起信論疏筆削記 16.47

16.47

3. Completion of Practice. On the treatise's "ten thousand kalpas": In terms of sharp and dull faculties, there are four alternatives when distinguishing them: (1) sharp faculties but not vigorous; (2) sharp faculties and vigorous (the number of kalpas for these two cannot be fixed); (3) dull faculties and vigorous, taking at the slowest ten thousand kalpas; (4) dull faculties and not vigorous—these are exhausted without studying, so how could their number of kalpas even be discussed? Here in this treatise, the third is taken, and therefore it says "ten thousand kalpas." Thus the Benye jing says: "This Bodhisattva of Faithful Marks practices the tenfold precepts for ten thousand kalpas; then he should emerge from the ten faithful minds and enter the stage of the first aboding." That sūtra also says: "If for one kalpa, two kalpas, or three kalpas one cultivates the ten wholesome dharmas, one both regresses and advances. If one encounters good spiritual friends and is able to believe in the Buddha-Dharma, in one kalpa or two kalpas one then enters the stage of aboding." On the commentary's "completion of practice": The root commentary says, "The time is fulfilled and the practice is completed." "Time" refers to the ten thousand kalpas; "practice" refers to the completion of the ten faithful minds leading to the emergence of the [bodhi] mind.