諸經要集 11.12

11.12

問曰。於業道中何者是前眷屬。何者是後眷屬。答曰。若起殺生方便。如屠兒牧羊。或以物買將詣屠所。始下一刀。或二三刀。羊命未斷。所有惡業。名前眷屬。隨下何刀。斷其命根。即彼念時。所有作業及無作業。是等皆名根本業道。次後所作身行作業。是名殺生後眷屬業。乃至綺語皆亦如是。應知自餘貪瞋邪見業中。無前眷屬以初起心即時成就根本業道。

Question: In the paths of karma, what is the preceding retinue (preliminary action) and what is the succeeding retinue (subsequent action)?
Answer: If one initiates the expedient means for taking life, such as a butcher herding sheep, or buying them with goods and leading them to the slaughterhouse, when he strikes the first blow, or two or three blows, but the sheep's life has not yet ceased, all such evil karma is called the preceding retinue. With whichever blow he cuts off its life faculty, at that very moment, all manifest and unmanifest karma are together called the fundamental path of karma. The bodily actions and karma performed thereafter are called the succeeding retinue of taking life. Up to frivolous speech, all are also like this. It should be known that among the remaining karmas of covetousness, malice, and wrong view, there is no preceding retinue, because as soon as the initial mind arises, it immediately accomplishes the fundamental path of karma.