俱舍論疏 3.97

3.97

論「多言為顯至不應言行」，釋多命壽。然有三解。第一解云：此顯命壽留捨多念，非一剎那有留捨義故。《婆沙》云「多言顯示所留所捨非一剎那，行言為顯示所留所捨是無常法。」第二有部解云：有說此多言者，為遮正量部計有一命壽實體經多時住，初起名生、終盡名滅、中間名住異。行言為顯留捨多念，命行、壽行念念體別，非一命壽經多時住。第三經部師說：多言為顯無一實命壽體，但於五蘊眾多行上假立如是命、壽二名，故說多行。若謂不然，不應言行，但可應言留多命、捨多壽，以此行是有為通名，非唯命、壽。

The treatise says: "The plural is used to indicate up to it should not say 'formations'"—this explains the plural in "vitality and lifespan". There are, however, three explanations. The first explanation states: this indicates that the maintaining and relinquishing of vitality and lifespan encompass multiple mind-moments, for maintaining and relinquishing do not have meaning in a single kṣaṇa. The Vibhāṣā says: "The plural is used to show that what is maintained and relinquished is not a single kṣaṇa; the word 'formations' is used to show that what is maintained and relinquished are impermanent dharmas." The second explanation, from the Sarvāstivādins, states: some say this plural is used to refute the Sammatīya doctrine that posits a single real entity of vitality and lifespan abiding through a long duration, whose initial arising is called arising, whose ultimate cessation is called passing away, and whose intermediate phase is called abiding and alteration. The word "formations" is used to show that maintaining and relinquishing encompass multiple moments, and that vitality-formations and lifespan-formations are distinct entities from moment to moment, not a single vitality and lifespan abiding through a long duration. The third explanation, from the Sautrāntika masters, states: the plural is used to show that there is no single real entity of vitality and lifespan; rather, these two names, vitality and lifespan, are merely imputed nominally onto the numerous formations of the five skandhas, and therefore it speaks of multiple formations. If one claims otherwise, it should not say "formations"; it should only say "maintains multiple vitalities and relinquishes multiple lifespans", since "formation" is a general name for the conditioned, not solely for vitality and lifespan.