法苑珠林 57.5

57.5

夫勸善懲過大士常心。捨惡為福菩薩常願。是以善惡之運業。猶形影之相須。債負之殃咎。植三報之苦果。或有現負現報。或有現負次報。或有現負後報。如是三時隨負一毫。拒而不還決定受苦。是故經云。偷盜之人先入地獄畜生餓鬼。後得人身得二種果報。一者常處貧窮。二者雖得少財常被他奪。斯言有徵省己為人也。

Exhorting good and reproving fault is the constant mind of the great being; abandoning evil to cultivate blessings is the perpetual vow of the bodhisattva. Therefore, the operations of good and evil karma are like body and shadow that must correspond. The calamity and blame of debts plant the bitter fruit of the three retributions: there are debts in the present life with retribution in the present life, debts in the present life with retribution in the next life, and debts in the present life with retribution in subsequent lives. In this manner, throughout the three times, if one incurs a debt even by a single hair and refuses to repay it, one will certainly suffer torment. Therefore, the sūtra states: "A person who commits theft will first enter the hells, animals, and hungry ghosts. Later, upon obtaining a human rebirth, he receives two kinds of retribution: first, he constantly abides in poverty; second, although he gains a little wealth, it is always seized by others." These words are verified; examine yourself and consider others.