釋迦方志 1.8

1.8

佛之所王土也。號曰索訶世界。即古翻經為娑婆矣。經中所謂忍土者也。謂此土人強識力念。能忍苦樂堪任道器。故佛王之。案此封疆。周輪鐵山山外是空空不可測。山下是地地下是金。金下是水水下是風。其風堅實逾於金剛。眾生心力同業所感。能持世界不令傾墜。自風以外即是虛空。約此周輪從下而上。至無色窮名為有頂。論其畫界從廣所經。卒非里數之所度也。且如智度論。從色界天下一大石。經一萬八千三百八十三年方始至地。約此上下方維。名為一佛所王土也（即以大千鐵圍而為封疆之域）。

The land ruled by the Buddha is called the Sahā-lokadhātu, which in ancient translations of the sūtras was rendered as Sahā. What is called in the sūtras the Land of Endurance means that the people of this land have strong memories and forceful mindfulness, are able to endure suffering and joy, and are fit to be vessels for the Way; therefore, the Buddha rules over it. Examining this border: it is encircled by the Iron Mountains; outside the mountains is space, and space cannot be measured. Beneath the mountains is earth; beneath the earth is gold; beneath the gold is water; beneath the water is wind. This wind is solid, surpassing vajra. Evoked by the common karma of sentient beings' mental power, it can sustain the world and keep it from collapsing. Beyond the wind is simply empty space. Measuring this circumference from bottom to top, it reaches the end of the formless [realm], which is called Bhavāgra. As for the drawing of its boundaries in terms of length and breadth, it ultimately cannot be measured in miles. Take, for instance, the Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom: if a large stone were dropped from the heavens of the form realm, it would take 18,383 years to reach the ground. Measuring these directions, above and below, this is called the land ruled by one Buddha (that is, taking the Cakravāḍa of the great thousand [worlds] as the territory of its borders).