[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) › [萬善同歸集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017) › 3.73 # 萬善同歸集 3.73 萬善同歸集 3.73 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [3.73](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017.3.73) 答：「業通三世，生熟不定；又通三報，厚薄相傾。西天第十九祖師，鳩摩羅多云：『前生修功德，而致強半功，有少破壞故。迴心修惡，行罪業、少功德，亦死先受福。正受快活時，心似得安樂，忽降諸衰惱，其家漸殘破；承彼先惡業，相續致於此。非是今修福，而招斯惡報。』又曰：『前世作惡業，其罪強半功；忽遇一智者，而教修福德。福德雖修已，其善未過彼；功德少於罪，亦死生貧窮。心不敬信佛，亦不重三寶；如是過半已，其家漸富有，資生多財帛；承彼先善業，相續致於此。非是今作惡，而招斯善報。』論云：『今我疾苦，皆由過去；今生修福，報在當來。』若見喜殺長壽，好施貧窮；能信斯言，不生邪見。若不解此，憂悔失理，謂徒功喪計，善惡無徵。但修善之時，一心不退，既不間斷，福果長新；秖慮中途自生遮障，識達賢士曉斯旨焉。」 > Answer: "Karma extends across the three periods of time, and its ripening or non-ripening is not fixed; furthermore, it extends through the three types of retribution, whose thickness and thinness counterbalance each other. The nineteenth patriarch of the Western Heavens, Kumāralāta, said: 'In a previous life one cultivated merit, accomplishing more than half of the work, but there was a slight defect. One changed one's mind and cultivated evil, committing sinful karma with little merit, yet upon death one first receives fortune. Just while enjoying happiness, when the mind seems to have found ease and joy, suddenly various declines and distresses descend, and one's family gradually falls into ruin. Inheriting that prior bad karma, its continuation brings this about. It is not that cultivating merit now has invited this bad retribution.' He also said: 'In a previous life one created bad karma, and its sin accomplished more than half the work; suddenly one met a wise person who taught one to cultivate merit and virtue. Although one cultivated merit and virtue, that good did not exceed the former \[evil\]; with merit less than sin, upon death one is also born in poverty. The mind does not reverently believe in the Buddha, nor does it respect the Three Jewels; when this has passed halfway, the family gradually becomes wealthy, with abundant resources and wealth. Inheriting that prior good karma, its continuation brings this about. It is not that doing evil now has invited this good retribution.' A treatise says: 'My present sickness and suffering are all due to the past; cultivating merit in this life, the retribution will be in the future.' If one sees someone fond of killing having a long life, or someone fond of giving living in poverty, and can believe these words, one will not give rise to wrong views. If one does not understand this, one will grieve and regret, losing the principle, claiming that labor was in vain and plans were ruined, and that good and evil have no verification. As long as one has a single mind without retreat when cultivating the good, since there is no interruption, the fruit of merit will be ever fresh. One should only fear giving rise to obstacles of one's own making midway; wise scholars of insight and understanding will comprehend this principle." > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 3.72](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017.3.72) - [Next: 3.74](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017.3.74) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017.3) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017~en-mt.3.73) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [妙法蓮華經玄義](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1716.6.44) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017.3.73](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2017.3.73) · Pramāṇa