大般涅槃經疏 28.13

28.13

From “Good son, in the sūtras I…” below, the third dispute concerns the existence or non-existence of the intermediate existence (antarābhava). The Mahāvibhāṣā states: “Yuktidarśin says that for taking birth in the realms there is definitively an intermediate existence; the Vibhajyavādins say there is definitively no intermediate existence; the Sarvāstivādins also say it definitively exists; treatise masters also say it exists. Citing the sharpness or dullness of karma, like a thrown spear leaving the hand: those with strong evil karma go straight into hell, while those with strong wholesome karma go directly to be born among humans or gods; both have no intermediate existence.” In the text, it first speaks of definitive existence, which has three iterations; afterwards it speaks of definitive non-existence, which has four iterations. If one speaks of an intermediate existence, there are six existences. Furthermore, the six existences are simply the six destinies. The Buddha specially differentiated the asuras for Śakra, but asuras are simply part of the ghost destiny; thus there are only five, not six.