法苑珠林 86.38

86.38

The above ten mental states take ignorance as their root, increasing without cease until they reach the extreme of the icchantika, according with entry into birth-and-death, going from darkness into darkness, weaving bound karma with no time of liberation; these are called the mental states of ignorance in transgression and accordance. Once a person who has recognized the sins of birth-and-death encounters the Buddha's great loving-kindness, gathering them in with pity, the Dharma of reforming faults is established and the gate of liberation is opened, allowing one's wholesome roots to grow anew, just as when a king ascends the throne, pardoning crimes and easing punishments. Setting out to practice repentance, cultivate good, and reform evil, accordance and transgression within the wholesome also possess ten mental states. One must constantly apply reflection to counteract former sins, and starting from the end, establish the framework to contemplate and shatter each one in turn. This is truly the foundational basis for repenting faults and establishing practice.