安樂集 1.67

1.67

答曰：「此義不類，少分似同，據體大別，有其四種。何者？一、彌勒世尊為其天眾轉不退法輪，聞法生信者獲益，名為信同。著樂無信者，其數非一。又來雖生兜率，位是退處。是故經云：『三界無安，猶如火宅。』二、往生兜率，正得壽命四千歲，命終之後不免退落。三、兜率天上雖有水鳥、樹林，和鳴哀雅，但與諸天生樂為緣，順於五欲不資聖道；若向彌陀淨國一得生者，悉是阿毘跋致，更無退人與其雜居。又復，位是無漏，出過三界，不復輪迴。論其壽命，即與佛齊，非算數能知。其有水鳥、樹林，皆能說法，令人悟解，證會無生。四、據《大經》，且以一種音樂比挍者，經讚言：『從世帝王至六天，音樂轉妙有八重，展轉勝前億萬倍，寶樹音麗倍亦然。復有自然妙伎樂，法音清和悅心神，哀婉雅亮超十方。是故稽首清淨勳。』」

I reply: These two meanings are not of the same kind. They appear slightly similar, but fundamentally have major differences, of which there are four. What are they? First, Maitreya, the Bhagavat, turns the non-retrogressing wheel of the Dharma for his heavenly assembly, and those who hear the Dharma and give rise to faith obtain benefit; this is called similarity in faith. But those who are attached to pleasure and lack faith are not a few. Moreover, although one is born in Tuṣita, that stage is a place of retrogression. Therefore the sūtra says: 'There is no peace in the three realms, just like a burning house.' Second, upon rebirth in Tuṣita, the lifespan is exactly four thousand years; after that life ends, one cannot avoid retrogressing and falling. Third, although on Tuṣita Heaven there are waterbirds and groves of trees singing in harmonious and plaintive grace, they merely serve as conditions for producing pleasure for the devas, according with the five desires and not assisting the holy path. But if one succeeds in being born in Amitābha's pure realm, all are avaivartika, and there are no retrogressing persons living mixed among them. Furthermore, their stage is without outflows, surpassing the three realms, never to transmigrate again. Speaking of their lifespan, it is equal to the Buddha's, beyond what calculation can know. The waterbirds and groves of trees there are all able to expound the Dharma, causing people to awaken and understand, and to realize non-production. Fourth, according to the Larger Sūtra, comparing just one type of music, the sūtra praises: 'From worldly emperors up to the six heavens, / Music grows more marvelous across eight tiers; / Each successively surpasses the former by hundreds of millions of times; / The splendid sounds of the jeweled trees are also twice as wonderful. / There is further natural, marvelous music; / The Dharma sound is clear and harmonious, delighting heart and spirit, / Plaintive, elegant, and resonant, surpassing the ten directions. / Therefore I bow to the Pure Merit.'