大般涅槃經義記 7.18

7.18

問曰：何故聞與不聞偏是自為，生與不生偏是為他？以聞、不聞就真分別，其義淵深，故偏自為。彼生、不生辨其世諦因緣法相、其義麁近、故偏為他。理實所問無不為他，為分自利、利他行異，故為此別。

Question: Why are hearing and not hearing specifically for his own sake, while arising and non-arising are specifically on behalf of others? [Answer:] Because hearing and not hearing are distinguished in terms of the ultimate truth, and their meaning is profound, they are specifically for his own sake. As for arising and non-arising, they discern the characteristics of dharmas of causes and conditions in conventional truth, and their meaning is coarse and proximate, so they are specifically on behalf of others. In reality and principle, what was asked was all for the sake of others; but in order to distinguish the different practices of benefiting oneself and benefiting others, this distinction is made.