三彌勒經疏 1.47

1.47

Question: Has Maitreya's true body already accomplished Buddhahood or not? Answer: From ancient times there have been two explanations. One says: He has not yet accomplished true Buddhahood; he is a vajra-mind bodhisattva. One says: His true body has already accomplished Buddhahood long ago, and it is through manifestation that he now newly accomplishes Buddhahood. Therefore, the eighth fascicle of the *Sūtra on the Ten Stages for Severing Bonds* says: "Eighty hundred million Ganges sands to the east from here, there is a Buddha-world named Jimuo (Silent and Tranquil). In that world there are ten billion Buddhas. The ten billion Buddhas said: 'Converting beings in the Sahā world is extremely difficult. Grasping the staff, whoever grasps it first shall go first to convert beings.' At that time, they grasped the staff in sequence: first Śākyamuni, next Maitreya, next Yuanji Tathāgata, next Siṃha Tathāgata, and so forth." The latter explanation is superior.