法苑珠林 3.17

3.17

Question: Since the lifespan of the Vijñānānantyāyatana among these four heavens doubles that of the Ākāśānantyāyatana, why do the latter two heavens not double the preceding ones? Answer: As stated in the Vibhāṣā, three treatise masters all explain this meaning. The first master says: in both the Ākāśa and Vijñāna realms, each has the immeasurable practice and other practices such as abandoning all bases; therefore, their lifespans double each other. Because the Ākāśānantyāyatana has the immeasurable practice, it obtains a lifespan of 10,000 kalpas; through other practices it further obtains a lifespan of 10,000 kalpas; therefore, together they make a lifespan of 20,000 kalpas. Because the Vijñānānantyāyatana has the immeasurable practice, it obtains a lifespan of 20,000 kalpas; through other practices it further obtains a lifespan of 20,000 kalpas; doubling the preceding, it thus obtains a lifespan of 40,000 kalpas. The higher stages have no further immeasurable practice, so the lifespans do not double. Such is the first explanation. The second master says: both the Ākāśa and Vijñāna realms each have the two kinds of practice of concentration and wisdom; therefore, their lifespans double each other. By concentration one obtains a lifespan of 10,000 kalpas, and by the practice of wisdom one further obtains a lifespan of 10,000 kalpas; therefore, together they make a lifespan of 20,000 kalpas. In the Vijñānānantyāyatana, the practice of concentration obtains a lifespan of 20,000 kalpas, and the practice of wisdom further obtains a lifespan of 20,000 kalpas; doubling the preceding, it thus obtains a lifespan of 40,000 kalpas. The upper two stages have only the practice of concentration and lack the practice of wisdom; therefore, their lifespans do not double again. Such is the second explanation. The third master says: the fixed retribution portion of lifespan in each of those four formless stages is merely 20,000 kalpas. Because of being free or not free from desire, the lifespans double or do not double. In the stage of the Ākāśānantyāyatana, because one has not yet freed oneself from the desire of one's own stage, there is only a lifespan of 20,000 kalpas. The 20,000 kalpas in the Vijñānānantyāyatana stage is its fixed lifespan; due to being free from the desire of the Ākāśānantyāyatana, it further obtains 20,000 kalpas; doubling the preceding, it thus obtains a lifespan of 40,000 kalpas. The 20,000 kalpas of the Ākiṃcanyāyatana is its fixed lifespan; due to being free from the desires of both the Ākāśa and Vijñāna stages, it further obtains 40,000 kalpas of lifespan. The 20,000 of the Naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñā stage is its fixed lifespan; due to being free from the desires of the lower three stages, it further obtains a lifespan of 60,000 kalpas. By this principle, in the Naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñā stage one obtains a lifespan of 80,000 kalpas. Such are the three explanations; the meaning is made clear herein.