(名數)顯教依法華經以地獄餓鬼畜生阿修羅人天之六凡與聲聞緣覺菩薩佛之四聖爲十法界,密教依理趣釋經以地鬼畜人天之五凡與聲緣菩權佛實佛之五聖爲十法界。
(名數)華嚴家爲分別圓融無礙之義相而立四法界,天臺家爲差別塵沙之事相而立十法界,對配之,即橫豎之二門也(四橫十豎)。十法界者:一、佛法界,自覺覺他覺行共滿之境界也。二、菩薩法界,爲無上菩提修六度萬行之境界也。叁、緣覺法界,爲入涅槃修十二因緣觀之境界也。四、聲聞法界,爲入涅槃,依佛之聲教修四谛觀法之境界也。五、天法界,修上品十善,兼修禅定,生于天界,受靜妙之樂之境界也。六、人法界,修五戒及中品十善,受人中苦樂之境界也。七、阿修羅法界,行下品十善得通力自在之非人境界也。八、鬼法界,犯下品五逆十惡,受饑渴苦之惡鬼神境界也。九、畜生法界,犯中品五逆十惡,受吞啖殺戮苦之畜類境界也。十,地獄法界,犯上品五逆十惡,受寒熱叫喚苦之最下境界也。要之感報之界分有十種不同,故謂之十法界。十法界之事經論無明說。此天臺大師依經論之意而立,該收一切有情界之一種法門也。釋十法界之字者,如止觀五曰:“法界者叁義,十數是能依,法界是所依,能所合攝故言十法界。又此十法各各因各各果,不相混濫,故言十法界。又此十法一一當體皆是法界,故言十法界。”
Ten Dharma Realms == 十法界
also known as ten states of existence, which are
1.Hell
2.Ghost
3.Animal
4.Asura
5.Man
6.Deva
7.Sravaka (Sound-Hearer Arhat)
8.Praetyka-Buddha
9.Bodhisattva
10.Buddha
Each Dharma realm has its own characteristics, and its existence is attributed to the retribution of the beings. The lowest six realms (1-6) are known as the Six Paths or Six Realms. These six states of existence are subjected to birth and death, and then rebirth for many lives. The upper four realms are known as the Four Holy Realms. These four states of existence are beyond birth and death and liberated from the Samsara
[出佛祖統紀] 法界者。諸佛衆生之本體也。然四聖六凡。感報界分不同。故有十法界焉。(四聖者。佛。菩薩。緣覺。聲聞也。六凡者。天。人。阿修羅。餓鬼。畜生。地獄也。)一佛法界佛。梵語具雲佛陀。華言覺。覺具叁義。一者自覺。謂悟性真常。了惑虛妄。二者覺他。謂運無緣慈。度有情衆。叁者覺行圓滿。謂萬行具足。爲叁界師。是名佛法界。(叁界者。欲界。色界。無色界也。)二菩薩法界菩薩。梵語具雲菩提薩埵。華言覺有情。謂自知成就。而以覺悟一切衆生。是名菩薩法界。叁緣覺 - 明·一如等 撰
地獄、餓鬼、畜生、阿修羅、人、天、聲聞、緣覺、菩薩、佛。前六是六凡,後四是四聖。 - 陳義孝編
密教之十法界,與顯教相異,以五凡五聖爲十法界。
一、五凡 五凡者,地獄、餓鬼、畜生、人、阿修天也。
二、五聖 五聖者,聲聞、緣覺、菩薩、權佛、實佛也。 - 明·楊卓