法苑珠林 1.31

1.31

What is the calamity of water? That is, after the seven fire calamities have passed, the co-arising water element arises in the second dhyāna, destroying the receptacle world like water dissolving salt. This water element and the receptacle world perish together at the same time. Having perished in this way, it again abides [in emptiness] for twenty antarakalpas. What is the calamity of wind? That is, after the seven water calamities have passed, there are again seven fire calamities; immediately after this, the co-arising wind element arises in the third dhyāna, destroying the receptacle world like wind drying limbs and joints, and it further dissolves them away completely. This wind element and the receptacle world perish together at the same time. Having been destroyed from this point, it again abides [in emptiness] for twenty antarakalpas. Thus, in brief, it is explained that the world has been destroyed. Furthermore, according to the Nyāyānusāra-śāstra: The arising of these three great calamities of water, fire, and wind presses upon the classes of sentient beings, causing them to abandon the lower grounds and gather in the upper heavens. The first calamity, fire, arises through the appearance of seven suns. Some say that these seven sun disks move like a flight of wild geese, revolving along divided tracks; some say that these seven sun disks move in upper and lower rows, revolving along divided tracks, separated from each other by five thousand yojanas. Next, the calamity of water arises through torrential rains falling. Some make this statement: from the border of the third dhyāna, hot ash-water suddenly rains down in the sky. Others further say: from the water disk below, boiling water surges up, flooding and submerging. The definitive meaning is that it is born from this border. Afterward, the calamity of wind arises through winds striking against each other. Some make this statement: from the border of the fourth dhyāna, swirling and striking winds suddenly arise in the sky. Others further say: from the wind disk below, rushing and striking winds surge up, swirling and billowing. This definitive meaning should be understood in accordance with the preceding. When the three calamities arise, what is their order? First, seven fire calamities must necessarily arise; next, one water calamity must definitely arise; immediately after this, there are again seven fire calamities; having passed through seven fire calamities, there is again one water [calamity]. In this way, reaching up to the completion of seven water calamities, there are again seven fire calamities, after which the wind calamity arises. Thus, there are in total eight times seven fire calamities, one time seven water calamities, and one wind calamity that arise. The water and wind calamities both arise following a fire calamity; after a water or wind calamity, a fire calamity must arise. Therefore, the order of calamities must logically be like this. For what reason are there seven fires before one water calamity? It is due to the force of the lifespan in the Ābhāsvara Heaven: because their lifespan is at most eight mahākalpas, only upon reaching the eighth does one water calamity occur. By this one should know that only after passing through seven waters and eight times seven fires does one wind calamity occur. This is due to the force of the lifespan in the Śubhakṛtsna Heaven: because their lifespan is sixty-four kalpas, only at the eighth-eighth does one wind calamity occur. As sentient beings gradually cultivate superior meditation, the retributive body and lifespan they induce become gradually longer; hence the place they inhabit also abides gradually longer. Therefore a verse in the Abhidharma-śāstra says: