大般涅槃經疏 18.26

18.26

Next, from "Kāśyapa further addressed [the Buddha]" onwards clarifies Kāśyapa Buddha's Buddha-Dharma, also having a question and answer. The initial question is again two: first, receiving the import; second, questioning. As for the first passage, the *Bhadrakalpika Sūtra* states: "Kāśyapa Buddha's Dharma remained in the world for twenty years." Now it says seven days. The answer is: during the seven days, it was no different from when the Buddha was present; after seven days, the Buddha-Dharma became corrupted and altered, not like when he was present. The twenty years clarifies the duration of its abiding. From "Kāśyapa Tathāgata" onwards is the second question, also with two: first, challenging whether it definitely existed or not; second, a twofold challenge. The Buddha's reply has two parts: first, broadly explaining that there is extinction and non-extinction; second, directly answering what was asked. Within the initial broad answer, there are again two: first, granting it; second, the direct broad answer. In the first, where it says that only Mañjuśrī understands, it points to the verse "originally existing, now non-existing," intending to explain that extinction is non-extinction, and what does not become extinct becomes extinct. In the subsequent broad answer, the textual phrasing can be seen. Next, from "Good son, as to what you just asked" onwards is the second part, directly answering what was asked. Within it there are further four: first, clarifying that the previous buddha had scriptures; second, clarifying that there was no need to expound them; third, the present Buddha making a contrastive differentiation; fourth, that the Dharma is truly not extinct. This is the first, clarifying that the previous buddha had scriptures. Next, from "Good son, at the time of Kāśyapa Buddha" onwards is the second, clarifying that there was no need to expound them. From "Sentient beings of the present age" onwards is the third, the present Buddha making a contrastive differentiation. From "Rather say a mosquito's proboscis" onwards is the fourth, clarifying that the Dharma is truly not extinct.