廣弘明集 27.239

27.239

經云。八難難度。一地獄難。二餓鬼難。三畜生難。四邊地難。五長壽天難。六雖得人身盲聾喑瘂不能聽受難。七雖得人身六情完具。而世智辯聰信邪倒見。不信三寶肆意輕侮。此身死已便在三途。隨業沈沒久乃得出。時在人道還不正信家生。第八前後佛間不覩正法。徒生一世增長邪見。具造眾罪尋爾徒死。是故經云。徒生徒死甚可憐愍。奉法行人先崇此意。生死大事不可自寬。今略出自慶數條繫在心首。

A sūtra states that the eight conditions of lack of leisure are difficult to overcome: first, the condition of hell; second, the condition of hungry ghosts; third, the condition of animals; fourth, the condition of border lands; fifth, the condition of the long-lived devas; sixth, the condition of obtaining a human body but being blind, deaf, mute, or unable to listen and receive; seventh, the condition of obtaining a human body with the six senses fully intact, but having worldly wisdom and eloquent sharpness, believing in heterodox and inverted views, not believing in the triratna, and indulging oneself in slighting and mocking them—when this body dies, one immediately enters the three evil destinies, sinking according to karma and emerging only after a long time, and even when reborn in the human realm, being born into a family lacking correct faith; eighth, the condition of being between the times before and after a Buddha, not beholding the true Dharma, living a life in vain to increase heterodox views, fully creating various sins, and soon dying in vain. For this reason, the sūtra says: 'To be born in vain and die in vain is exceedingly pitiable.' Practitioners who uphold the Dharma should first revere this principle; the great matter of birth and death cannot be taken lightly. Now I briefly list several items for rejoicing in oneself to fasten them foremost in the mind: