佛說佛名經 4.150

4.150

"Therefore, among the Ten Powers of the Buddha, the power of karma is extremely profound, and ordinary beings frequently give rise to doubt and perplexity regarding it. Why is this so? In the visible world, those who do good meet with hardship and adversity, while those who do evil meet with fortune and success in whatever they pursue. They then claim that there is no distinction between good and evil under heaven. Those who reckon thus all fail to deeply understand the principle of karma. Why is this so? The sūtras teach that there are three kinds of karma. What are the three? The first is karma experienced in the present life; the second is karma experienced in the next life; the third is karma experienced in subsequent lives. Karma experienced in the present life means doing good or doing evil in the present, and receiving the retribution in this very body. Karma experienced in the next life means doing good or doing evil in this life, and receiving the retribution in the next life. Karma experienced in subsequent lives means doing good or doing evil in immeasurable past lives, and receiving its retribution either in this life or in immeasurable present and future lives. That those who do evil appear to fare well in the present is because their good karma from past lives destined for the next or subsequent lives has ripened, and therefore they now enjoy this pleasurable fruit; how could it be that they obtain a good retribution by doing evil karma in the present? That those who do good appear to suffer in the present is because their evil karma from past lives destined for the next or subsequent lives has ripened, and their present power of roots of goodness is weak and unable to dispel it; therefore they receive this suffering retribution; how could it be that by doing good in the present they incur an evil retribution? How is this known to be so? In the visible world, those who do good are praised and revered by people, hence one knows that they will surely incur pleasurable fruit in the future. Since such evil karma exists from the past, the Buddhas and bodhisattvas instruct us to draw close to good friends and perform repentance together; a good friend is the complete benefit in attaining the Way. Therefore, we disciples take refuge today in the Buddha with the utmost sincerity.