維摩經略疏 5.63

5.63

問：若爾者，諸經說懺必須生重慚愧、怖畏改隔，何得不須作法取相？答：人有利鈍，鈍人造罪心重、懺罪心輕，輕心不能除重心罪，故令生重慚愧怖畏改隔其心，須作法取相。若利根人，正觀心性罪本自滅憂悔不起，是則畢故不造新，名直除滅不擾其心。故《大論》云「若人罪能悔，悔已莫復憂。如是心安樂，不應常念著。」若生重悔，悔箭入心，現世憂苦，死入地獄。又若執有此罪，罪則轉重；若不執罪，罪則漸輕。若能見理事性根本，一切諸罪即皆滅也，是為直滅不擾其心。

Question: If so, why do various sūtras say that in repenting one must generate deep shame and remorse, dread, and reform, and how can one not require performing rituals and grasping signs? Answer: People are sharp or dull. Dull people have a heavy mind when creating offenses and a light mind when repenting offenses; a light mind cannot eradicate offenses born of a heavy mind, so they are made to generate deep shame, remorse, and dread to reform their minds, requiring the performance of rituals and grasping signs. For sharp people, when they correctly contemplate the nature of the mind, offenses are originally extinguished of themselves, and sorrow and regret do not arise; this is putting an end to the old without creating the new, called directly eradicating without agitating their minds. Therefore, the Dàzhìdù lùn states: 'If a person can repent an offense, / Having repented, do not worry again. / In this way the mind is at peace and ease; / One should not constantly cling in thought.' If one generates heavy regret, the arrow of regret enters the mind, bringing sorrow and suffering in the present life, and upon death one enters hell. Furthermore, if one grasps that this offense exists, the offense becomes heavier; if one does not grasp at the offense, the offense gradually becomes lighter. If one can see the root of principle, phenomena, and nature, all offenses are completely extinguished; this is direct eradication without agitating their minds.