大方便佛報恩經 6.26

6.26

Answer: "The Buddha was skillful in means: within a single phrase of Dharma he expounded immeasurable dharmas, and he was able to take immeasurable dharmas as the meaning of a single phrase. The Buddha roughly showed its beginnings, and Ānanda already came to know it completely, because of the power of his swift, sharp, and strong retention. As for the eighty thousand dharmas, it is also said: 'Just as roots, trunk, branches, and leaves are called one tree, the Buddha's teaching the Dharma from beginning to end for sentient beings is called one repository.' Thus there are eighty thousand. It is also said: 'The Buddha's teaching of the Dharma in a single sitting is called one repository.' Thus there are eighty thousand. It is also said: 'Sixteen syllables make half a gāthā, and thirty-two syllables make a gāthā.' Thus there are eighty thousand. It is also said: 'A long or short gāthā of forty-two syllables is one gāthā.' Thus there are eighty thousand. It is also said: 'Like reciting the precepts every half-month being one repository.' Thus there are eighty thousand. It is also said: 'The Buddha himself said that sixty-six thousand gāthās make one repository.' Thus there are eighty thousand. It is also said: 'The Buddha said: "Defilements number eighty thousand, and the Dharma medicines also number eighty thousand." Hence they are called eighty thousand Dharma repositories.'"