俱舍論疏 12.46

12.46

On the Śāstra's text, "It is said to be merely the five skandhas": Answering regarding the essential nature of a kalpa. It clarifies that there is no separate dharma; the five skandhas of that time are taken as its essential nature. This differs from non-Buddhists who hold that there is a separate time and direction. The Vibhāṣā, fascicle 145, says: "What is the essential nature of a kalpa? Some say it is matter (rūpa). The correct statement is that the states of day and night and so forth are without exception the arising and ceasing of the five skandhas, by which a kalpa is formed; the essential nature of a kalpa is also like this. Since a kalpa applies to the time periods of the three realms, it takes the four skandhas or the five skandhas as its nature. If in the formless realm, it takes the four skandhas as its nature; in the kalpa of emptiness, it takes two skandhas as its nature." The Vibhāṣā-śāstra says: "Why is it named a kalpa? What is the meaning of kalpa? Answer: Because of distinguishing (kalpana) temporal divisions, it is divided as a kalpa. That is to say, distinguishing the temporal divisions of kṣaṇa, lava, and muhūrta to form day and night; distinguishing the temporal divisions of day and night to form fortnights, months, and years; distinguishing the temporal divisions of fortnights and so forth to form a kalpa. Because it is the culmination among distinguishing temporal divisions, it acquires this general designation. The grammarians say: Because of distinguishing states, it is said to be named a kalpa. Why is that? Because it is the ultimate state among the conditioning of conditioned dharmas."