維摩義記 3.75

3.75

From here below, the second part clarifies practices of rescuing from suffering. There are six verses: the first four verses rescue human suffering, and the latter two verses rescue suffering in the evil destinies. Within the first four verses, the first three verses can rescue the suffering of beings at the time of the three eons. The internal eons are three, namely famine, pestilence, and warfare, as explained in the sūtras. When human lifespan gradually decreases to ten years, the eon of famine arises: for seven years, seven months, and seven days, the five grains do not ripen, the populace dies out entirely, and scarcely one or two remain. After passing through this, people regard one another with loving-kindness. Because of loving-kindness, the human lifespan grows longer, reaching 84,000 years; when pleasure reaches its peak they become arrogant and unrestrained, the human lifespan declines and decreases, returning to ten years, and famine arises again, cycling in total through seven recurrences. After the seven famines have passed, an eon of pestilence arises: during seven months and seven days, noxious vapors circulate and all who encounter them die; passing through this, [lifespan] lengthens again. There are again seven famines, and again one pestilence. Cycling through seven times seven eons of famine and one cycle of seven pestilences in this way, there are again seven famines, and then an eon of warfare arises. The human mind becomes extremely wicked: whatever grass or trees they grasp in hand all become swords and knives, and they mutually slaughter one another; after seven days they are entirely wiped out, with scarcely one or two escaping. The three eons are like this. The bodhisattva is able to rescue beings from suffering at the time of these three eons: first rescuing from pestilence, next rescuing from famine, and later rescuing from warfare, which are all evident from the text. The fourth single verse is rescuing from suffering at other times. Other times also have five [types], rescuing from the suffering of famine, sickness, and warfare. “If there is a great battle, establishing equal strength” means two nations warring against each other, arraying weapons equally, neither submitting to the other. The bodhisattva at that time manifests great power and prestige, subduing both sides and making them harmonious and tranquil. The previous rescued human suffering; below he rescues [beings in] hell, and later rescues animals. He also rescues hungry ghosts, but the text is abbreviated and does not mention it. These six verses clarify the practice of rescuing from suffering.