大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 5.18

5.18

論。略說方便有四種　釋曰。重顯方便。於中有二。初標數。後別釋。此初也。四中初一顯不住道。是後三種行之根本。後三即是三聚淨戒為三德因三種發心。由此總別四種行故。離一切惡修一切善。即是助顯真如方便故。說方便有四種也。

[Treatise:] Briefly stated, there are four kinds of expedients.
[Commentary:] This re-elucidates expedients. Within this, there are two parts: first, stating the number, and later, explaining them separately. This is the first. Among the four, the first one reveals the path of non-abiding, which is the root of the subsequent three practices. The latter three are the three clusters of pure precepts, which serve as the causes for the three virtues and constitute the three kinds of arousing the aspiration [for awakening]. Through these four practices in their general and specific aspects, one abandons all evil and cultivates all goodness, which are precisely the expedients that aid in revealing tathatā. Therefore, it is said that there are four kinds of expedients.