養。

From beginning to end, the text of this sūtra is divided into five sections: first, the introductory section; second, from "Cunda" onward, the section revealing the central theme and demonstrating virtues; third, from the "Three Announcements" onward, the section explaining practice and the accomplishment of virtues; fourth, from "If a person is able to know, he is called a śramaṇa or a brāhmaṇa" onward, the section refuting the heterodox and communicating the correct; fifth, the section on the Tathāgata's extinction-deliverance and jhāpita offerings. This last section did not arrive from the foreign land. Transformation must have an origin, so the introduction is clarified first; once the origin and preface have arisen, it is proper to demonstrate what is to be clarified, so second is the revelation of the central theme and demonstration of virtues; the central theme refers to the perfectly ultimate, wonderful fruit of the buddhas, and the accomplishment of the fruit arises from causes, so third is the explanation of practice and the accomplishment of virtues; once the true Dharma has been disclosed, one desires to propagate and transform continuously with what has been clarified, so fourth is refuting the heterodox and communicating the correct—therefore in the text below heterodox paths are refuted to communicate correct meaning, and the māras are refuted to communicate correct discourse; when transforming is complete, the shadow is withdrawn and returns to quiescence, so fifth the Tathāgata displays extinction, and the great assembly of humans and devas conduct the jhāpita and make offerings.