龍舒增廣淨土文 3.8

3.8

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.