佛祖歷代通載 1.180

1.180

古佛應世綿歷無窮。不可以周知悉數也。世尊有云。我以如來知見力故。觀彼久遠猶若今日。故按佛名經。紀過現二劫千如來。暨于釋迦但標七佛。阿含經云。七佛精進力。放光滅暗冥。各各坐諸樹。於中成正覺。佛祖偈翻譯。乃高僧雲啟一同天竺那連耶舍三藏。於龜茲國譯出。本末載於梁大同六年。

The responses of ancient Buddhas to the world have continued without end; they cannot be completely known or numbered. The Bhagavān once said: “Through my power of Tathāgata knowledge and vision, I view those remote times just as if they were today.” Therefore, following the Fo ming jing (Sūtra of Buddha Names), records are made of the one thousand Tathāgatas across the past and present kalpas; down to Śākyamuni, only the Seven Buddhas are marked out. The Āgama Sūtra states: “Through the power of the Seven Buddhas' vigorous striving, / They radiate light and extinguish darkness; / Each seated beneath various trees, / Among them they achieved perfect awakening.” The translation of the verses of the Buddhas and Patriarchs was accomplished by the eminent monk Yunqi together with the Tripiṭaka Master Narendrayaśas of Tianzhu, who translated them in the kingdom of Kucha. The details are recorded in the sixth year of the Datong era of the Liang dynasty.