諸經要集 19.70

19.70

Third, concerning the length of lifespan: The Abhidharmakośa-śāstra states that if one's place of birth is not fixed in one realm, one may take birth in any other place within this destiny. For example, cattle have a preponderance of sexual desire in the summer; dogs in the autumn; bears in the winter; horses in the spring; while jackals and the like have sexual desire at no fixed season. If at that time a sentient being is due to be born among cattle, but it is not the summer season, he is born among wild cattle. If he is due to be born among dogs, but it is not the season, he is born among jackals. Furthermore, the Hīnayāna masters of the Kośa offer four differing explanations: The first says that after dying in this short period, one immediately takes birth in the skandhas. The second says that one can abide for seven times seven days, and once that is completed one remains in the intermediate state with no limit to the period. The third says that one can abide for forty-nine days; if the conditions for rebirth are not yet complete, after dying one takes it up again, also without limit of time. The fourth says that depending on the conditions for rebirth, one may abide even for an eon without ending one's life. Fifth, relying on the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, it says: If one has not yet obtained the conditions for birth, one abides for a maximum of seven days; dying and being reborn again, one undergoes death and birth for up to seven times seven days; after this, one definitely obtains the conditions for birth. This is different from the previous four.