大般涅槃經義記 8.49

8.49

In the eighth round, 'Furthermore, good dharmas are obtained upon birth' explains that the phenomenal mark is different from the nature; 'The nature is not obtained upon birth' clarifies that the nature is different from the phenomenal mark; 'Because of severing what is obtained upon birth, one is termed an icchantika' discusses severing in terms of phenomenal marks. What is this good obtained upon birth? When the five faculties of faith and so forth have been cultivated in past habituation to completion, being obtained immediately upon birth is called good obtained upon birth. For what reason is it specifically the severing of this good that is termed being an icchantika? Because expedient good has already been discussed previously: when severing the roots of good, one first gives rise to an expedient mind of improper contemplation, and later gives rise to the nine grades of heavy evil wrong views, which definitively sever the roots of good. The earlier expedient mind severs the expedient good, and the later ninefold heavy wrong views sever the good obtained upon birth. The earlier second line, speaking in terms of the beginning, discussed severing the expedient [good]; this [passage], speaking in terms of the end, discusses severing the [good] obtained upon birth.