諸經要集 12.48

12.48

Furthermore, the Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna-sūtra says: 'Animals are immeasurable. Briefly stated, they inhabit three places: first, water-dwellers, namely fish and the like; second, land-dwellers, namely elephants and the like; third, air-dwellers, namely birds and the like. Alternatively, when seeing various animals with the divine eye, there are four kinds of birth. What are the four? First, womb-born, namely the kinds such as elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep. Second, egg-born, namely all birds such as snakes, vipers, geese, ducks, chickens, and pheasants. Third, moisture-born, namely the kinds such as fleas, lice, and nits. Fourth, apparitionally born, such as the long-faced dragons and the like.' Therefore the sūtra says: 'Birth is the arising of new faculties; death is the cessation of the faculties of sensation.'