摩訶止觀 8.42

8.42

廣說有三十六句。須先立四句，謂：不斷煩惱不入涅槃、斷煩惱入涅槃、亦斷亦不斷亦入亦不入、非斷非不斷非入非不入。初句謂凡夫，次謂無學人，三謂學人，四謂理是；是為根本四句。

Expounded extensively, there are thirty-six propositions. One must first establish the four propositions, namely: not severing defilements and not entering nirvāṇa; severing defilements and entering nirvāṇa; both severing and not severing, and both entering and not entering; neither severing nor not severing, and neither entering nor not entering. The first proposition refers to ordinary beings; the next refers to those beyond training; the third refers to those in training; the fourth refers to the fact that the principle is so. These are the fundamental four propositions.