萬善同歸集 2.38

2.38

答：「大師此說，不壞福德因果，武帝不達。有為功德，而有限劑；空無相福，不可思量。破他貪著；如不貪著，盡是無為。菩薩亦作輪王，如是福報，因果歷然，可是無耶？若達理者處之，與法界同量，無有竭盡；若不達理，即是有為輪迴之報，不應貪著。忠國師云：『諸佛菩薩，皆具福、智二嚴，豈是撥無因果？但勿以理滯事，以事妨理；終日行，而不乖於無行也。』」

Answer: "What the Great Master said did not destroy the causes and effects of blessed virtues; it was Emperor Wu who did not understand. Conditioned merit and virtue have limits, whereas empty and markless blessing cannot be measured. He was breaking [the Emperor's] greedy attachment. If one is unattached, everything is unconditioned. Bodhisattvas also become cakravartins; such karmic retribution of blessings, in its causes and effects, is completely distinct—how could it be nonexistent? If one who has penetrated the principle handles it, its measure is equal to the dharmadhātu and is inexhaustible; if one has not penetrated the principle, it is merely conditioned retribution within transmigration and must not be greedily clung to. National Teacher Huizhong said: 'All Buddhas and bodhisattvas are endowed with the two adornments of merit and wisdom; how could they negate cause and effect? Simply do not let principle stagnate phenomena, nor let phenomena obstruct principle; practice all day long without departing from practicelessness.'"