大般涅槃經集解 68.18

68.18

Sengliang states: As for these two persons, one cultivates fumigating dhyāna; the second does not cultivate it. Those who cultivate it redirect the karma of the four dhyānas to take birth in a distinctly different place. The second, who do not cultivate it, lack this karma. As the masters of the Abhidharma treatises formulate the method of fumigating dhyāna: emerging from the outflow-free mind, one fumigates mundane wholesome [states] so as to make the principle clear. If it were like this, then holy ones would produce further karma. The sūtra says: 'Why call them holy ones? They exhaust the old and do not create new.' One should know that what is discussed now originally belongs to the former karma of the four dhyānas; it is merely that the holy one exercises the power of the outflow-free, being able with mastery to transform that original karma. If born in a different place, there is no other distinct cause. Question: Why is it so? In the four dhyānas, ordinary beings and holy ones share the same place; there is often much noise and confusion, so deep wisdom cannot be generated. For this reason, they redirect this karma to be born in another place. If born there, they are separated from the retribution of ordinary beings, so quiet contemplation abides in the mind, and wisdom becomes brighter day by day. Hence the sūtra declares that those who delight in debate are born in the five pure abodes. Having finished explaining the six persons, people turned around and generated two doubts regarding the aforementioned explanation of nirvāṇa in the intermediate state.