大般涅槃經義記 4.249

4.249

In clarifying the causes: answering the first three questions clarifies practice based on realization; answering the latter three questions clarifies practice based on teaching. Accordance with eternal abidance is the practice based on realization; communicating the teaching of provisional and ultimate is the practice based on teaching. Practice based on realization benefits oneself; practice based on teaching benefits others. In the practice based on realization: first, answering "How is the path of humans and gods demonstrated?" directly clarifies the essence of realization; second, jumping ahead to answer "How does one become free from illness?" clarifies the benefit of removing obstacles upon attaining realization; third, answering "How does one know the nature and experience dharma-pleasure?" clarifies the benefit of generating joy upon attaining realization. In the subsequent practice based on teaching, the three questions are answered collectively. In the text, from the beginning up through the verses, it answers the first two questions, clarifying the fruit of nirvāṇa and revealing the essence of realization; the prose after the verses answers the next two questions, clarifying the benefits of realization; from "Now the Tathāgata wishes to become a great lamp for the future" onward, it answers the latter three questions, clarifying practice based on teaching.