龍舒增廣淨土文 12.45

12.45

Human life does not go beyond the karmas of body, mind, and mouth. Killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct are the three bodily karmas. False speech, frivolous speech, divisive speech, and harsh speech are the four verbal karmas. Greed, anger, and delusion are the three mental karmas. In aggregate, they are called the ten unwholesome actions. If one upholds them without violation, they are called the ten wholesome actions. According to what the Buddha taught, the retributions for verbal karma are more numerous than those of bodily and mental karma, because when a thought arises in the mind, it does not necessarily manifest externally, but once it comes out of the mouth, it is immediately seen. Mobilizing the body to do evil still faces obstacles and difficulties at times, unlike speech which issues forth so easily. Leaving aside matters of another lifetime, let us speak only of the present life: nowadays, there are those who praise someone with a single word, and that person receives benefits for the rest of his life, with blessings extending to his children and grandchildren. There are those who ensnare someone with a single word, and that person suffers harm for the rest of his life, with troubles extending to his children and grandchildren. How could verbal karma not be grave? What goes out from you returns to you; in that case it is certainly terrifying. Yet, one who resents Heaven is impoverished; one who resents others is without wisdom; only exercising self-restraint and caution is proper. Therefore, I describe the intentions of the sages and worthies, making this illustration of encouragement and admonition.