長阿含經 18.21

18.21

"Furthermore, the Tathāgata has an unsurpassed way of expounding the Dharma, namely speaking of the doctrine of eternalism. Regarding the doctrine of eternalism: some śramaṇas or brāhmaṇas, by various skillful means, enter the samādhi of mental stillness. Following the mind in samādhi, they recollect twenty kalpas of the world's formation and dissolution. They say: 'The world is eternal; only this is real, and the rest is false. Why? Because from my recollection, I know there are these kalpas of formation and dissolution; but as for what was beyond that in the past, I do not know, and whether the future forms or dissolves, I also do not know.' Morning and evening, through lack of wisdom, this person says: 'The world is eternal; only this is real, and the rest is false.' This is the first doctrine of eternalism. Some śramaṇas or brāhmaṇas, by various skillful means, enter the samādhi of mental stillness. Following the mind in samādhi, they recollect forty kalpas of formation and dissolution. They say: 'This world is eternal; this is real, and the rest is false. Why? Because from my recollection, I know the kalpas of formation and dissolution; furthermore, beyond this, I know the past kalpas of formation and dissolution, but I do not know the formation and dissolution of future kalpas.' This is spoken knowing the beginning, but not knowing the end. Morning and evening, through lack of wisdom, this person says: 'The world is eternal; only this is real, and the rest is false.' This is the second doctrine of eternalism. Some śramaṇas or brāhmaṇas, by various skillful means, enter the samādhi of mental stillness. Following the mind in samādhi, they recollect eighty kalpas of formation and dissolution. They say: 'This world is eternal, and the rest is false. Why? Because from my recollection, I know there are kalpas of formation and dissolution; furthermore, beyond this, I know the past kalpas of formation and dissolution, and I also completely know the formation and dissolution of future kalpas.' Morning and evening, through lack of wisdom, this person says: 'The world is eternal; only this is real, and the rest is false.' This is the third doctrine of eternalism. This teaching is unsurpassed; its wisdom is without remainder, its abhijñā is without remainder. Among all the śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas of the world, none can equal the Tathāgata, let alone surpass him."