大般涅槃經集解 7.96

7.96

案道生曰：成佛凡四十八年也。一日屈節，則終身成師也。僧亮曰：要終身為弟子。法瑤曰：從得道夜至涅槃夜，其間凡四十八年。爾時六師一不降化，與佛角辨抗行。師徒之義未絕，曲意伺機，喻之給使。又釋四十八年者，謂四禪八禪也。

Daosheng comments: Achieving Buddhahood lasted forty-eight years in total. Bending one's pride for a single day makes one a disciple for a lifetime. Sengliang says: He required that he be a disciple for his entire life. Fayao says: From the night of attaining the Way to the night of nirvāṇa, the interval was forty-eight years in all. At that time, of the six masters, not one was subdued and transformed; they contested debates and vied with the Buddha. The relationship of master and disciple had not been severed; accommodating his intentions and waiting for the right moment is compared to running errands and serving. Another explanation of the forty-eight years refers to the four dhyānas and the eight dhyānas.