宗鏡錄 21.15

21.15

Answer: The reason animals are able to tread upon stone and sand together with humans is truly because a single thread of slight goodness is shared with humans, both being spared the torment of boiling and roasting. Because their goodness is slight, it does not equal that of humans, and they suffer [more] pain. However, though the weight of goodness between the cauldrons [of hell] and stone and sand differs, their actual circumstances are adjacent. Therefore [animals] still tread the ground of stone and sand together with humans. Because superior goodness produces refined states, their realms are separated; thus people of stone and sand are cut off from ascending to the land of the seven precious treasures.