[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) › [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122) › 6.61 # 法苑珠林 6.61 法苑珠林 6.61 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [6.61](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.6.61) 如婆沙論說。鬼中苦者。即彼無威德鬼。恒常飢渴累年不聞漿水之名。豈得逢斯甘饍。設值大河欲飲即變為炬火。縱得入口即腹爛燋。然如斯之類。豈不苦哉。第二鬼中樂者。即彼有威德中。富足豐美。衣食自然。身服天衣。口餐天供。形常優縱。策乘輕馳。任情游戲。共天何殊。如斯之類。豈不樂哉。問曰。既有斯樂便勝於人。何故經說人鬼殊趣。答曰。經說鬼神不如人道。略述二意。一受報公顯不及於人。為彼鬼神晝伏夜游故。不及於人二。虛怯多畏不及於人。雖有威德以報卑劣常畏於人。縱晝夜值人恒避路私隱。問曰。既劣於人何得威德報同於天。答然由前身大行檀故。得受威報由前身諂曲不實故。受斯鬼道也。 > As the \*Mahāvibhāṣā\* says: Among ghosts, the suffering ones are those ghosts without mighty virtue; constantly hungry and thirsty, for successive years they do not even hear the name of broth or water—how could they ever encounter sweet delicacies? Even if they come upon a great river and wish to drink, it immediately turns into torches of fire; even if it enters their mouths, their bellies immediately rot and scorch. Are not those of this kind truly suffering? The second, those among ghosts who experience joy, are those among the ghosts of mighty virtue who are wealthy and well-supplied, their food and clothing coming naturally; they wear heavenly garments on their bodies and eat heavenly offerings with their mouths; their demeanor is constantly leisurely and unrestrained; riding briskly on mounts, they play and roam as they please—how do they differ from devas? Are not those of this kind truly joyful? Question: 'Since they have such joy, they would be superior to humans. Why then do the sūtras say that humans and ghosts belong to distinct realms?' Answer: 'When the sūtras say that ghosts and spirits are inferior to the human realm, two points are briefly stated: First, the retribution they receive is not as public and prominent as that of humans; because those ghosts and spirits hide by day and roam by night, they are inferior to humans. Second, in cowardice and great fear they are inferior to humans; although they possess mighty virtue, because their karmic retribution is inferior, they constantly fear humans; even if they encounter humans day or night, they always avoid the road and hide themselves secretly.' Question: 'Since they are inferior to humans, how do they obtain retribution of mighty virtue equal to devas?' Answer: 'Because in a previous life they practiced dāna on a grand scale, they attained this retribution of mighty virtue; but because in a previous life they were flattering, crooked, and dishonest, they received this ghost path.' > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 6.60](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.6.60) - [Next: 6.62](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.6.62) - [Up: 6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.6) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.6.61) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.6.61](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.6.61) · Pramāṇa