[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [淨土論](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963) › 1.29 # 淨土論 1.29 淨土論 1.29 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963.1.29) 答曰：三界名通，非唯一種。如東方妙喜世界，有閻浮提、忉利天，有男有女，而名淨土，豈出三界？既在三界有女人，故亦是欲界。可與娑婆欲界同耶？彼名淨土，此名穢剎也。今判但化淨土，化界內眾生者並在三界中。若是報淨土，化界外眾生者則出三界，由淨土有三品優劣故耳。如東方妙喜世界是下淨土，雜男女故；西方極樂世界是中淨土，雜二乘故；上方眾香世界是上淨土，無二乘故。此三品淨土，並在欲界中，由在人天別住處故。妙喜世界有人天者，如《維摩經》云「從閻浮提至忉利天」也。極樂世界有人天者，如《無量壽經》云「佛告彌勒：『汝見從地已上乃至五淨居天所有莊嚴事不也？』」眾香世界有人天者，如《維摩經》云「令諸天人得入律行」也。此等既有人天別住處，當知則在欲界中也。若在色界，雖有天，則住處當知則在欲界中也。若在色界，雖有天，則無人，由色界在上，人不能上故。若出三界外，則無人天別住處也。如淨土有三品，穢土亦有三品。如經說「從此東方有一世界名曰斯訶，土田唯有三角沙石，一年二雨，濕潤不過五寸。其土眾生唯食草子，樹皮為衣，求生不得、求死不得。」此是中穢土也。復有一世界，虎狼毒狩乃至蛇蠍悉能飛行，遇輒相食，不簡善惡，此是下穢土也。娑婆世界恒有諸佛出世，有發菩提心眾生，地出粳糧、人有禮義，此則是上穢土也。淨土雖有三品，但得生者悉皆不退；穢土亦有三品，但生之者普皆退也。又西方淨土，有四因緣唯進不退。一由長命故不退，如經言「壽命無量阿僧祇劫」故。直然三大僧祇修道則得成佛，況復無量僧祇也。穢土由短命故退也。二者有諸佛菩薩為善知識故不退，如經云「得與如是諸上善人俱會一處」故。穢土由多惡知識故退也。三者無有女人，六根境界並是進道緣故不退，如《無量壽經》云「眼見色即發菩提心，乃至意緣法亦發菩提心」也。穢土由有女人，六根境界普是退道緣故退也。四者唯有善心故不退，如經云「無毛髮許造惡之地」。穢土由有惡心、無記心故退也。 > I reply: The term 'three realms' is general and not of only one kind. For example, the eastern world Abhirati has a Jambudvīpa and a Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, and has both men and women, yet is called a pure land—how could it be beyond the three realms? Since it has women within the three realms, it is also of the desire realm. Can it be identical to the desire realm of Sahā? That is called a pure land, while this is called an impure realm. Now I determine that \[lands which are\] purely transformed pure lands and transform sentient beings within the realms are all within the three realms. If it is a retribution pure land transforming sentient beings outside the realms, it is then beyond the three realms, because there are superior and inferior grades among the three classes of pure lands. For instance, the eastern world Abhirati is an inferior pure land because it is mixed with men and women; the western world Sukhāvatī is a middling pure land because it is mixed with the two vehicles; the zenith world Sarvagandhasugandhā is a superior pure land because it is without the two vehicles. These three classes of pure lands are all within the desire realm, because they contain distinct abodes for humans and gods. That the world Abhirati has humans and gods is as the Vimalakīrti-sūtra says: 'From Jambudvīpa up to the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven.' That the world Sukhāvatī has humans and gods is as the Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha-sūtra says: 'The Buddha said to Maitreya: "Do you see all the splendours from the ground up to the Five Pure Abodes?"' That the world Sarvagandhasugandhā has humans and gods is as the Vimalakīrti-sūtra says: 'Causing all gods and humans to enter into disciplined conduct.' Since these have distinct abodes for humans and gods, one should know that they are within the desire realm. If they were in the form realm, although there are gods, \[there are no humans, because the form realm is above and humans cannot ascend there.\] Since these have distinct abodes for humans and gods, one should know that they are within the desire realm. If they were in the form realm, although there are gods, there are no humans, because the form realm is above and humans cannot ascend there. If it were beyond the three realms, then there would be no distinct abodes for humans and gods. Just as pure lands have three classes, impure lands also have three classes. As a sūtra says: 'East from here there is a world named Sihē \[Sahā?\]; its fields consist only of triangular sand and stones; it rains twice a year, moistening no more than five inches. Sentient beings in that land eat only grass seeds and wear tree bark for clothing; seeking to live they cannot, seeking to die they cannot.' This is a middling impure land. Furthermore, there is a world where tigers, wolves, venomous beasts, and even snakes and scorpions can all fly, devouring each other upon meeting without distinguishing good from bad; this is an inferior impure land. In the Sahā world, Buddhas constantly appear, there are sentient beings who generate bodhicitta, the earth produces non-glutinous grain, and people possess propriety and righteousness; this then is a superior impure land. Although pure lands have three classes, all who manage to be born there are non-retrogressing; although impure lands also have three classes, all who are born in them universally retrogress. Furthermore, the Western Pure Land has four causes and conditions whereby one only advances and does not retrogress. First, one does not retrogress due to long life, as the sūtra says: 'His lifespan is immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas.' Simply cultivating the Path for three great asaṃkhyeyas one attains buddhahood; how much more so with immeasurable asaṃkhyeyas! In the impure land, one retrogresses due to short life. Second, one does not retrogress because there are all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas as good spiritual friends (kalyāṇamitra), as the sūtra says: 'One is able to meet together in one place with such superior good persons.' In the impure land, one retrogresses due to having many bad spiritual friends. Third, one does not retrogress because there are no women, and the sense fields of the six faculties are all conditions for advancing along the Path, as the Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha-sūtra says: 'Upon seeing forms with the eyes one generates bodhicitta, up to upon having the mind cognize dharmas one also generates bodhicitta.' In the impure land, one retrogresses because there are women, and the sense fields of the six faculties are all universally conditions for retrogressing from the Path. Fourth, one does not retrogress because there is solely a good mind, as the sūtra says: 'There is not even a hair's breadth of ground for creating evil.' In the impure land, one retrogresses due to the existence of evil minds and indeterminate minds. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 1.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963.1.28) - [Next: 1.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963.1.30) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963~en-mt.1.29) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963.1.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1963.1.29) · Pramāṇa