大乘起信論義記 3.348

3.348

The context of the text may be understood. As stated in the Yingluo benye jing: 'Prior to the seventh abidance, it is called the stage of regression. If one does not encounter a good friend, for one eon up to ten eons, one regresses from the bodhicitta. Just as the devaputra Śubhākṣa, Prince Dharmaruci, Śāriputra, and others wished to enter the seventh abidance, but in the interim, through the causal condition of encountering bad companions, regressed into the unwholesome destinies of ordinary beings,' and so on in detail. Now, explaining the intention of this sūtra: these are provisional words, not an actual regression; it merely terrifies those beginners to keep them from arrogance and indolence.