The Lotus Sūtra 7.23

7.23

觀世音菩薩，以爍迦羅心應變無窮，自在神通遍遊法界，入微塵國土說法濟度，具足妙相弘誓如海，凡有因緣發清淨心，纔舉聲稱，即隨聲而應，所有欲願即獲如意。妙法蓮華經普門品者，為度脫苦惱之真詮也。人能常以是經作觀，一念方萌，即見大悲勝相，能滅一切諸苦，其功德不可思議。朕惟天道福善禍淫，故佛示果報，使人為善而不敢為惡。夫天堂、地獄皆由人為，不違於方寸之內，故為善者得升天堂，為惡者即墮地獄。夫忠臣孝子吉人貞士，其心即佛，故神明芘佑，業障俱泯，是以生不犯於憲條，沒不墮於無間。夫兇頑之徒，一於為惡，棄五倫如敝帚，蹈刑法如飲甘，寧餧羅剎，不欽佛道。然人性本善，所為惡者，特氣質之偏；苟能改心易慮，修省避畏，轉移之間惡可為善矣。為善則即善人，昔之所積之咎，如太空點塵、紅罏片雪，消滌淨盡，雖有果報將安施乎？朕恒念此，惟恐世之人有過而不知改，乃甘心焉以自棄，遂表章是經，使善良君子永堅禁戒之心，廣納無量之福，為善功德豈有涯涘哉！

Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, with a vajra-like mind, responds and adapts without end, roaming freely throughout the dharmadhātu with unhindered supernatural powers, entering lands as numerous as fine dust motes to preach the Dharma and deliver beings, fully endowed with sublime marks, his vast vows vast as the ocean. Whenever there are conditions, if one gives rise to a pure mind and merely raises one's voice to call his name, he immediately responds according to that voice, and all one's desires are fulfilled. The Universal Gate Chapter of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra is the true teaching for deliverance from suffering and affliction. If a person can constantly contemplate by means of this sūtra, the moment a single thought arises, they will see the supreme marks of Great Compassion, which can eliminate all sufferings; its merit is inconceivable. We consider that the Way of Heaven blesses the good and brings misfortune to the wicked; thus the Buddha demonstrated karmic retribution to lead people to do good and not dare to do evil. Indeed, heaven and hell are both made by humankind, not departing from the realm of the mind; therefore, those who do good ascend to heaven, while those who do evil fall into hell. Loyal ministers, filial sons, auspicious people, and chaste scholars—their very minds are Buddha; thus the deities protect them and their karmic obstructions are entirely dissolved. Hence in life they do not violate the laws, and after death they do not fall into the Avīci hell. As for stubborn and perverse scoundrels who dedicate themselves solely to evil, they discard the five human relationships like worn-out brooms, tread upon the penal code as if drinking sweet wine, and would rather feed rākṣasas than revere the Buddha's path. Yet human nature is fundamentally good; their evil deeds are merely deviations of their temperament. If only they could change their hearts and minds, cultivate self-examination, and practice reverent awe, then in an instant evil can turn into good. When they do good, they become good people; the accumulated faults of the past will be like a speck of dust in the vast sky, or a flake of snow upon a red-hot stove, completely melted away and washed clean; even though there be karmic retribution, where could it be applied? We constantly ponder this, fearing only that the people of the world may have faults yet not know to reform them, and willingly abandon themselves. We therefore elucidate this sūtra, so that good and noble persons may perpetually strengthen their resolve to observe the precepts, broadly receive immeasurable blessings; how could the merit of doing good ever have a limit!