法苑珠林 70.56

70.56

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.