大般涅槃經義記 5.242

5.242

合中，從佛乃至涅槃亦有六階，次第合前，「佛亦如是」合上牛也。此說應身以之為佛。「從佛出於十二部經」合牛出乳，此說一切小乘經法為十二部；「出修多羅」合乳出酪，此明大教為修多羅，藉小開大名之為出。於大乘中隨別細分亦具十二，今此總相名修多羅，後之四重俱是大乘，於大乘中詮事之教名修多羅，謂說一切施戒等事。「從修多羅出方等」者合出生蘇，於大乘中宣說一切破相空理名方等經，因事顯理是故名出。謂說施者、受者、財物不可得等。「從方等經出般若」者合出熟蘇，究竟證空，離相證實之慧名為般若，依理起慧是故名出。約行辯教亦得名為出《般若經》，然此般若即是向前菩提能也。言「從般若出涅槃」者合出醍醐，般若了因，了出無始法性涅槃是故名出，約實辯教亦得名為出《涅槃經》。

Within the application, from the Buddha up to nirvāṇa, there are also six stages, sequentially corresponding to the preceding: "The Buddha is also like this" corresponds above to the cow. This refers to the transformation body as the Buddha. "From the Buddha emerge the twelve divisions of scriptures" corresponds to the cow producing milk; this refers to all Hīnayāna sūtras and teachings as the twelve divisions. "Producing the sūtras" corresponds to milk producing curd; this clarifies the great teaching as the sūtras, which, relying on the small to disclose the great, is called "producing." Within the Mahāyāna, when divided into subtle distinctions, there are also twelve [divisions], but here they are generally named sūtras; the subsequent four levels are all Mahāyāna. Within the Mahāyāna, the teaching that expresses concrete affairs is called sūtra, referring to the explanation of all matters such as generosity and precepts. "From the sūtras emerge the vaipulya [sūtras]" corresponds to producing fresh butter; within the Mahāyāna, proclaiming all principles of emptiness that dismantle marks is called vaipulya sūtras; revealing the principle based on phenomena is why it is called "producing"—referring to the explanation that giver, receiver, and material gifts are ungraspable, and so forth. "From the vaipulya sūtras emerges prajñā" corresponds to producing cooked butter; the wisdom that ultimately realizes emptiness and, departing from marks, realizes the real is called prajñā; wisdom arising based on the principle is why it is called "producing." In terms of practice explaining the teaching, it can also be called producing the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra, yet this prajñā is precisely the aforementioned capacity for bodhi. Saying "from prajñā emerges nirvāṇa" corresponds to producing clarified butter; prajñā is the revealing cause that reveals the beginningless dharmatā nirvāṇa, and therefore it is called "producing"; in terms of reality explaining the teaching, it can also be called producing the Nirvāṇa Sūtra.