瑜伽論記 6.267

6.267

Regarding the brief explanation, as for "Among the four watches of the night, having passed the first watch, it is the initial watch of the night..." and so forth, Tai and Ji both say: "In the worldly custom of that land, day and night are each divided into four watches. In the Buddha's Dharma, day and night are each established as three periods, subsuming the four watches with the three periods: moving from the beginning forward, passing the first watch is called the 'initial period'; moving from the end backward, passing the final watch is called the 'final period.' The middle two-and-a-half divisions are called the 'middle period of the night.' The daytime is also like this." Conforming to the worldly custom here, Master Ji adds an explanation: "Passing" has two meanings: 1. Just entering is called 'passing.' As this treatise says: 'Among the four watches of the night, having passed the final watch, it is called the final watch of the night'—meaning that within the four watches, entering that watch is called 'passing,' not that the final watch has ceased to exist and is thus called 'passing.' 2. The completion of an affair is called 'passing.' Its meaning can be understood.