Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “apparent longevity of the buddhas” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
I. Apparent longevity of the buddhas
The length of life (āyuḥpramāṇa) of the Buddhas is long, or short:[1]
Pi-p’o-che (Vipaśyin), 84,000 years.
Kiu-leou-souan-t’o (Krakasunda), 60,000 years.
Kia-na-k’ie-meou-ni (Kanakamuni), 30,000 years.
Kia-chö (Kāśyapa), 20,000 years.
Che-kia-wen (Śākyamuni) a little more than 100 years.
Mi-lö (Maitreya), 84,000 years.[2]
The ordinary radiance (prabhā) of Buddha Śākyamuni is one armspan (vyāma); that of Maitreya, ten lis.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Compare the Sanskrit Mahāvadāna, ed. Waldschmidt, p. 69–70 and its Chinese versions, T 1, k. 1, p. 2a4–8; T 2, k. 1, p. 150b27–c5; T 4, p. 159c11–15: Vipaśyin 80,000; Śikhin 70,000; Viśvabhuj 60,000; Krakasuna 40,000; Kanakamuni 30,000; Kāśyapa 20,000; Śākyamuni 100. – Pāli Mahāpadāna in Dīgha, II, p. 3–4: Vipassi 80,000; Sikhi 70,000; Vessabhu 60,000; Konāgamana 30,000; Kassapa 20,000; Gotama 100.
See also above, p. 269F, 299–300F.
[2]:
Cf. Madhyama, T 26, k. 13, p. 510b8; Divyāvadāna, p. 66, l. 21–22.
[3]:
Vyāmaprabhā of Śākyamuni, above, p. 277F, 454–455F. – Mahādyuti of Maitreya, in Maitreyavyākaraṇa, ed. Lévi, p. 136, v. 47.