大般涅槃經義記 5.323

5.323

眾生緣中得有二種：一離欲得、二方便得。離欲得者，凡夫先來曾依諸禪修四無量，後退諸禪，無量亦失。後斷下結，得上禪時，本失無量與禪俱得，名離欲得。雖復得之而未現前，更起方便修習乃現名方便得。修之云何？先分眾生以為七品：怨、親各三，謂下、中、上，中容為一，故有七品。良以中人無多階異，故合為一。此經及與《毘婆沙論》同為七品；人言九品，當應謬耳。

In taking sentient beings as objects, there are two kinds of attainment: first, attainment through freedom from desire; second, attainment through expedient means. As for attainment through freedom from desire: an ordinary person who in the past had cultivated the four immeasurables relying on the dhyānas, and later retrogressed from the dhyānas, also lost the immeasurables. Later, when severing the lower fetters and attaining a higher dhyāna, the previously lost immeasurables are attained together with the dhyāna; this is called attainment through freedom from desire. Although attained again, they have not yet manifested before them; generating further expedient means to cultivate and train until they become manifest is called attainment through expedient means. How does one cultivate them? One first divides sentient beings into seven grades: adversaries and dear ones each have three, namely, lower, middle, and upper, while neutral ones make one, hence there are seven grades. Truly because neutral persons do not have many gradations, they are combined into one. This sūtra and the *Vibhāṣā-śāstra* both have seven grades; people who say nine grades must be mistaken.