宋高僧傳 28.35

28.35

佛出于世，經譯于時，大要在乎果因，所推歸乎罪福。罪也者，下三塗之階陛也。福也者，上諸聖之階陛也。階陛是同，上下有異耳。此命章曰〈興福〉者，乃欲利他焉。如秤低昂，如室明暗，則知二事必不同時。又類「薰蕕不同器而藏，堯桀不同國而治」也。凡夫氣分，唯說罪多；聖者品流，但聞福厚。順性故易造，逆意故難修。

When the Buddhas appear in the world and scriptures are translated in their times, the essential point lies in cause and effect, which boil down to sin and merit. Sin is the staircase leading down to the three bad destinies. Merit is the staircase leading up to the noble ones. The staircases are identical; the upward and downward directions alone differ. The reason this chapter is entitled 'Cultivating Blessings' is to benefit others. Just like the rising and falling of a balance, or the light and darkness of a room, one knows that the two things cannot exist at the same time. It is also like: 'Fragrant and foul herbs are not stored in the same vessel; Yao and Jie do not govern the same state.' In the ordinary person's temperament, they speak only of abundant sins; among the ranks of the noble ones, one hears only of abundant merit. Because it conforms to worldly nature, sin is easy to create; because it goes against desires, merit is difficult to cultivate.