諸經要集 17.30

17.30

One should know that all illnesses of sentient beings take greed, hatred, and arrogance as their causes. From the causes arise the effects, and one receives this painful retribution; it is not because of not obtaining medicinal liquor that an illness cannot be cured. Therefore the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra says: “All sentient beings have four poisoned arrows, which are the causes of illness. What are the four? First, lust; second, hatred; third, delusion; fourth, arrogance. If there are causes of illness, then illnesses arise: namely, fever from desire, pulmonary disease, shortness of breath and vomiting, burning fever of the flesh and body, mental distress and confusion, diarrhea, retching and hiccups, dripping urinary pain, pain in the eyes and ears, swelling and fullness of the abdomen and back, madness, emaciation, and possession by ghosts and spirits. Such various physical and mental illnesses arise. If one recognizes the root of illness, cuts off evil, and cultivates good, the painful retributions of the three periods of time will be forever eliminated and not received. If one does not contemplate the principle, even if one uses all the medicinal liquors under heaven to treat it, the illness will only increase and be difficult to cure.”