法苑珠林 62.25

62.25

如優婆塞戒經云。佛言。或有說言。子修善法父作不善。因子修善令父不墮三惡道者。是義不然何以故。身口意業各別異故。若父喪已墮餓鬼中。子為追福。當知即得若生天中。都不思念人中之物。何以故。天上成就勝妙寶故。若入地獄受諸苦惱。不暇思念。是故不得。畜生人中亦復如是。若謂餓鬼何緣獨得。以其本有愛貪慳悋故墮餓鬼。既為餓鬼常悔本過。思念欲得。是故得之。若所為者。生餘道中。其餘眷屬。墮餓鬼者。皆悉得之。是故智者。應為餓鬼勸作福德。

As the Upāsakaśīla-sūtra says: The Buddha said, "Some may say that if a son cultivates wholesome dharmas while the father does unwholesome deeds, because the son cultivates wholesome deeds he can prevent the father from falling into the three evil destinies. This meaning is not so. Why? Because the karma of body, speech, and mind are each distinct. If, after the father dies, he falls among the hungry ghosts, when the son pursues merit on his behalf, you should know that he receives it immediately. If he is born in the heavens, he has no recollection whatsoever of the objects of the human realm. Why? Because the heavens are endowed with superior and wondrous treasures. If he enters the hells, he suffers various agonies and has no leisure to recollect; therefore he does not receive it. It is likewise in the animal and human realms. If it is asked: By what cause do hungry ghosts alone receive it? It is because they originally had greed, craving, and stinginess, and thus fell among the hungry ghosts. Having become hungry ghosts, they constantly repent their original faults and yearn with desire to receive [help]; therefore they receive it. If the one for whom it is performed is born in another destiny, and any other relatives have fallen among the hungry ghosts, they will all receive it. Therefore, the wise should urge the creation of blessings and merit for the sake of hungry ghosts."