仁王護國般若波羅蜜多經疏 3.228

3.228

The commentary explains: "For one asaṃkhyeya kalpa" is the time traversed. "A" means non-, "saṃkhyeya" means number; "kalpa" is Sanskrit, fully rendered as kalpa, meaning a division of time, translated into Chinese as "one innumerable period." "Cultivating this kṣānti" concludes this stage. "Can arouse superior practices" means arousing the ten practices of the nature lineage. If this asaṃkhyeya is briefly distinguished: as the forty-fifth chapter, the "Asaṃkhyeya Chapter", of the new Avataṃsaka Sūtra states, there are one hundred and twenty numbers; from the initial one hundred lakṣas to the one hundred and third number is called asaṃkhyeya, which is an innumerable kalpa. As the Yogācāra[-bhūmi] in [fascicle] 48, having expounded the thirteen abidings, distinguishes below: "Furthermore, within each of these abidings, passing through many koṭis of hundreds of thousands of great kalpas, or exceeding this number, one only then realizes the fulfillment of a single abiding." From this, it should be understood. Now, in this sūtra, the preceding ten Dharma masters each add one asaṃkhyeya, which should be understood in accordance with this. The Yogācāra next states: "However, through all the abidings, one generally passes through three innumerable great kalpas, and only then fully realizes unexcelled bodhi. That is, having passed through the first innumerable great kalpa, one only then transcends the abiding of practice with resolute intention and realizes the abiding of joy. This is spoken with respect to those of constant and courageous vigor, not those who lack courageous and diligent vigor. Passing through the second innumerable great kalpa, one only then transcends the abiding of extreme joy up to the abiding of signlessness with preparation and effort, and realizes the eighth bhūmi; this is certain, because these bodhisattvas have attained pure resolute intention and are definitely endowed with courageous and diligent vigor. Passing through the third innumerable great kalpa, one only then transcends the effortless abiding and the abiding of unhindered liberation, and realizes the supreme, fulfilled bodhisattva abiding, which is the Dharmameghā bhūmi." One should know that here there are briefly two kinds of innumerable great kalpas: first, by the calculating expedients of days, nights, fortnights, single months, and so forth, because the time is immeasurable, it is also called an innumerable great kalpa. Second, the great kalpa. Earlier in that treatise it says: "Using the calculating expedient of the kalpa of the wind calamity, it surpasses the measure of all calculations, and is also called an innumerable great kalpa." If according to the former explanation of innumerable great kalpa, one must pass through immeasurable, innumerable great kalpas before realizing anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi. Furthermore, applying this passage to this sūtra, innumerable asaṃkhyeyas also does not contradict the principle. If according to the latter explanation of innumerable great kalpa, by merely passing through three innumerable great kalpas, one realizes anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi, and there is no great kalpa that exceeds this measure.