妙法蓮華經文句 4.70

4.70

They were not those whose capacities were ripe for this occasion; they were merely people forming a karmic affinity, as has already been explained above. Formerly, in the time of the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū, immeasurable sentient beings also harbored doubts in their minds, yet were reborn life after life together with their teacher, and have now all attained liberation. These people are also like that. When the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra was preached, one hundred and fifty billion people did not give rise to faith in this sūtra; these people will also attain faith in the future. By this analogy, their benefit will come before long. In the Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra, the two kinds of people in Jambudvīpa at that time also carry this same intended meaning.