法苑珠林 98.22

98.22

As the Samantapāsādikā states: Because women were ordained as renunciants, the true Dharma would only abide for five hundred years. Because the World-Honoured One instituted the teaching of the eight heavy rules (garudhamma) for bhikṣuṇīs, the true Dharma was restored to one thousand years. Question: After the one thousand years, is the true Dharma completely extinguished? Answer: It is not completely extinguished. For one thousand years beings attain the three knowledges; for another thousand years they attain the arhatship with cessation of attachment, but without the three knowledges; for another thousand years they attain anāgāmin; for another thousand years they attain sakṛdāgāmin; for another thousand years they attain srotaāpanna; altogether reaching ten thousand years. For the first five thousand years beings attain the Way; for the latter five thousand years they study but do not attain the Way. After ten thousand years, all scripture texts and writing will be completely extinguished, and there will only remain shaved heads and kāṣāya robes.