法苑珠林 8.52

English (machine translation) 8.52

Language: English

8.52

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:'

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法苑珠林 — 道世, Classical Chinese