法苑珠林 69.7

69.7

As the Upāsakaśīla-sūtra states, the Buddha said: "Good sons, when sentient beings perform karma, there are four kinds. The first is retribution in the present life (committing extreme wholesome or unwholesome karma in this present body and receiving it in this very body; this is called retribution in the present life). The second is retribution in the next life (creating karma in this present body and receiving it in the immediately subsequent life; this is called retribution in the next life). The third is retribution in subsequent lives (creating karma in this present body, not receiving it in the immediately subsequent life, but receiving it in the second or third rebirth onwards; this is called retribution in subsequent lives). The fourth is absence of retribution (such as indeterminate karma and the like). This karma with absence of retribution further has four kinds: First, determinate in time but indeterminate in retribution (this is definitely unchangeable across the three times, but because the karma can be transformed, the retribution is indeterminate). Second, determinate in retribution but indeterminate in time (because the karmic force is fixed, the retribution cannot be altered, yet because the time can be transformed, the time is indeterminate). Third, determinate in both time and retribution (because the karma is fixed, the time it induces is also fixed). Fourth, indeterminate in both time and retribution (because the karma is not determinate, both time and retribution are also indeterminate). In performing karma, sentient beings have the complete and the incomplete. If one reflects first and acts afterward, it is called completely performed. If one does not reflect beforehand but directly acts, it is called incompletely performed. There are further those whose performance is incomplete in that, having performed the karma, the karmic fruit is indeterminate. There are further those whose performance is complete in that, having performed the karma, they are certain to receive retribution. There are further those whose performance is incomplete in that, although the retribution is fixed, the timing is indeterminate. There are further those whose performance is complete in that both time and retribution are fixed. There are further those whose performance is incomplete in that they uphold the precepts and have right view. There are further those whose performance is complete in that they violate the precepts and have wrong view. There are further those whose performance is incomplete in that they give rise to repentance at the three times. There are further those whose performance is complete in that they do not repent at the three times. As it is with evil, so it is with good."