大般涅槃經義記 5.321

5.321

文中先明始修之小，「菩薩住於初地」已下明其出世所成之大。就所修中有二問答：前一問答明修非大、後一問答辯明所修非大。所以前中先問「頗有菩薩住大涅槃，得慈悲心，非是大不」，菩薩人大，涅槃法大，依此所得應當是大，而有非者，理在難知，故為此問。下佛答之，「言有」總答，「若於」下別，「是名得慈，非大」下結。

In the text, he first clarifies the smallness of initial practice; from "when a bodhisattva abides on the first ground" onward, he clarifies the greatness accomplished upon transcending the world. Regarding what is cultivated, there are two questions and answers: the former question and answer clarifies that the practice is not great; the latter question and answer explains and clarifies the reason why what is cultivated is not great. As for why, in the former, he first asks: "Can it be that a bodhisattva who abides in Mahāparinirvāṇa and attains a mind of benevolence and compassion is not great?" The bodhisattva as a person is great, and the dharma of nirvāṇa is great; what is attained in reliance on this ought to be great, yet there is that which is not; the principle is difficult to understand, and therefore he makes this inquiry. Below, the Buddha answers it: "He says there is" is a general answer; from "if toward..." onward is specific; from "this is called attaining benevolence, but it is not great" onward is the conclusion.