法苑珠林 70.56

70.56

問曰。何故於六趣之中。地獄人天三趣之中。各各立多居止處。鬼畜二趣各唯立一。脩羅一趣全不立者何耶。答曰。居止名為安止住處。有定處者。隨處則立。無定處者。是則不立。謂彼地獄定有八處。人有四處。天定有其二十八處。是故於此三趣。各各立多居止。鬼畜二趣無有定別多居止處。是故就趣各立其一。脩羅趣攝入餘道。是故不論。

Question: Why is it that among the six destinies, multiple dwelling places are established for each of the three destinies of hells, humans, and devas, whereas only a single one is established for each of the two destinies of ghosts and animals, and none at all is established for the destiny of asuras? Answer: "Dwelling" means a settled abode of residence. Where there is a definite place, it is established according to the place; where there is no definite place, it is not established. That is to say, the hells definitively have eight places, humans have four places, and devas definitively have twenty-eight places; therefore, multiple dwellings are established for each of these three destinies. The two destinies of ghosts and animals have no definite, distinct multiple dwelling places; therefore, only one is established for each destiny. The asura destiny is subsumed into the other paths; therefore, it is not discussed.