祸福无门，唯人自召
[229] Misfortunes [And] Blessings [Are] Without Doors, Only [By] People Personally Summoned
祸福无门，唯人自召。善恶之报，如影随形。
Misfortunes [and] blessings [are] without doors, only [by] people personally summoned. [The] rewards [and retribution] of good [and] evil, [are] like reflections [that] follow forms.
[Note 1: Karmically, effects (果) definitely follow causes (因), when conditions (缘) are present.]
利人即是利己，害人甚于害己。
Benefitting people is the same as benefitting oneself, [and] harming people [is] more than harming oneself.
[Note 2: The more people there are benefitted, the more will one be benefitted. The more people there are harmed, the more will one be harmed.]
杀人之父者，人亦杀其父。杀人之兄者，人亦杀其兄。善事其亲者，其子必孝。善事其兄者，其子必弟。
Those killing [the] fathers of people, [will have] people also killing their fathers. Those killing [the] brothers of people, [will have] people also killing their brothers. Those attending well [to] their relatives, [will have] their children definitely filial [to them]. Those attending well [to] their brothers, [will have] their children definitely brotherly [to them].
[Note 3: Even if the killers of others’ parents and siblings do not have their own parents and siblings killed directly, they will be harmed in equivalent ways. This is however due to the evil karma (恶业) of both the killers and the killed.]
如屋檐水，后必继前。由是观之，孝亲敬兄，爱人利物，皆为自己后来福基。损人利己，伤天害理，皆为自己后来祸本。
Like eaves’ water, [that] behind follows [that] before. Due [to] this contemplating [that, those] filial [to] relatives [and] respectful [of] brothers, [with] love [of] people [and] benefitting [of] sentient beings, [are with] all [these] as one’s later blessings’ foundations. [Those with] harming [of] people [for] benefitting [of] oneself, hurting conscience [and] harming reason, [are with] all [these] as one’s later misfortunes’ roots.
[Note 4: Like the law of karma (业) operating, the eaves’ water flowing from above to below is natural, just as reflections follow forms.]
人虽至愚，断无幸灾乐祸，趋凶避吉者。而究其所行，适得其反。何也？以其未遇明理之人，为彼详细发挥因果报应之事理故也。
People although utmost foolish, [are] absolutely without those happy [with] disasters [and] joyful [with] misfortunes, [with] attraction [to the] inauspicious [and] avoidance [of the] auspicious. However, those examining their actions, exactly attained [are] their opposites. Why? With them yet [to] meet people who understand reason, for them detailedly bringing out [the] practices [and] principles of causes’ [and] effects’ retribution [and rewards] thus.
[Note 5: We should strive to be these ‘people who understand reason’, as those for others ‘detailedly bringing out the practices and principles of causes’ and effects’ retribution and rewards’.]
天下不治，匹夫有责。匹夫何能令天下治乎？使天下之人，同皆知因识果，则贪瞋痴心不至炽盛。杀盗淫业，不敢妄作。爱人利物，乐天知命。
[If the] heavens below [are] not governed, common people have responsibilities [for this]. How [are] common people able [to] enable [the] heavens below [to be] governed? If people of [the] heavens’ below, all together know causes [and] recognise effects, then [will their] minds [of] greed, anger [and] delusion not go as far as [to] flourish. [Of the] karmas [of] killing, stealing [and] sexual misconduct, not daring [to] rashly do [them. With] love [of] people [and] benefitting [of] sentient beings, joyful [with the ‘will’ of] heaven [and] knowing [of] destiny [i.e. karma (业)].
[Note 6: The state of the heavens below (天下), which is the world itself, is mostly determined by its common people, by whether they act with understanding of the law of karma or not. The will of heaven represents that according with our Buddha-nature (佛性).]
心地既已正大光明，则前程所至，无往不是光明之域。
[The] mind’s ground, since already upright [with] great bright light, thus [will the] path ahead [and] that reached, [be with] none not towards [the] region of bright light.
[Note 7: The mind’s ground (心地) is the basis or original nature of the mind. Those upright with great bright light (正大光明) are the just and honourable. The region of bright light (光明之域) represents Pure Land (净土) and/or Buddhahood (佛果).]
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师文钞》（续编）：到光明之路序；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Preface [Of] ‘To [The] Path Of Bright Light’;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第两百二十九则）：六、劝注重因果：甲、明因果之理（第七则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (229th Short Section): 6th [Chapter]: Encouragement [To] Pay Attention [To] Cause [And] Effect: First, Understanding Principles Of Cause [And] Effect (7th Short Section)
[Ref: #229 / 6.1.7]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关典籍
Related Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
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