鐔津文集 2.9

2.9

The stirring of the mind is called karma. The convergence of karma is called resonance. Resonance means that which connects the internal and the external. Among the minds in the world, which does not stir? Among the actions of the myriad things, which does not resonate? Karma as a principle is dark and subtle; resonance as a force reaches far. Therefore the common people, not seeing it, do not fear it. The teaching of the sage is careful regarding karma, desiring that people be thoroughly alerted and that their minds be cautious in stirring. Internal resonance is called summoning; external resonance is called response. Summoning refers to the cause; response refers to the effect. All appearances and forms of cause and effect are prepared in advance. The stirring of the mind has the contrary and the compliant; hence feelings of good and evil arise from it. Once feelings of good and evil have been issued, the response of fortune and misfortune arrives. Feelings have shallowness and depth; retribution has lightness and gravity. What is light can be shifted; what is heavy cannot be turned back. Good and evil have earlier and later; fortune and misfortune have slowness and swiftness. Even through ten lifetimes or ten thousand lifetimes, those that resonate with one another will not slip away; how could it be a matter of one lifetime alone? To doubt good and evil because they are not verified within a single lifetime is likewise to be blind to cause and effect. If recompense and retribution were not rectified by cause and effect, how could the world encourage good people? A tree is not seen growing, yet daily it flourishes; a whetstone is not seen wearing down, yet daily it diminishes. Karma in human beings is just like this. How could one not be cautious?