大乘起信論別記 1.192

1.192

Regarding "as stated in the sūtras that some may fall back into the evil destinies": this does not mean that they actually fall back in their lives, but is an extensive teaching. As the Benye jing states: "Prior to the seventh abode is called the falling-back division; if one does not meet good spiritual friends, for one kalpa up to ten kalpas one may fall back from the bodhicitta. For example, Heavenly Son Śuddhanetra, Prince Dharmavitta, Śāriputra, and others, desiring to enter the seventh abode, met with conditions of evil friends, and therefore fell back among ordinary beings into unwholesome evils." Now explaining this meaning: these are merely provisional words, not actual falling back.