法苑珠林 70.24

70.24

Therefore, the Bodhisattvabhūmi-śāstra states: The offense of wrong views also causes sentient beings to fall into the three evil destinies. If born among humans, they receive two kinds of retributive fruits: first, being born into a family with wrong views; second, having a mind that is deceitful and crooked. Why do wrong views cause one to fall into hell? Because due to wrong views, one turns only toward deviant paths and mundane spirits, slandering the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha, and failing to venerate the Three Jewels. Not revering them and severing others from the right path, one causes them to encounter suffering; therefore, at the end of life, one enters Avīci hell. Why do wrong views lead to becoming an animal? Because due to wrong views, one fails to recognize proper principles; therefore, upon leaving hell, one receives the retribution of an animal. Why do wrong views lead to becoming a hungry ghost? Because due to wrong views, the stingy mind becomes rigidly attached, stubbornly perverse, and refuses to let go; refusing to relinquish this stingy attachment, one becomes a hungry ghost. Why do wrong views lead to being born into a family with wrong views? Because the crooked habits of wrong views entangle the mind; therefore, when born as a human, one is born into a family with wrong views. Why do wrong views lead to a deceitful and crooked mind? Because wrong views are not upright; therefore, when born as a human, one's mind is constantly deceitful and crooked. One should know that wrong views constitute the tenth great suffering. In this manner, each and every subtle evil carries boundless and limitless sinful karma, leading all to enter hell and fully undergo manifold torments beyond reckoning. This has been briefly stated. If one can turn evil into good, that is my teacher.