法苑珠林 4.49

4.49

"Furthermore, by what cause and condition does the Moon Deva's palace appear gradually?" The Buddha answered, "There are three causes and conditions for this moon: first, its back turns toward [us]; second, there are devas with blue bodies, whose forms, garments, and necklaces are all blue, and they always conceal its palace during half of the month—because of this concealment, the moon appears gradually; third, sixty rays of light flow forth at one time from the Sun Deva's palace and obstruct the lunar orb. Due to these causes and conditions, it appears gradually."