法苑珠林 70.53

70.53

Question: It is not known on what grounds, among the six destinies, the four bad destinies are each established as one state of existence, four are established among humans, and seventeen states of existence are established among the devas. Why is this? Answer: There is a reason: in those four bad destinies, because suffering and affliction are plentiful, sentient beings are not attached to them and the sentiment of delighting in abiding is slight; therefore, each destiny is established as a single state of existence. The human destiny is sequentially superior; sentient beings delight in abiding there, and their minds are already deeply attached; therefore, according to regions, they are spoken of as four. The deva destiny is the most superior; the sentiment of delighting in abiding is the most supreme; therefore, according to places, they are spoken of as seventeen. The brief explanation of the twenty-five states of existence is like this.