法苑珠林 5.8

5.8

Question: Why are they called the 'six destinies' (gati)?
Answer: According to the Abhidharma treatises, gati means 'arrival' and is also called 'path' (mārga). It means that the paths of good and evil karmic causes can convey and bring one to the place of rebirth; thus it is called a gati. Alternatively, based on the karma one has generated, one proceeds (qu) to that place of rebirth; thus it is called a gati. Furthermore, gati has the sense of 'tending toward', meaning that the karma created can tend toward heaven down to hell.