法苑珠林 8.52

8.52

述曰。上來所列七佛說法度人多少者。此據小乘。如來初成佛時。創度外道迴邪入正。聲聞弟子以為親侍。故限斯數。若據如來一代說法度三乘人得入道者。則無量無邊。故奘法師云。依如西域。釋迦一代說法總有三時。

The commentary says: The numbers listed above of those saved through the Dharma preaching of the seven buddhas are based on the Hīnayāna. When the Tathāgata first attained buddhahood, he initially converted non-Buddhists, turning them from heterodoxy into orthodoxy, and made the śrāvaka disciples his personal attendants; therefore, the figures were limited to this number. If we consider the Tathāgata's lifelong preaching of the Dharma to deliver persons of the three vehicles so that they could enter the Way, they were immeasurable and boundless. Thus Master Xuanzang said: 'According to the Western Regions, Śākyamuni's lifelong preaching of the Dharma comprises three periods in all:'