[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [龍舒增廣淨土文](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970) › 3.8 # 龍舒增廣淨土文 3.8 龍舒增廣淨土文 3.8 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970.3.8) 人初未甞死，而死之名乃自此身體上得之。何則？以神之來而託於此，其形由是而長，故謂之生。以神之去而離於此，其形由是而壞，故謂之死。是神者，我也。形者，我所舍也。我有去來，故舍有成壞。然則生者非生也，以神之來而形成耳；死者非死也，以神之去而形壞耳。世之人不識其神、徒見其形，乃悅生而惡死，可不為悲乎？且神之來也，何自而來哉？蓋隨業緣而來。神之去也，何自而去也？蓋隨業緣而去。業者何哉？其所作者人間之業，神則隨之而生於人間；所作者天上之業，神則隨之而生於天上；若作阿脩羅之業，神則隨之生於阿脩羅；若作三惡道之業，神則隨之生於三惡道；是輪迴六趣，無有出期。然則神者自無始以來投胎易殼，不得久留於一所。所以然者何哉？以吾所造之業非久而不盡者，故神之舍於業也。業盡則形壞，形壞則神無所舍，又隨吾今世所造之業而往矣。譬如人造屋宇必居其中、人飲食必享其味，故造如是業必受如是之報，蓋自然之理也。然則吾今世所為，豈可以不慎哉！欲直脫輪迴、求離苦惱者，無如西方淨土，故不可以不修也。 > Humans originally have never died; the name 'death' is derived only from this physical body. Why? Because the spirit comes and lodges here, and the form grows on this account; therefore it is called 'birth'. Because the spirit departs and leaves here, and the form decays on this account; therefore it is called 'death'. Thus the spirit is 'I'; the form is my dwelling. Because I have coming and going, the dwelling has formation and decay. If so, then birth is not true birth; it is merely that because the spirit comes, the form takes shape. Death is not true death; it is merely that because the spirit departs, the form decays. People of the world do not recognize their spirit, but merely see their form; thus they delight in life and hate death—how can this not be sorrowful? Furthermore, when the spirit comes, from where does it come? It comes following karmic conditions. When the spirit departs, from where does it depart? It departs following karmic conditions. What is karma? If what one has done is the karma of the human realm, the spirit follows it and is born in the human realm; if what one has done is the karma of the heavens, the spirit follows it and is born in the heavens; if one has done the karma of the asuras, the spirit follows it and is born among the asuras; if one has done the karma of the three evil paths, the spirit follows it and is born in the three evil paths: this is transmigration in the six destinies without any time of escape. If so, then from beginningless time the spirit has entered wombs and changed shells, unable to remain long in one place. Why is this so? Because the karma we create is not lasting and inexhaustible; hence the spirit dwells according to karma. When karma is exhausted the form decays; when the form decays the spirit has no dwelling, and it goes following the karma we have created in this present life. Just as a person building a house must dwell in it, and a person eating and drinking must taste the flavor, so creating such karma one must receive such retribution; this is the principle of nature. If so, how can we not be cautious in what we do in this present life! For those who wish to cast off saṃsāra directly and seek to be free from distress and affliction, nothing compares to the Western Pure Land; therefore, it cannot be left unpracticed. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970.3.7) - [Next: 3.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970.3.9) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970.3) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970~en-mt.3.8) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1970.3.8) · Pramāṇa