Dighanikaya 14.5-7_3

14.5-7_3

Vipassīādayo pana sabbepi bodhisattā mettāpubbabhāgena somanassasahagatañāṇasampayuttaasaṅkhārikacittena mātukucchismiṃ paṭisandhiṃ gaṇhiṃsu. Tena cittena gahitāya paṭisandhiyā asaṅkhyeyyaṃ āyu, iti sabbe buddhā asaṅkhyeyyāyukā. Te kasmā asaṅkhyeyyaṃ na aṭṭhaṃsu? Utubhojanavipattiyā. Utubhojanavasena hi āyu hāyatipi vaḍḍhatipi.

Now, all bodhisattas such as Vipassī took rebirth in the mother's womb with an unprompted consciousness accompanied by joy and associated with knowledge, preceded by loving-kindness. Through rebirth taken with that consciousness, the lifespan is incalculable; thus all Buddhas have an incalculable lifespan. Why did they not remain for an incalculable [lifespan]? Because of the deficiency of climate and food. For through climate and food, lifespan both declines and increases.