三彌勒經疏 1.225

1.225

經曰「爾時彌勒佛」以下，第九得益。約實為論，諸佛化物不定，或一會或二會乃至十會無量會。然而三會者，約一化終前佛殘弟子。然《長阿含經》云「毘婆尸佛三會說法，初會十六萬八千人、次會十萬人、後會八萬人。尸棄佛三會，初會十萬人、次會八萬人、後會七萬人。毘舍婆佛二會說法，初會七萬、後會六萬。樓孫佛一會說法，即四萬。含牟尼佛一會說法，即三萬。迦葉佛一會說法，即二萬。我今一會說法，即弟子千二百五十。」若依《無近請佛經》云「惟衛佛初會十萬、次會九萬、後會八萬，式佛初會九萬、次會八萬、後會七萬，隨葉佛初會七萬、後會六萬，樓孫佛一會四萬、含牟尼佛一會三萬、迦葉佛一會二萬、我釋迦佛一會千二百五十。」是其機宜不同故，如是別說。

From the sūtra passage stating, "At that time the Buddha Maitreya," onward is the ninth, obtaining benefits. To speak according to the ultimate reality, the way Buddhas transform living beings is not fixed: sometimes in one assembly, or two assemblies, up to ten assemblies, or immeasurable assemblies. However, the three assemblies are stated in terms of the remaining disciples of the previous Buddha at the conclusion of one teaching period. Thus the Dīrghāgama says: "Vipaśyin Buddha had three assemblies of preaching the Dharma: the first assembly had one hundred and sixty-eight thousand people; the next assembly, one hundred thousand people; the latter assembly, eighty thousand people. Śikhin Buddha had three assemblies: the first assembly had one hundred thousand people; the next assembly, eighty thousand people; the latter assembly, seventy thousand people. Viśvabhū Buddha had two assemblies of preaching the Dharma: the first assembly had seventy thousand; the latter assembly, sixty thousand. Krakucchanda Buddha had one assembly of preaching the Dharma: forty thousand. Kanakamuni Buddha had one assembly of preaching the Dharma: thirty thousand. Kāśyapa Buddha had one assembly of preaching the Dharma: twenty thousand. I now have one assembly of preaching the Dharma: one thousand two hundred and fifty disciples." According to the Sūtra on Requesting the Buddha without Proximity, it says: "Vipaśyin Buddha's first assembly had one hundred thousand, next assembly ninety thousand, latter assembly eighty thousand; Śikhin Buddha's first assembly had ninety thousand, next assembly eighty thousand, latter assembly seventy thousand; Viśvabhū Buddha's first assembly had seventy thousand, latter assembly sixty thousand; Krakucchanda Buddha had one assembly of forty thousand; Kanakamuni Buddha had one assembly of thirty thousand; Kāśyapa Buddha had one assembly of twenty thousand; and I, Śākya Buddha, have one assembly of one thousand two hundred and fifty." Because their capacities and suitability differed, it is spoken of differently like this.