法苑珠林 5.9

5.9

問曰。唯有此六趣定更有餘道耶。答曰。且據一家不增減說。若依樓炭經中。亦說九道眾生共居。一菩薩道。二緣覺道。三聲聞道。帖前六道。以凡聖同居為欲相化也。天者如婆沙釋名。光明照曜。故名為天。又天者顛也。顛謂上顛。萬物之中。唯天在上。故名顛也。又天者顯也。顯謂高顯。萬物之中。唯天獨高在上顯覆。故名顯也。

Question: Are there only these six destinies, or are there definitely other paths?
Answer: For now we follow the explanation of one school without addition or subtraction. If we rely on the Lou tan jing, it also speaks of nine paths of sentient beings dwelling together: first, the path of bodhisattvas; second, the path of pratyekabuddhas; third, the path of śrāvakas. Adding these to the previous six paths, the common and the holy dwell together because of the desire to transform one another. As for deva ('heaven'), as explained in the Vibhāṣā's etymology, it is called tian ('heaven') because its light shines radiantly. Furthermore, tian means dian ('summit'). Dian means the highest summit. Among the ten thousand things, heaven alone is above; hence it is called dian. Furthermore, tian means xian ('lofty and prominent'). Xian means high and manifest. Among the ten thousand things, heaven alone is uniquely high, prominently covering above; hence it is called xian.