釋淨土群疑論 2.19

2.19

釋曰：於五趣中，悉能修西方淨業得生極樂。按諸天既能來聽《觀經》，乃《觀經．下》文言「無量諸天、龍、夜叉，聞佛所說，皆大歡喜」，《稱讚淨土經》列眾中言「無量諸天、阿索洛等，為聞法故皆來聽法」，故知悉欲願生淨土，皆能習淨業，得生西方。又按《菩薩處胎經》第四卷說「化生龍持八關齋戒，金翅鳥欲食不得。請問其法，龍為說八關齋法。金翅鳥隨龍往海龍王宮中，爾時龍子復與金翅鳥而說於偈。是時龍子龍女心開意解，壽終之後皆當往生阿彌陀佛國。」又按《隨願往生經》說「若以亡者嚴身之具、堂宇屋宅、園林浴池以施三寶，此福最多功德力強，可得拔彼地獄之殃。以是因緣，便得解脫憂苦之患，長得解脫，往生十方諸佛淨土。」以此准知，五趣眾生悉得往生極樂國也。

Explanation: Among the five destinies, all are able to cultivate pure karma for the West and attain rebirth in Sukhāvatī. According to [the fact that] all the devas could come to listen to the Guan jing, the lower fascicle of the Guan jing states: 'Immeasurable devas, nāgas, and yakṣas, hearing what the Buddha expounded, all rejoiced greatly'; and the Listing of the Assembly in the Chengzan jingtu jing states: 'Immeasurable devas, asuras, and so forth, all came to listen to the Dharma in order to hear the teaching.' Hence we know that all who wish and vow to be reborn in the pure land are able to practice pure karma and attain rebirth in the West. Moreover, according to what is expounded in the fourth fascicle of the Bodhisattva Garbhastha Sūtra: 'A miraculously born nāga held the eightfold precepts, and a garuḍa wished to devour it but could not. The garuḍa asked about its method, and the nāga expounded the method of the eightfold precepts for it. The garuḍa followed the nāga to the palace of the ocean nāga king, where the nāga prince again spoke verses to the garuḍa. At that time, the nāga prince and nāga maiden had their minds opened and attained understanding, and after their lifespans ended they were all to be reborn in the land of Amitābha Buddha.' Furthermore, according to what is expounded in the Scripture on Rebirth in Accordance with One's Vow: 'If one donates the deceased person's bodily adornments, halls, dwellings, parks, and bathing ponds to the Three Jewels, this blessing is supreme and its power of merit is strong, able to eradicate the calamities of hell for that person. Through these causes and conditions, they immediately attain release from the distress of grief and suffering, attain eternal liberation, and are reborn in the pure lands of the buddhas of the ten directions.' By this we can infer and know that sentient beings of all five destinies can attain rebirth in the land of Sukhāvatī.