法苑珠林 5.39

5.39

如婆沙論中釋。人名止息意。故名為人。謂六趣之中能止息意。故名為人。謂於六趣之中。能止息煩惱惡亂之意。莫過於人。故稱止息意也。又人者忍也。謂於世間違順情能安忍。故名為忍。又立世阿毘曇論云。何故人道名摩㝹沙。此有八義。一聰明故。二為勝故。三意微細故。四正覺故。五智慧增上故。六能別虛實故。七聖道正器故。八聰慧業所生故。說人道為摩㝹沙。又新婆沙論。問何故此趣名末奴沙。答昔有轉輪王。名曼犾多。告諸人曰。汝等欲有所作。應先思惟稱量觀察。爾時人即如王教欲有所作。皆先思惟稱量觀察。便於種種工巧業處。而得善巧。以能用意思惟觀察所作事故。名末奴沙。有說。先造作增長下身語意妙行。往彼生。令彼生相續。故名人趣。有說。多憍慢故名人。以五趣中憍慢多者無如人故。有說。能寂靜意故名人。以五趣中能寂靜意無如人者。故契經說。人有三事勝於諸天。一勇猛。二憶念。三梵行。

As explained in the *Vibhāṣā-śāstra*: Humans (*ren*) are called 'those who still the mind' (*zhixi yi*); hence they are named humans. That is to say, among the six destinies, they can still the mind; hence they are named humans. This means that among the six destinies, in being able to still the mind of afflictions, evil, and confusion, none surpasses humans; therefore they are called 'those who still the mind.' Furthermore, humans (*ren*) means endurance (*ren*); that is, regarding the agreeable and contrary conditions in the world, they can peacefully endure them; hence they are named endurance. Furthermore, the *Lokasthitābhidharma-śāstra* states: Why is the human realm called *manuṣya*? It has eight meanings: first, because they are intelligent; second, because they are superior; third, because their minds are subtle; fourth, because of saṃbodhi; fifth, because their wisdom increases; sixth, because they can distinguish the real from the false; seventh, because they are proper vessels for the noble path; eighth, because they are born from intelligent karma. Therefore the human realm is called *manuṣya*. Furthermore, the *New Vibhāṣā-śāstra* asks: Why is this destiny called *manuṣya*? It answers: Long ago there was a cakravartin named Māndhātṛ, who addressed the people, saying, 'If you wish to do something, you should first ponder, deliberate, and observe.' At that time, the people followed the king's instruction: whenever they wished to do something, they all first pondered, deliberated, and observed. Thereupon they attained skillfulness in various crafts and karmic actions. Because they can use their minds to ponder and observe what they do, they are called *manuṣya*. Some say: Having formerly performed and increased subtle good deeds of body, speech, and mind, they go to be born there, causing that birth to continue; therefore it is called the human destiny. Some say: Because they have much arrogance, they are called humans; for among the five destinies, none has as much arrogance as humans. Some say: Because they can tranquilize the mind, they are called humans; for among the five destinies, none can tranquilize the mind like humans. Therefore the sūtra says: Humans surpass the devas in three matters: first, valor; second, mindfulness; third, pure conduct (brahmacarya).