大乘入道次第開決 1.73

1.73

As for "called the initial mind of the bodhisattva's three incalculable great kalpas": however, kalpas are not uniform and have four kinds. Thus the root verse of the Abhidharmakośa says: 'One should know there are four kalpas, / namely dissolution, formation, intermediate, and great. / Dissolution is from when hell beings cease to be born / until the external receptacle is entirely destroyed. / The kalpa of formation begins when wind arises / and ends when hell beings are first born. / The intermediate kalpa decreases from immeasurable [life] / down until the lifespan is only ten; / then increases and decreases eighteen times, / and finally increases up to eighty thousand. / Thus formed, it abides; / this is called twenty intermediate kalpas. / Formation, dissolution, and after dissolution emptiness, / in time are all equal to the abiding kalpa. / Eighty intermediate kalpas make a great kalpa; / of great kalpas there are three incalculables.' When a bodhisattva generates these two minds, it is precisely called the initial mind of first entering the three incalculable kalpas.