萬善同歸集 3.20

3.20

答：「《肇論》云：『如來功流萬世而常存，道通百劫而彌固。』經云：『三災彌綸，而行業湛然。』今信之矣。故知一毫之善，雖是有為，若助菩提，直至成佛而不墮壞。任大劫火競起，終不燒虛空；縱生死浪無邊，實不沈真善。」

Answer: 'The Zhaolun states: "The Tathāgata's merit flows through myriad generations and remains forever; the Path pervades hundreds of kalpas and grows ever firmer." A sūtra says: "Even when the three calamities envelop everything, the karma of practices remains serene." Now we believe this. Therefore we know that a single fine hair of goodness, though conditioned, will not collapse or decay all the way until buddhahood if it assists bodhi. Even if the fires of the great kalpa blaze fiercely, they will never burn empty space; though the waves of saṃsāra are boundless, they cannot submerge true goodness.'