維摩經略疏 1.76

1.76

問：《大經》生生是十二因緣相續不斷，何以類解聞聞義耶？答：彼經釋生具有兩義，今不取約行，但取約理。若約十二因緣相續以明生生，即於聖人聞經不便。何者？藏教諸得道人生生已壞，但有報身，根塵和合故稱聞也。

Question: In the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, "rebirth and rebirth" refers to the unbroken continuity of the twelve links of dependent origination; why use this as an analogy to explain the meaning of "hearing what is heard"? Answer: That sūtra's explanation of "rebirth" possesses two meanings; here we do not take it in terms of practice, but only in terms of principle. If one were to explain "rebirth and rebirth" in terms of the continuity of the twelve links of dependent origination, that would not fit the noble ones' hearing of sūtras. Why? Those who have attained the Way in the Tripiṭaka Teaching have already dismantled "rebirth and rebirth"; having only retribution bodies, it is termed "hearing" due to the conjunction of sense faculties and sense objects.