法苑珠林 70.57

70.57

Question: If one relies on the Abhidharma's explanation, those four formless states pervade the desire and form realms and also have no distinct locations; furthermore, being formless, they have no physical resting place. How then can they be called dwelling places? Answer: According to the Hīnayāna, it is indeed as you say. But according to the Mahāyāna, they also possess subtle physical forms and each has palaces; there are four distinct places. Within the tridhātu, each distinctively maintains one realm without mingling with the other two. Therefore, they are spoken of as four dwellings.