法苑珠林 68.31

68.31

Furthermore, apart from the wholesome path, one does not cultivate the wholesome course of action by preparatory means. These preparatory means are because they are distant from the fundamental, and because they are distant preparatory means. Speaking of preparatory means: it is like that śrāmaṇera who, wishing to receive the full precepts, is led to the precept platform to pay homage to the feet of the assembly of monks, and then requests an upādhyāya and receives the three robes; when beginning to make the first motion (jñapti), and when making the second motion—all such are called the preliminary retinue. From the third motion until the completion of the formal act (karman), the active karma (vijñapti) arisen and the unmanifest karma (avijñapti) of that thought-moment—all these are called the fundamental course of action. Next, explaining the four dependencies up to not relinquishing [them], the wholesome conduct received, the active karma of body and speech, and the unmanifest karma—all such are called the subsequent retinue. Question: One should explain the fruits and the corresponding causes of the ten unwholesome courses of action. Answer: There are three kinds of fruit: first, the fruit of karmic retribution (vipākaphala); second, the fruit of conditioning habit (niṣyandaphala); third, the dominant fruit (adhipatiphala). Each single course of action possesses these three kinds. What does this mean? The complete ten unwholesome courses of action have inferior, middling, and superior [degrees]. If one is born in the hells, this is the fruit of karmic retribution. As for the fruit of conditioning habit: receding from the hells and being born among humans, on the basis of killing living beings there is the fruit of a short lifespan; on the basis of stealing there is the fruit of lacking the requisites of life; on the basis of sexual misconduct one cannot protect one's wife; on the basis of false speech there is the fruit of being slandered by others; on the basis of malicious speech one's retinue is broken up; on the basis of harsh speech one does not hear pleasant sounds; on the basis of frivolous speech one is not trusted by people; on the basis of original greed one's greedy mind increases; on the basis of original anger one's angry mind increases; on the basis of wrong views one's deluded mind increases. All such are called the fruits of conditioning habit. As for the dominant fruit: on the basis of those ten unwholesome courses of action, all external things have no vigor—namely, the terrain is uneven, there are sparrows, rats, hailstones, thorns, dust, foul odors, an abundance of snakes and scorpions, scarce and poor-quality grains, scarce and small fruits, as well as bitter fruits. All such are called the dominant fruit. Furthermore, there are similar fruits: as because the killer gives rise to various sufferings in the sentient beings harmed, because of those sufferings he is born in the hells and undergoes various sufferings; because he cut off another's life, later born among humans he obtains the retribution of a short lifespan; he cuts off another's warm touch, and therefore all external requisites of life have no fullness or measure. In all the ten courses of action in this way, one should know how to explain according to what is appropriate to the meaning. For example, plundering another's goods or committing sexual misconduct with another's wife, although not causing them severe, oppressing distress, yet ruins their mind, and therefore one receives punishment; although not causing ruin, and neither being angry nor using harsh speech, yet on account of an evil mind, one therefore incurs guilt.