法苑珠林 72.6

72.6

Now, practicing good brings about joy: nearby, one proceeds to the human and heavenly realms; far off, one realizes the fruit of Buddhahood. Committing evil invites suffering: nearby, one obtains the three wretched destinies; far off, one goes against the noble path. Foolish people do not believe this, but the wise can know it. Therefore, there are physical distinctions among the four forms of birth and divided forms among the six destinies. Light and darkness follow different routes; rising and sinking take divergent paths. The principle of karmic conditions is resplendent, and the retribution of cause and effect is an invariable norm.