法苑珠林 31.39

31.39

妖怪者。干寶記云。蓋是精氣之依物者也。氣亂於中物變於外。形神氣質表裏之用也。本於五行通於五事。雖消息昇降化動萬端。然其休咎之徵。皆可得域而論矣。此是俗情之近見。未達大聖之因果。考斯徵變乃是眾生宿業之雜。因感現報之緣發。因緣相會物理必然。故有斯徵未足可怪也。

Regarding strange apparitions, Gan Bao's record states: "They are indeed essential pneuma adhering to things. When pneuma is disordered within, things mutate without. Form, spirit, pneuma, and substance are the functions of the internal and external. Rooted in the five elements and connected to the five affairs, though their waxing and waning, ascent and descent, transformations and movements have ten thousand forms, their omens of fortune and misfortune can all be classified and discussed." This is the superficial view of common sentiments, not yet comprehending the cause and effect of the Great Sage. Examining these omens and anomalies, they are in truth the mixture of sentient beings' past karma: when karmic causes encounter the condition of present retributions, they arise. When causes and conditions meet, it is the necessary principle of things. Therefore, that there are such omens is not truly worthy of wonder.