楞伽阿跋多羅寶經註解 2.200

2.200

答初果中言有上中下三種差別者，根性利鈍不同耳。極七有生者，謂極鈍下根，斷見惑、證初果，後進斷思惑，欲界中九品思惑，具經七反生死，方斷此惑，取證三果。七反者，謂人中七生、天中七生、中陰中十四生，合二十八生。今言七反者，從略也。三五有生者，謂中根之人證初果後，三生或五生斷此惑盡，取證三果。即彼生而般涅槃者，謂上根之人得初果已，即於當生超至四果，而入真空涅槃也。

In answering regarding the first fruit, the statement that there are three distinctions of superior, middling, and lower simply means that their faculties are different in being sharp or dull. 'Taking at most seven rebirths' refers to those of the dullest and lowest faculties, who, having severed the delusions of view and realized the first fruit, subsequently advance to sever the delusions of thought: throughout the nine grades of delusions of thought in the desire realm, they must undergo seven cycles of birth and death before they can sever these delusions and realize the third fruit. 'Seven cycles' means seven births among humans, seven births among the heavens, and fourteen births in the intermediate state, totaling twenty-eight births. Mentioning 'seven cycles' here is an abbreviation. 'Taking three to five rebirths' refers to persons of middling faculties who, after realizing the first fruit, exhaust these delusions in three or five births and realize the third fruit. 'Attaining parinirvāṇa in that very lifetime' refers to persons of superior faculties who, having obtained the first fruit, immediately transcend to the fourth fruit in that present lifetime and enter the nirvāṇa of true emptiness.