大般涅槃經義記 4.178

4.178

合中，「如來」合前良醫，「應正遍知」合知八術，乃至博達過於八術。下合教他，初明教小，「先教其子、諸比丘等」謂聲聞人，「方便除惱」教其離障，「修學淨」等教其攝治，修學淨身不堅固想教無常觀。「謂水陸」下教其苦空、無我等觀。先牒前喻，下約顯法。「水喻身苦，如水上泡；陸喻身苦，如芭蕉樹；山澗喻於煩惱無我如澗空虛。」下明教大，「如來如是教弟子」等牒前生後，合上漸漸教八事已。「然後」已下正明教大，「為其子」下合次教餘最上妙術。上來廣辨良醫之相，「是大乘」下結歎顯勝。前所辨中有人、有法，以法為主故偏嘆之。於中，初先當法正嘆，「當知」已下約喻顯勝。

In the application, "the Tathāgata" matches the skilled physician above; "the Arhat and Fully Awakened One" matches knowing the eight arts up to being broadly versed in that which surpasses the eight arts. Below, it matches teaching others: first, it explains teaching the small: "first teaching his son, the monks, and so forth" refers to śrāvakas; "expediently removing afflictions" teaches them to leave obstacles behind; "cultivating the perception of the pure" and so forth teaches them to gather in antidotes; cultivating the perception that the pure body is non-solid teaches the contemplation of impermanence. From "namely on water and on land" below, it teaches them the contemplations of suffering, emptiness, and non-self. It first repeats the earlier simile, and below applies it to reveal the Dharma: "water is a simile for physical suffering, like a bubble on water; land is a simile for physical suffering, like a plantain tree; mountain ravines are a simile for afflictions being without self, like a ravine being hollow and empty." Below, it explains teaching the great: "the Tathāgata thus taught his disciples" and so forth repeats the preceding to introduce what follows, matching having gradually taught the eight things above. From "thereafter" below, it directly explains teaching the great; from "for his son" below matches next teaching the remaining supreme, wonderful arts. The above has extensively distinguished the marks of the skilled physician; from "this Mahāyāna" below, it concludes with praise to reveal its superiority. In what was distinguished before there were both persons and dharmas, but taking Dharma as primary, it specifically praises it. Within this, it first directly praises it according to the Dharma; from "one should know" below, it reveals its superiority through similes.