大般涅槃經義記 3.259

3.259

Regarding the path, there are also four parts: first, clarifying the dharma of the path; second, analyzing practice in terms of persons; third, concluding the preceding dharma; fourth, concluding the preceding practice. In the first part, 'the path' generally designates it; 'meaning the Buddha, the Dharma, the Saṅgha, and right liberation' points to the essence of the path. Therein, distinguished separately, the Tathāgata, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha are the conditions of the path, and right liberation is precisely the essence of the path; this is conditioned liberation. In the second part, on practice, delusion and awakening are both discussed: first delusion, then awakening. In the delusion: first, it directly clarifies the delusion; from 'through this cause...' below, it clarifies that delusion entails loss. In the former part: first, the statement 'there are sentient beings who with inverted minds say there is no Buddha or Dharma' and so forth clarifies what they slander; from 'the flow of birth and death...' below, it reveals what they assert, declaring that everything is merely birth and death, like an illusion or transformation; 'cultivating and amassing such views' concludes and clarifies their delusion; the delusion and loss can be understood. In the awakening: 'if one can generate the mind and see...' and so forth directly clarifies the awakening; from 'relying on this...' below, it clarifies that awakening entails gain. Therein, it first analyzes it; from 'Why is this?' below, [the Buddha] cites himself as proof to reveal that awakening brings benefit. Therein: first, questioning what precedes to introduce what follows: why does seeing permanence cause one to obtain the retribution as one wishes? 'I, in the past, through the four inversions...' and so forth adduces the harm to reveal the benefit; from 'now that they are extinguished...' below, it directly clarifies that there is benefit. 'This is called the truth of the path' is the second [sic, third] section, concluding and clarifying the preceding dharma. From 'if there is someone...' below is the fourth section, concluding and clarifying the preceding practice: first concluding that delusion is wrong, and afterwards concluding that awakening is correct. It should only conclude the path, but taking the latter to subsume the former, it consequently says 'truly seeing and cultivating the dharmas of the four noble truths'; this is called the general conclusion. The understanding gained [by Kāśyapa] can be understood.