法苑珠林 68.5

68.5

Those who wade into its stream clarify the river of craving and purify the five turbidities; those who lose sight of its cardinal principle shake the mountain of heterodoxy and give rise to the three hindrances. Reflecting quietly upon this principle, how could it be empty? Thus one knows that good arises from faith, and evil opens through heterodoxy. Therefore a single thought of evil can open the gates to the five unwholesome things, while a single thought of good can eradicate the calamities of accumulated kalpas. For this reason, goodness must be carved and polished with self-exertion, so that one may have the instruction of taking the mind as one's teacher; evil must be inspected, checked, and penalized for its faults, so that there may be a time of heartfelt repentance. Otherwise, one merely troubles oneself in vain with nourishing [the body] and futilely decorating a painted vase, which will in the end be crushed to powder in the yellow dust, meeting with agonizing torment in the nether regions. Leaving behind this white silk [record], may you inspect it and exert your will.