三彌勒經疏 1.126

1.126

問：何故如是相違？答：一云：三劫量長短不定，謂星宿劫者，總含多劫故。《大般若經》星宿劫初名星宿劫，故但說六十一劫為星宿劫也。《賢劫經》中星宿劫終名星宿劫，故隔多劫乃為星宿。約理實皆為星宿劫。是故白馬云：「三劫，劫各千佛。千佛壽亦不等，有長短。」一云：若依小乘宗，三劫未必無間越而成佛，善根小故。若依大乘，三劫定應無間，善根多故。謂成住壞劫，如次名為莊嚴劫、賢劫、星宿劫。

Question: Why is there such a contradiction? Answer: One view says: The lengths of the three kalpas are unfixed, meaning that the Constellation Kalpa generally subsumes multiple kalpas. In the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra, the beginning of the Constellation Kalpa is called the Constellation Kalpa; hence it merely speaks of sixty-one kalpas as the Constellation Kalpa. In the Bhadrakalpika Sūtra, the end of the Constellation Kalpa is called the Constellation Kalpa; hence it is separated by many kalpas before becoming the Constellation [Kalpa]. In terms of actual principle, they are all the Constellation Kalpa. Therefore Baima said: 'In the three kalpas, each kalpa has one thousand buddhas. The lifespans of the thousand buddhas are also unequal, having long and short [durations].' Another view says: If relying on the Hīnayāna tenet, the three kalpas are not necessarily consecutive without interruption in attaining buddhahood, because their roots of goodness are small. If relying on the Mahāyāna, the three kalpas must certainly be immediately consecutive, because their roots of goodness are abundant. That is, the kalpas of formation, abiding, and destruction are sequentially named the Vyūhakalpa, the Bhadrakalpa, and the Constellation Kalpa.