大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 4.47

4.47

The verse states: "Or ten, or eight, seven, / Or five, two, one, four." These are the limiting numbers for conferring the ācārya consecration during one ritual period. Here the numbers are taken by skipping: that is, from one up to two, from two skipping to four, from four to five, from five skipping to seven, from seven to eight, and from eight skipping to ten people. Therefore, in a single maṇḍala, one must not simultaneously confer consecration upon three, six, or nine people. This is the Tathāgata's esoteric intention; the ācārya does not explain the reason. Furthermore, just as in the Great Vaipulya Dhāraṇī Sūtra, it must not exceed ten people. Beyond this, it is feared that the ācārya's mental capacity might not be comprehensive; one should await later conditions to perform the ritual separately. Moreover, regarding these 'ten people or fewer', it refers to those who generate the mind at the same time, each giving up all their internal and external possessions to make offerings to the Three Jewels, and jointly accomplishing the maṇḍala; therefore, the ritual may be performed for them simultaneously. If someone happens to encounter the ritual site and merely says that the condition for the Dharma is hard to meet, begging to be liberated along with them, it is not yet appropriate to perform the ācārya consecration for them. If the number exceeds this, or if one merely seeks to establish a karmic connection by receiving a mantra and mudrā in the practice of a single gateway's fundamental deity, then one does not rely on such limits. The ācārya should also arouse mahākaruṇā: wherever someone can give rise to even a fraction of a wholesome mind, he should generate and plant the bodhicitta seed for all of them; hence it is said, 'or again, a number exceeding this'.