諸經要集 11.12

11.12

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.