俱舍論頌疏論本 8.24

8.24

"The second line" refers to the second station of consciousness, which in the first dhyāna takes those [beings arisen] at the beginning of the kalpa. Thus the śāstra says: "There are sentient beings with form whose bodies are diverse and whose ideations are uniform; this is the second station of consciousness. Like the gods of the Brahmā-pāriṣadya, meaning those arisen at the beginning of the kalpa (Commentary: In truth this also takes the Mahābrahmās and Brahmā-purohitas; mentioning only the Brahmā-pāriṣadya gods is citing the first to encompass what follows). Why is that? Because at the beginning of the kalpa, those various gods of Brahmā's retinue produce this ideation: 'We were all produced by the Great Brahmā King.' At that time, the Great Brahmā also produces this ideation: 'These various gods of Brahmā's retinue were all produced by me.' Because they share the ideation of a single cause, it is called 'ideations are uniform.' The body of the Great Brahmā King is lofty and vast in measure, and in countenance, majesty, speech, and radiance, he differs in each respect from the gods of Brahmā's retinue; therefore, they are called 'bodies are diverse' (thus far the text of the śāstra)." Question: "Why do the Brahmā King and the gods of Brahmā's retinue produce the ideation of a single cause?" Answer: "At the beginning of the kalpa, the Great Brahmā King dwelt alone with no attendants or retinue. He then made an aspiration, saying: 'How might other sentient beings be caused to be born into my likeness?' At that time, the gods of the Ābhāsvara [Heaven], seeing this, had pity, and dying from that realm, were reborn as the retinue of Brahmā. Because as soon as the Brahmā King made the aspiration he saw the gods being born, the Great Brahmā King produced this ideation: 'I showed the capacity to produce them.' Those various gods of Brahmā's retinue, at first seeing the supreme majestic god of the Great Brahmā, and also recollecting and knowing that previously, because the Brahmā King made a vow, they came to be born here, for this reason the retinue of Brahmā produced this thought: 'We were all produced by the Great Brahmā King.'"