大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 22.42

22.42

疏「恐厭繁文」者，謂《仁王》下卷〈奉持品〉中說：伏忍下中上，下忍初賢一僧祇，中忍次賢兩僧祇，上忍亞聖三僧祇。初地四僧祇，乃至七地有十，八地千，九地萬阿僧祇，十地百萬阿僧祇。故地前已經三阿僧祇。經中多說三阿僧祇成佛者，以下中忍位菩薩相隱，上賢之位菩薩相顯，所以特言經三僧祇。地前菩薩二乘聖者，見初入地，皆謂究竟，故說三祇成等正覺，亦佛隨宜故。《寶雲經》云「實經無量阿僧祇劫」。〈華藏品〉初當廣會釋。

Regarding the commentary's "fearing burdensome text": in the lower fascicle of the Benevolent Kings [Sūtra], the "Chapter on Receiving and Upholding" states: conforming patience has lower, middle, and upper levels—lower patience is for initial worthy ones for one asaṃkhyeya [kalpa]; middle patience is for secondary worthy ones for two asaṃkhyeya [kalpas]; upper patience is for near-sages for three asaṃkhyeya [kalpas]. The first ground requires four asaṃkhyeya [kalpas], up to the seventh ground which requires ten, the eighth ground a thousand, the ninth ground ten thousand asaṃkhyeyas, and the tenth ground one million asaṃkhyeya kalpas. Thus, before reaching the grounds, three asaṃkhyeya [kalpas] have already elapsed. The reason that sūtras often speak of attaining Buddhahood in three asaṃkhyeya [kalpas] is that the characteristics of bodhisattvas at the stages of lower and middle patience are concealed, whereas the bodhisattvas at the stages of upper worthy ones are obvious; thus it specifically speaks of traversing three asaṃkhyeyas. Bodhisattvas prior to the grounds and noble ones of the two vehicles, seeing the initial entry into the grounds, all deem it ultimate; hence it is said that equal and perfect awakening is attained in three asaṃkhyeyas, which is also the Buddha's pedagogical expedience. The Precious Cloud Sūtra states: "In reality, it traverses immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas." This will be explained and reconciled in detail at the beginning of the "Chapter on the Flower Treasury."