三彌勒經疏 1.32

1.32

Second, regarding the large or small number of Buddhas appearing: As for the appearance of Buddhas in the Bhadrakalpa, the various teachings are not identical. That is, the Xianyu jing says: 'In the distant past there was a Buddha named Boundless Vigour. At that time there was a king named Huade. That king had one thousand sons, who are indeed the one thousand Buddhas of the Bhadrakalpa.' The Jingang lishi jing says: 'In the past there was a wheel-turning king who had one thousand sons, each of whom generated bodhicitta and vowed to attain Buddhahood.' It is explained: This is presumably King Huade. The Yaoshang Yaowang jing also shares this account. The Karuṇāpuṇḍarīkasūtra says: 'Within half of the Bhadrakalpa, one thousand and four bodhisattvas attain unsurpassed awakening; the Tathāgata Rucika expounds the Dharma and saves people in a later kalpa.' Therefore, the sixth fascicle of that sūtra says: 'The brāhmaṇa Samudrareṇu addressed the Buddha Ratnagarbha, saying: "In the future Bhadrakalpa, how many Buddhas will appear in the world?" The Buddha said: "In half of the Bhadrakalpa, one thousand and four Buddhas will appear in the world." Samudrareṇu said: "World-Honoured One! After the Buddhas of the Bhadrakalpa have entered parinirvāṇa, at the very end Wondrous Voice Dragon will attain unsurpassed awakening, named Nārāyaṇa Healing Medicine, appearing in the world during half a kalpa. When all the Buddhas have entered parinirvāṇa and the true Dharma has already vanished, then I shall attain unsurpassed awakening. The lifespan I attain and my śrāvaka disciples shall also be just like those of the one thousand and four Buddhas, equal and without difference. Should I enter parinirvāṇa, the true Dharma and the Bhadrakalpa will simultaneously be extinguished completely." The Buddha Ratnagarbha said: "In the future, passing through asankhyeya kalpas equal to the sands of one Ganges River and entering the latter part of the asankhyeya kalpas of a second Ganges River, one thousand and four Buddhas will attain unsurpassed awakening in the Bhadrakalpa. You shall make offerings of food and drink [to them], attain unsurpassed awakening with the name Rucika, your lifespan will be half a kalpa, and your śrāvaka disciples will be no different from those of the one thousand and four Buddhas."' It is explained: Based on the testimony of this text, we clearly know that the Bhadrakalpa has one thousand and five Buddhas.