華嚴一乘教義分齊章 2.50

2.50

二、不定修三阿僧祇，此有二義：一、通餘雜類世界故，如《勝天王經》說；二、據佛功德無限量故，如《寶雲經》云「善男子！菩薩不能思議如來境界，如來境界不可思量，但為淺近眾生說三僧祇修習所得，菩薩而實發心已來不可計數。」解云：此中不可計數者，是不可計數阿僧祇劫，非但三也。問：「何故前教定三僧祇，此教有定不定耶？」答：「前教生故，此教熟故，方便漸漸勸彼三乘向一乘故，作此說也。」

Second, indefinitely cultivating three asaṃkhyeyas. This has two meanings: first, because it applies to other diverse worlds, as explained in the *Suvikrāntavikramiparipṛcchā-sūtra*; second, based on the fact that the Buddha's merit is limitless, as the *Bao yun jing* says: 'Good son! Bodhisattvas cannot conceive of the Tathāgata's realm; the Tathāgata's realm is unthinkable. It is only for shallow and proximate sentient beings that it is said to be attained by cultivating for three asaṃkhyeyas; in truth, since the bodhisattva generated the intention, it cannot be calculated.' Explanation: what is here called 'cannot be calculated' means incalculable asaṃkhyeya-kalpas, not merely three. Question: 'Why did the preceding teaching have a definite three asaṃkhyeyas, while this teaching has both definite and indefinite?' Answer: 'Because the preceding teaching was unripened while this teaching is ripened, and in order to expediently and gradually exhort those of the Three Vehicles toward the One Vehicle, it is explained in this way.'