大般涅槃經疏 29.6

29.6

From "When making this contemplation..." downward is, third, being able to sever the roots of goodness, which is also in two parts: first, explaining the severing of the good; next, examining sharp and dull [faculties], all as in the text. Question: An icchantika previously possessed the causal practice of wisdom, and should have the habitual fruit; why does he sever the good? Answer: He possesses only worldly wisdom, and lacks supramundane wisdom. Using worldly wisdom to sever supramundane good, he is also able to sever pure and ascending roots of goodness. In the mundane world, such cases are in fact not rare. Formerly, Vice Director Xu governed the people very well, but when he served as the magistrate of Shangyu, he committed an offense. He was unversed in answering questions; just as Tianzhu Yu thoroughly understood deep principles yet was unacquainted with worldly vernacular. These people of superior intelligence were obscure regarding mundane affairs. And this icchantika, although possessing worldly wisdom, how could he necessarily know the supramundane Dharma? (And so forth).