法苑珠林 72.11

72.11

As stated in the Vibhāṣā-śāstra: 'Within this desire realm, the six destinies are completely subsumed. The form and formless realms each subsume a small portion of the heavenly destiny. The reason for this distinction is that because this desire realm is a state of distraction, sentient beings mingle in evil and their initiation of karma is not pure; it is either wholesome or unwholesome, and because of this difference, they receive retribution according to their karma, with many distinctions. The upper two realms are solely states of concentration; sentient beings are calm and still, and their initiation of karma is also pure; therefore there are no distinctions of multiple destinies.' Question: 'How do the four forms of birth and the six destinies mutually subsume each other?' Answer: 'As stated in the Abhidharma: heaven and hell are exclusively apparitionally born; the destiny of hungry ghosts has only two, namely womb-born and apparitionally born; humans and animals each possess all four forms of birth. Therefore this treatise asks: "Does birth subsume destiny, or does destiny subsume birth?" It then answers itself:'