A fruit if nurtured, to be reaped
for every seed planted,
good, evil or neither.— Shilashanti
In Kṣitigarbha Sūtra’s Chapter Four: Jambudvīpa’s Sentient Beings’ Karmic Connections《地藏经》(阎浮众生业感品第四) is this taught by Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛), ‘Earth Treasury Bodhisattva, [1] if meeting those killing lives, will speak of this as retribution of past lives’ destined misfortune, to have short lives. [2] If meeting those stealing, will speak of retribution of poverty’s suffering. [3] If meeting those with sexual misconduct, will speak of retribution as sparrows, doves and mandarin ducks. [4] If meeting those with harsh speech, will speak of retribution of having family members with fights and disputes. [5] If meeting those slandering, will speak of retribution of being without tongues and with ulcers. (地藏菩萨，[1] 若遇杀生者，说宿殃短命报。[2] 若遇窃盗者，说贫穷苦楚报。[3] 若遇邪淫者，说雀鸽鸳鸯报。[4] 若遇恶口者，说眷属鬪诤报。[5] 若遇毁谤者，说无舌疮口报。)
[6] If meeting those with anger, will speak of retribution of ugliness, ageing with feebleness, sickness and limbs disabled. [7] If meeting those with stinginess, will speak of retribution of that sought being apart from that wished. [8] If meeting those drinking and eating without limit, will speak of retribution of hunger, thirst and swallowing sickness. [9] If meeting those in hunting indulging, will speak of retribution of being frightened, to be insane and killed. [10] If meeting those rebellious to their fathers and mothers, will speak of retribution, by the heavens’ and earth’s disasters killed. [11] If meeting those burning mountains’ and forests’ trees, will speak of retribution, by insanity confused seeking death. ([6] 若遇瞋恚者，说丑陋癃残报。[7] 若遇悭悋者，说所求违愿报。[8] 若遇饮食无度者，说饥渴咽病报。[9] 若遇畋猎恣情者，说惊狂丧命报。[10] 若遇悖逆父母者，说天地灾杀报。[11] 若遇烧山林木者，说狂迷取死报。)
[12] If meeting those previous and later fathers and mothers malicious, will speak of retribution, of returning to be born, with lashings then received. [13] If meeting those with nets catching living young birds, will speak of retribution, from their bones and flesh separated. [14] If meeting those slandering the Triple Gem, will speak of retribution of blindness, deafness and muteness. [15] If meeting those slighting the Dharma and arrogant over its teachings, will speak of retribution, of long dwelling in evil paths. [16] If meeting those who destroy and abuse constant dwellings, will speak of retribution, for koṭis of kalpas reborn in hell. [17] If meeting those who defile the pure and defame the Saṃgha, will speak of retribution, long in the animal path. ([12] 若遇前后父母恶毒者，说返生鞭挞现受报。[13] 若遇网捕生雏者，说骨肉分离报。[14] 若遇毁谤三宝者，说盲聋瘖痖报。[15] 若遇轻法慢教者，说永处恶道报。[16] 若遇破用常住者，说亿劫轮回地狱报。[17] 若遇污梵诬僧者，说永在畜生报。) [Note 1: Those previous and later fathers and mothers (前后父母) are past parents and step parents. Their bones and flesh (骨肉) are blood relations. Constant dwellings (常住) are monasteries.]
[18] If meeting those with boiling water slaughtering and harming lives, will speak of retribution of rebirth to successively repay. [19] If meeting those who break precepts and violate purification precepts, will speak of retribution as birds and beasts with hunger. [20] If meeting those with unreasonable and destructive use of things, will speak of retribution with that sought lacking. [21] If meeting those with I myself arrogant, will speak of retribution as the inferior, servile and lowly. [22] If meeting those with double-tongued speech fighting and confusing, will speak of retribution of being without tongues and with a hundred tongues. [23] If meeting those with evil views, will speak of having retribution of receiving border land births. ([18] 若遇汤火斩斫伤生者，说轮回递偿报。[19] 若遇破戒犯斋者，说禽兽饥饿报。[20] 若遇非理毁用者，说所求阙绝报。[21] 若遇吾我贡高者，说卑使下贱报。[22] 若遇两舌鬪乱者，说无舌百舌报。[23] 若遇邪见者，说边地受生报。) [Note 2: With a hundred tongues (百舌) is to have speech impairments, not able to speak clearly. To receive border land (边地) births is to be born where the Dharma is not central, where there is little or no Dharma to learn, what more to practise and realise.]
As these such Jambudvīpa’s sentient beings, with their physical, verbal and mental karmas’ evil habits forming fruits, have a hundred thousand retributive responses, I am now coarsely and briefly speaking of them only. As these such and other Jambudvīpa’s sentient beings, have karmic connections with differences, Earth Treasury Bodhisattva has a hundred thousand skilful means, to then teach and transform them. All these sentient beings, first receiving these such and other retribution, later fall into hell. With the moving and passing of numerous kalpas, without having exiting dates.’ (如是等阎浮提众生，身口意业，恶习结果，百千报应，今麁略说。如是等阎浮提众生，业感差别，地藏菩萨百千方便，而教化之。是诸众生，先受如是等报，后堕地狱，动经劫数，无有出期。)
[Note 3: The 23 but inexhaustive examples of karmic retribution taught cover the breaking of many precepts, which creates evil karmas (恶业). Other than teaching on the dynamics of karma, they should also serve as a checklist, on what karmas to not create. With sincere, diligent and regular practice of mindfulness of Amitā(bha) Buddha’s name (Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛), the three poisons that cause the creating of these evil karmas will be kept at bay, and be diminished. Upon reaching his Pure Land (净土), the poisons remaining will be disabled forever, with the swiftest liberation ensured.]
No fruit if nurtured, to be reaped
for no seed planted,
good, evil or neither.— Shilashanti
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《地藏经》之念佛教理
Kṣitigarbha Sūtra’s Niànfó Teachings
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