觀音義疏 1.18

1.18

業同者，如一地獄界大略是同，其間優降復有何量？如一獄復有百千萬億品格之殊，一一品格復有百千萬億罪人，是罪業正同，所以同受一品罪苦，將此意廣歷餓鬼、畜生、修羅、人、天皆亦如是，故知此數是標同業之意也。所以舉多數者，明百千萬億種業遭苦稱名，一時有機，一時能應，皆得解脫，何況一人、一業、一機獨來而不能救？此舉境、眾、機多，以顯觀深應大也。

Regarding "shared karma," taking for example the single realm of hells, in general it is the same, yet within it what measure is there to the gradations of superiority and inferiority? A single hell further has hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of distinct categories, and each category further has hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of sinners. Because their sinful karma is precisely identical, they together undergo the bitter punishment of one grade. Applying this understanding broadly through the hungry ghosts, animals, asuras, humans, and devas, all are likewise so. Therefore, know that this number indicates the meaning of shared karma. The reason for citing a vast number is to clarify that when hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of kinds of karma encounter suffering and recite the name, simultaneously possessing capacity, they can simultaneously be responded to and all attain liberation. How much more so could a single person with a single karma and a single capacity coming alone not be saved? This cites the vastness of objects, multitudes, and capacities to reveal the depth of contemplation and the greatness of response.