金光明經玄義 1.37

1.37

In differentiating the three paths: Question: Within the three realms there can be the twelvefold wheel of rebirth, the delusion of the three paths; how is it outside the realms? Answer: The Ratnagotravibhāga states: 'Birth outside the realms has four kinds of obstacles, namely: conditions, characteristics, birth, and destruction.' 'Conditions' means avidyā acting as condition for conditioning dispositions, which is the path of afflictions. 'Characteristics' means the karma of defilement, which is the path of karma. 'Birth' means name-and-form and so forth, which is the beginning of suffering; 'destruction' means old age and death, which is the end of suffering, representing the path of suffering. These four obstacles obstruct the four virtues: conditions obstruct purity, characteristics obstruct self, birth obstructs bliss, and destruction obstructs permanence. When the four obstacles are destroyed, the four virtues become manifest.