四明尊者教行錄 4.36

4.36

Ninth question: The Commentary on the 'Chapter on the Merit of the Dharma Master' states: 'The Brahmā King, through his retributive heavenly eye, completely sees the great chiliocosm while in his own realm. Outside the great chiliocosm there is a wind wheel that obstructs his eye, so he cannot see outside. If he is in another realm, he does not completely see the great chiliocosm, as it is not what he governs. A great arhat sees a great chiliocosm, and a pratyekabuddha sees a hundred buddha-worlds, without being obstructed by the wind wheel and without the separation of own or other realms.' A doubter says: 'Fascicle five of the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa states: "With slight application of mind, a great arhat sees two thousand worlds; with great application of mind, he sees a great chiliocosm. The pratyekabuddha is also like this." Furthermore, fascicle fourteen of the treatise states: "At most, a śrāvaka sees sideways a small chiliocosm, and completely sees above and below as well. Question: The Great Brahmā King can also see a thousand worlds; what difference is there? Answer: The Great Brahmā, standing in the midst of a thousand worlds, sees them completely; if he stands on the edge, he does not see the other places. A śrāvaka is not like this; wherever he abides, he always sees a thousand worlds, and a pratyekabuddha sees a hundred thousand worlds." According to the meaning of the treatise: depending on natural or applied effort of mind, greater or lesser distinctions, the visions of the two vehicles each differ. However, the thousand worlds seen by the Brahmā King should be one small chiliocosm. The hundred thousand worlds seen by the pratyekabuddha should be a hundred small chiliocosms. Furthermore, the Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣā states: "The supernormal powers of the two vehicles do not exceed a great chiliocosm." Why does it now say that the Brahmā King sees a great chiliocosm and the pratyekabuddha sees a hundred buddha-worlds? (The "hundred buddha-worlds" in the text of the treatise should correspond to a hundred thousand worlds; hence the Si nianchu and the Sijiao yi both state: "When a pratyekabuddha develops the heavenly eye, it goes beyond the three thousand and sees other realms.") Regarding such differing characteristics of phenomena, there must be a definitive conclusion.'