俱舍論頌疏論本 23.92

23.92

釋曰：九地修惑都未有斷，名為預流，生極七返，謂於人、天七返受生，極言為顯受生最多極不過七，非諸預流皆受七反。言預流者，諸無漏道總名為流，初預此流，名為預流。問：「此預流名為因何義？若初得道名為預流，則預流名應目第八（苦法忍是第八也，於八忍中從後數之，當第八故也）。若初得果名為預流，如超越人至道類智，得二三果應名預流。」答：「此預流名不目第八，目初得果，於四沙門果中定初得故，一來、不還非定初得，此定初得，故名預流。」問：「何緣此名不目第八？」答：「要具三義得預流名：一、具得果向無漏道故。二、具得見修無漏道故。三、於現觀十六心流遍至得故。第八三義俱闕，故預流名不目第八。」言七生者，人中七生，中有、生有名為七生，天中亦然。中、生各七，總二十八生，皆七等故，說極七生。問：「何緣彼無受第八生？」答：「謂相續身齊此七生，所有聖道必成就故。聖道種類法應如是。如七步蛇，第四日瘧，法應爾故。至第七生，逢無佛法，雖在居家，得阿羅漢。既得果已，必不住家，法爾自得苾芻形相。」問：「預流既未斷不善修惑，云何經說預流名為無退墮法（不退墮三惡趣也）？」答：「此有五義：一、以不生長退墮業故。二、違彼生長業與果故。三、強盛善根鎮彼身故。四、加行意樂俱清淨故。五、諸有決定墮惡趣業，尚不起忍，況得預流？故有頌曰：

The explanation states: Having not abandoned any of the defilements of cultivation of the nine grounds is called a stream-enterer. 'Rebirths at most seven returns' means taking rebirth at most seven times among humans and gods. The word 'at most' is to show that taking rebirth at most does not exceed seven; it does not mean that all stream-enterers take rebirth seven times. Regarding 'stream-enterer': all undefiled paths are collectively called the 'stream'; first entering this stream, one is called a 'stream-enterer'. Question: "Due to what meaning is this name 'stream-enterer' given? If first obtaining the path is named stream-enterer, then the name stream-enterer should designate the eighth (the patience with dharma of suffering is the eighth; counted backward among the eight patiences, it corresponds to the eighth). If first obtaining the fruit is named stream-enterer, then when a transcending person reaches the subsequent cognition of the path and obtains the second or third fruit, they should be called a stream-enterer." Answer: "This name 'stream-enterer' does not designate the eighth; it designates first obtaining the fruit. Because among the four fruits of asceticism it is definitely obtained first, whereas once-returner and non-returner are not definitely obtained first; this is definitely obtained first, hence named stream-enterer." Question: "For what reason does this name not designate the eighth?" Answer: "It must possess three characteristics to obtain the name stream-enterer: 1. fully possessing the undefiled paths of the fruit and enterer; 2. fully possessing the undefiled paths of seeing and cultivation; 3. having thoroughly attained the stream of the sixteen moments of realization. The eighth lacks all three characteristics, so the name stream-enterer does not designate the eighth." Regarding 'seven rebirths': seven rebirths among humans, counting intermediate existence and birth existence as seven rebirths, and likewise among the gods. There are seven each of intermediate and birth [existences], totaling twenty-eight rebirths; because they are all equal to seven, it is said to be at most seven rebirths. Question: "For what reason does that person not take an eighth rebirth?" Answer: "Because in this continuum of existence, within these seven births, all noble paths are necessarily completed. The nature of the noble path is necessarily like this, just as a seven-step snake, or fourth-day malaria, is necessarily so by nature. Reaching the seventh birth, even encountering an era without the Buddha's teaching and remaining a householder, one attains arhatship. Having attained the fruit, one will certainly not remain at home; by nature one naturally assumes the appearance of a monk (bhikṣu)." Question: "Since a stream-enterer has not yet abandoned the unwholesome defilements of cultivation, why does the sūtra state that a stream-enterer is 'free from the dharma of regression and fall' (meaning not falling into the three bad destinies)?" Answer: "This has five reasons: 1. because they do not produce or increase karma of regression and falling; 2. they obstruct that karma which produces and increases [it] from yielding fruit; 3. powerful wholesome roots steady their continuum; 4. their preparatory application and motivation are both pure; 5. for whoever possesses karma that definitively leads to falling into the bad destinies, patience does not even arise, let alone attaining stream-entry. Therefore, a verse states: