法苑珠林 86.55

86.55

Having known the real and the false, one knows that the sinful karma to which one was conditioned arose from phenomena. Deluded feelings obstructed understanding; being confused and unaware, there were these sins. It is like clouds covering the sun, or a dark, murky room. The awakened mind of the present arises conditioned by principle; understanding flourishes and delusion is lost, like light extinguishing darkness. Although the former mind gave rise to heavy sins, the subsequent thought contemplates principle, the false mind is extinguished, and false objects do not arise. Cultivated long without cease, the seeds of karma naturally perish. Hence the Adbhutadharmaparyāya-sūtra says: 'The former mind committing evil is like clouds covering the sun; the subsequent mind giving rise to good is like a torch dispelling darkness.' Furthermore, the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra says: 'Just as clothes soiled for a hundred years can be washed clean and fresh in a single day, so too the unwholesome karmas accumulated over hundreds of thousands of kalpas, through the power of the Buddha-Dharma and proper, compliant reflection, can all be extinguished in a single day, in a single hour.'