摩訶止觀 7.98

7.98

又觀諸業猶如怨家，如烏競肉。經云：「剎那起惡，殃墜無間。」促促時節尚成重業，何況長夜惡念，業則無邊。業如怨責，常伺人便。若正償此責，餘業不牽；償稍欲畢，餘業爭撮，去住無期。無常殺鬼不擇豪賢；危脆不堅難可恃怙。云何安然規望百歲？四方馳求貯積聚斂；聚斂未足溘然長往。所有產貨徒為他有，冥冥獨逝，誰訪是非？或出家人知解溢胸，或精進滅火而不悟無常。諺云：「可憐無五媚，精進無道心。」此之謂也。

One should also contemplate that all karmas are like personal enemies, like crows vying for meat. A sūtra says: 'Averting evil for a kṣaṇa, one falls into Avīci.' In an urgent, brief moment heavy karma is still formed; how much more so in the long night of evil thoughts—then karma is boundless! Karma is like a debt to an enemy, constantly waiting for an opportunity. If one is paying this debt, other karmas do not pull; when payment is nearly finished, other karmas compete to seize one, with no set time of departure or remaining. The murder-demon of impermanence does not choose between the mighty and the worthy; fragile and unsolid, it is difficult to rely upon. How can one calmly plan for a hundred years, rushing in all directions to seek, hoard, and amass? Before accumulation is sufficient, one suddenly departs forever. All assets and goods vainly become the property of others; drifting alone into the dark, who inquires into right and wrong? Some renunciants have intellectual understanding brimming in their chests, or with vigor extinguish fires, yet do not awaken to impermanence. The proverb says: 'Pitiable is lack of the five charms; vigorous without the mind of the Way.' This is what it refers to.