仁王經疏 2.98

2.98

問：豈不三界外有變易生死，云何此經說三界外無眾生耶？答：真諦三藏自有兩釋。一恒解者，據實界外變易生，而此經中未明此義，亦無有過。依佛教中，如聲聞藏四阿笈摩，但說佛身是無常法，未明佛性常住身義，說佛無常亦無過失。此亦如是，依佛教故。二依理釋，隨分別心計有三界及三界外有變易生，皆不稱理。由此斷所計界外生死，據實還是不出三界。故《大品》云「從三界中出，至薩婆若，以不動故。」唯此等經無別有情出三界外，即依此意釋經可知。慈恩三藏作如是釋：變易生死無別業果，即依三界所有業果，由邊際定轉勝轉妙，故名變易。三界門中隨本業果，即彼界攝。故此經云出三界外無別有情，而諸聖教互不相違。若廣分別，義如別章。

Question: Is there not transformation saṃsāra outside the three realms? Why does this sūtra say that outside the three realms there are no sentient beings? Answer: Tripiṭaka Master Paramārtha gave two explanations himself. One, the constant explanation: In reality there is transformation birth outside the realms, but since this sūtra has not yet clarified this meaning, there is also no fault. In accordance with the Buddha's teaching, just as the four āgamas of the śrāvaka piṭaka only teach that the Buddha's body is an impermanent phenomenon and have not yet clarified the meaning that buddha-nature is an eternal body, speaking of the Buddha as impermanent is also without fault. This is likewise so, because it follows [a specific level of] the Buddha's teaching. Two, explaining in accordance with the principle: positing in accordance with a discriminating mind that there are the three realms, and that outside the three realms there is transformation birth, does not accord with the principle. Because of this, one severs posited birth and death outside the realms; in reality, it still does not leave the three realms. Thus the Pañcaviṃśati says: "Emerging from the three realms, reaching sarvajña, because it is unmoved." It is only that these sūtras hold that no separate sentient beings exit outside the three realms; interpreting the sūtra according to this intention can be understood. Tripiṭaka Master Ci'en gave this explanation: transformation saṃsāra has no separate karmic fruit; relying on the karmic fruits existing in the three realms, through the limit of meditative absorption they become increasingly superior and increasingly sublime, hence called "transformation." In the categorization of the three realms, following their original karmic fruit, they are subsumed under that realm. Therefore this sūtra says that outside the three realms there are no separate sentient beings, and the various sacred teachings do not contradict each other. For a full differentiation, the meaning is as in the separate chapter.