有德者能重报轻受
[38] Those With Virtues [Are] Able [To Have] Heavier Retribution Lighter Received
昔西域戒贤论师，德高一世，道震四竺（四天竺国）。
[In the] past Western Regions, [the] Treatise Master Jièxián [i.e. Śīlabhadra], [was with] virtues high [and] foremost [in the] world, [with his] path thundering [through the] Four Indian (Kingdoms).
[Note: The Four Indian Kingdoms were the Mauryan Empire (孔雀帝国), Gupta Empire (笈多帝国), Delhi Kingdom (德里苏丹国) and Mughal Empire (莫卧儿帝国).]
由宿业故，身婴恶病，其苦极酷，不能忍受，欲行自尽。
Due [to his] past karmas thus, [his] body suffered [a] serious sickness, [with] its suffering extremely cruel, [he was] not able [to] bear [with it, and] desired [to] kill himself.
适见文殊、普贤、观世音三菩萨降，谓曰：「汝往昔劫中，多作国王，恼害众生，当久堕恶道。由汝宏扬佛法，故以此人间小苦，消灭长劫地狱之苦，汝宜忍受。」
Just [then], seeing Mañjuśrī, Universal Virtue [and] Contemplator [Of The] World’s Sounds, [these] three Bodhisattvas descended [and] said, ‘You, within past kalpas, mostly being countries’ Kings, [who] maliciously harmed sentient beings, should [for] long fall [into] evil paths. Due [to] your propagation [of the] Buddha’s Dharma, thus with this human world’s little suffering, eliminating [the] suffering [of] long kalpas [in] hell, you should bear [with this].’
使不明宿世之因，人将谓：「戒贤非得道高僧。」
If not understanding [the] causes of past lives, people will say, ‘Jièxián [was] not [a] high monastic [who has] attained [the] path.’
或将谓：「如此大修行人，尚得如此惨病，佛法有何灵感利益乎？」
Or [they] will say, ‘Like this great practitioner, still getting [a] miserable sickness like this, [the] Buddha’s Dharma has what spiritual connection [and] benefits?’
倘造恶之人现得福报，亦复如是起邪见心。不知皆是前因后果，及转后报重报为现报轻报，或转现报轻报为后报重报等，种种复杂不齐之故也！
If those people [who] create evil presently attain blessed rewards, [they will] likewise thus give rise [to] evil views’ minds. Not knowing [these] are all [due to] past causes [and] later effects, and transforming [of] later retribution’s heavier retribution as present retribution’s lighter retribution, or transforming [of] present retribution’s lighter retribution as later retribution’s heavier retribution [and] others, [as] causes of all kinds [that are] complex [and] not equal!
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）：复周颂尧书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Reply [To] Zhōu Sòngyáo;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第三十八则）：二、诚信愿真切：乙、劝祛疑生信（第十四则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (38th Short Section): 2nd [Chapter]: Good Faith [And] Aspiration True [And] Sincere: 2nd [Sub-Chapter]: Exhortation [To] Dispel Doubts [And] Give Rise [To] Faith (14th Short Section)
[Ref: #38 / 2.2.14]
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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