法苑珠林 8.14

8.14

Question: How is this known? Answer: According to the Old *Vibhāṣā-śāstra*, from Vipaśyin Buddha onward on the causal ground, Śākyamuni Bodhisattva planted the karmic causes for the bodily marks and characteristics down to the present ninth antarakalpa of abiding, which has passed through ninety-one mahākalpas. Therefore, the Old *Kośa-śāstra* says that through the power of his vigorous effort in paying homage to Tiṣya Buddha, Śākyamuni Bodhisattva surpassed nine mahākalpas and ultimately attained buddhahood. Thus we know that since the nine kalpas were mahākalpas, how could the remaining ninety-one kalpas not be mahākalpas? Furthermore, according to the *Bhaiṣajyarāja-Bhaiṣajyasamudgata Sūtra*, in each of the Vyūhakalpa, the Bhadrakalpa, and the Nakṣatrakalpa, one thousand buddhas appear in the world; thus we know that these kalpas are also great asaṃkhyeyakalpas. Moreover, in the *Bhaiṣajyarāja Sūtra*, [it says that] if good men, good women, or any other sentient beings hear the names of these fifty-three buddhas, they will not fall into the evil destinies for hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of asaṃkhyeyakalpas. Following the force of this text, they are successively called the Vyūhakalpa, Bhadrakalpa, Nakṣatrakalpa, and so forth, in each of which one thousand buddhas appear in the world. Thus we know that these exceed mahākalpas and are asaṃkhyeyakalpas. Down to the present Bhadrakalpa, the appearance of the four buddhas in the world is likewise during an asaṃkhyeyakalpa, not merely within an antarakalpa of abiding. Since they are mahākalpas, there is no doubt about the appearance of one thousand buddhas in the Bhadrakalpa. Furthermore, the *Dīrghāgama* says that ninety-one kalpas ago there was a buddha named Vipaśyin; further, thirty-one kalpas ago there was a buddha who appeared in the world named Śikhin; further, thirty-one kalpas ago there was a buddha who appeared in the world named Viśvabhū. As for these buddhas Śikhin and Viśvabhū, according to the *Buddhanāma Sūtra*, two buddhas appeared in the world in the very same kalpa without distinction. Perhaps the translator of the *Āgama* erred regarding these thirty-one kalpas. Furthermore, another explanation states: According to the *Lokasthitābhidharma-śāstra*, of the twenty antarakalpas of abiding, eight kalpas have passed, and three buddhas have already appeared in the world. Śākyamuni is due to appear in the world now, in the ninth kalpa. That is to say, four buddhas have already appeared in the world within the first nine kalpas. There are still eleven kalpas in the future; how do we know that many buddhas will not appear in the world? Thus the sūtra says: In some single kalpas, immeasurable buddhas appear in the world; in other countless kalpas, they pass empty without a single buddha appearing in the world. Applying this principle, even if many buddhas appear in an antarakalpa, it poses no contradiction at all. This is truly because the capacities of sentient beings are strong or weak; hence their experiences and visions differ. (This meaning is difficult to comprehend; it is left to later sages to investigate further.)