[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122) › 89.8 # 法苑珠林 89.8 法苑珠林 89.8 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [89.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.89.8) 述曰。比見愚夫不肯受懺。口出妄言。云我但不作惡。即名為善。何須令我更復受懺。答曰。大聖興教事同符印。若不受行便無公驗。故須願須祈不造眾惡。依願起行可得承受。如牛雖有力挽車。要須御者能有所至。若不預作輒然起善內無軌轄。後遇罪緣便造不止。由先無願故造眾惡。大聖知機故令受善。若謂我不造惡便是善者。汝不作善。亦應是惡。如牛馬驢騾亦不殺生。豈是善耶。此乃心在無記。無罪福業。故須起念。專志深重。方成業道。 > The commentary states: Recently, one sees foolish men unwilling to accept deśanā, uttering false words and saying, "As long as I do not commit evil, that is called good; why must I be made to receive deśanā again?" The answer says: The Great Sage established the teachings just like a tally or seal: if one does not receive and practice them, there is no official verification. Therefore, one must vow and pray not to commit manifold evils; when practice is initiated based on vows, one can receive and uphold it. Just as an ox, though strong enough to pull a cart, must have a driver to reach a destination, if one does not resolve beforehand and rashly arouses goodness without an inner rule or check, upon later encountering conditions for sin one will commit it without stopping. It is because there was no prior vow that one commits manifold evils. The Great Sage knew their capacities, and therefore had them receive goodness. If you claim that not committing evil is itself good, then your not doing good should also be evil. Oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules also do not kill living beings; could they be considered good? This is merely a mind abiding in the morally neutral (avyākṛta), which has neither sinful nor meritorious karma. Therefore, one must generate thoughts and concentrate one's intention profoundly and firmly; only then is the path of karma completed. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 89.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.89.7) - [Next: 89.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.89.9) - [Up: 89](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.89) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.89.8) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.89.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.89.8) · Pramāṇa