諸經要集 12.92

12.92

Twelfth, regarding the intermediate existence: having received animal bodies due to foolishness, in immeasurable varieties, receiving bodies of birth and death for hundreds of thousands of koṭis [of lifetimes], falling into the hells, pretas, and animals, revolving endlessly through the world; [yet] through the remainder of good karma, dying among animals, they are born in two heavenly places: either reborn in the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, or reborn in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. In the evil destiny of animals, when the retribution of suffering is about to end and one is about to gain release, signs appear. When life is about to end, a bright light is seen appearing; due to the remainder of good karma, foolish thoughts are thinned and diminished. Or seeing a joyful place, one runs toward it; just as seen in a dream, one runs toward it and is immediately born in heaven. This is called the twelfth intermediate existence.