四教義 7.7

7.7

Third, explaining the planting of the karmic causes of the thirty-two marks beyond the three asaṃkhyeya kalpas: now we say this is the stage of entering lower patience. Using this wisdom of patience to practice the six perfections, he brings about a hundred merits, and uses a hundred merits to bring about one mark, taking this as the karmic cause for the thirty-two marks. Planting the karmic causes of the thirty-two marks, at the stage of lower patience he practices the six pāramitās, bringing about the marks of a hundred merits, which serve as the karmic causes for the thirty-two marks. These thirty-two marks are planted while receiving a male body among humans in Jambudvīpa in the desire realm, when a Buddha appears in the world, by taking the bodily marks of the Buddha as an object. Question: Regarding the statement that 'a hundred merits accomplish one mark,' how many meritorious virtues constitute the merit of one mark? Answer: Different interpretations are not uniform, and it is difficult to determine conclusively. Some say: "This merit cannot be weighed or measured, nor can it be likened to anything. This bodhisattva enters three asaṃkhyeya kalpas, cultivates great practice in mind, and plants the causes and conditions for these thirty-two marks. For this reason, the merit cannot be measured; only a Buddha can know it." Question: How long does a bodhisattva take to plant the thirty-two marks? Answer: At the slowest, one hundred kalpas; at the quickest, ninety-one kalpas. The Buddha Puṣya observed that the Bodhisattva Śākyamuni himself was [spiritually] immature while his disciples were mature, whereas the Bodhisattva Maitreya was himself mature while his disciples were immature. Many people are difficult to deliver, while one person is easy to transform; therefore, the Buddha Puṣya emitted light within a jeweled cave that shone upon the Bodhisattva Śākyamuni. Following the light, the Bodhisattva Śākyamuni arrived at the location of the Buddha Puṣya, where for seven days and seven nights he single-mindedly contemplated the Buddha without blinking his eyes, praising him with only a single verse, saying: / 'In heaven and earth, this realm has many dwellings, / But in palace or heavenly abode, across the ten directions there is none like this: / A true hero, king of bulls, a great śramaṇa, / Searching the earth, mountains, and forests throughout, there is none his equal.' / By the power of ascetic practice, he surpassed nine kalpas, attaining perfect awakening before the Bodhisattva Maitreya.