佛說淨意優婆塞所問經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Śrāvastī, in the garden of the elder Anāthapiṇḍika, together with the full assembly of the great community of bhikṣus.

At that time, in the city there was a son of Tuṇidya, named Śuddhamati, who came to the place where the Buddha was. Upon arriving, seeing the excellent marks of the Buddha, Śuddhamati gave rise to a mind of joy, praised him with the fullest of words, joined his palms in reverence, paid homage at the feet of the Buddha, and then withdrew to one side.

At that time, Śuddhamati stood up before the Buddha and said: World-Honored One! I have a few matters I wish to inquire about. I humbly beg that you grant me leave to do so.

The Buddha said: Śuddhamati! As you wish! Now I shall, for your sake, explain the matters of which you are in doubt.

At that time, Śuddhamati said to the Buddha: World-Honored One! I see that people in the world have various differing characteristics. Sometimes I see that there are those who live long, and those who live but a short while; some who suffer many illnesses, and some who suffer few illnesses; some who are beautiful, and some who are ugly; some who obtain things as they wish, and some who do not obtain things as they wish; some who are born into noble lineages, and some who are born into lowly lineages; some who are wealthy and honored, and some who are poor and destitute; some who are foolish and dull, and some who are intelligent and possessed of wisdom. From what causes and conditions do such differences arise? I humbly beg the World-Honored One to expound this widely for me.

The Buddha said: Śuddhamati! You should know that the causal deeds and actions of sentient beings in the world are all different, and therefore their karmic retributions are also different.

Then Śuddhamati again said to the Buddha: World-Honored One! As the Buddha has taught concerning the differences of cause and effect, I beg you to reveal these things to me in brief, for if they are spoken of widely, I fear that I will not be able to understand them!

The Buddha said: Śuddhamati! You should give rise to a wholesome and virtuous mind and listen attentively. Now I shall explain it for your sake.

Then Śuddhamati silently listened to the teaching of the Buddha.

The Buddha told Śuddhamati: You should now know that in the world there is a class of men and women who harbor in their hearts harmful and venomous intentions. Sometimes they take up knives and blades, sometimes they take up clubs, awaiting the opportunity to kill and harm the lives of others, having no mind of loving-kindness and compassion, giving rise to no mind of shame and conscience; they either kill with their own hands or instruct others to kill.

By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they fall into the evil destinies and undergo suffering in the hells. After undergoing the karmic retribution in the hells, even if they obtain a human body, for many lifetimes their span of life is short. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of killing and harming one draws on the karmic retribution of a short life.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women whose hearts are not malicious and venomous, who store up no knives or clubs, who do not kill or harm the lives of others, who are fully endowed with a mind of compassion and tender-heartedness, and who moreover possess shame and conscience. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the good destinies and receive the bodies of gods and humans. After enjoying the blessings of the heavens to their end, they will be born into the human realm, and for many lifetimes their span of life will be long-lasting. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of not killing and harming one obtains the wholesome blessed reward of a long life.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who sometimes take up sticks, clubs, tiles, and stones to beat and hurl at sentient beings, or who again with their own hands do things that vex and trouble others. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they fall into the evil destinies and undergo suffering in the hells. After undergoing the hellish retribution, even if they obtain a human body, for many lifetimes they are often afflicted with many illnesses. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of vexing and harming sentient beings one undergoes the karmic retribution of many illnesses.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who do not use clubs, sticks, tiles, or stones to beat and hurl at sentient beings, who do not with their own hands vex and trouble others. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the good destinies and receive the bodies of gods and humans. After enjoying the blessings of the heavens, they are born again as humans, and for many lifetimes they have few illnesses. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of not vexing and harming sentient beings one obtains the wholesome blessed reward of few illnesses.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who often give rise to a mind of enmity and anger, causing very many faults to arise. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they fall into the evil destinies and undergo suffering in the hells. After undergoing the hellish retribution, even if they obtain a human body, for many lifetimes their appearance is ugly. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of having much anger and hatred one draws on the karmic retribution of an ugly form and figure.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who do not often give rise to a mind of enmity and anger, and so do not give rise to those faults. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the good destinies and receive the bodies of gods and humans. After enjoying the blessings of the heavens, they are born again into the human realm, and for many lifetimes they have a beautiful and handsome appearance. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of not having anger and enmity one is moved to obtain the karmic retribution of a beautiful and handsome body.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who, if they see the gains and support, and even the fame, together with the things that accord with the wishes of others, then use many methods to obstruct and create hindrances, so as to cause those others not to obtain those things. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they fall into the evil destinies and undergo the hellish retribution. After undergoing the hellish retribution, even if they obtain a human body, for many lifetimes all that they do fails to accord with their wishes. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of creating hindrances for others one draws on the karmic retribution of meeting with things that do not accord with one's wishes.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who, if they see the gains and support, and even the fame, together with the things pleasing and agreeable to others, do not use various methods to create hindrances for them. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the good destinies and receive the bodies of gods and humans. After enjoying the blessings of the heavens, they are born again as humans; and for many lifetimes, whatever they do all accords with their wishes. Śuddhamati, you should know that by not creating hindrances for others one enjoys the wholesome fruit of things going as one wishes.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who, toward those whom others honor do not show honor, toward those worthy of reverence do not show reverence, toward those worthy of offerings do not make offerings, and who moreover often give rise to a mind of haughtiness, conceit, and arrogance. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the evil destinies and undergo the hellish retribution. After undergoing the hellish retribution, even if they obtain a human body, for many lifetimes they are often born into lowly lineages. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of giving rise to a mind of haughtiness, conceit, and arrogance one draws on the karmic retribution of being born into a lowly lineage.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women who, toward those whom others honor give rise to a mind of honor, toward those worthy of reverence give rise to a mind of reverence, and toward those worthy of offerings make offerings; they do not give rise to a mind of haughtiness, conceit, and arrogance. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the good destinies and receive the bodies of gods and humans.

After enjoying the blessings of the heavens, they are born again as humans, and for many lifetimes they are often born into noble lineages. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of not often giving rise to a mind of haughtiness, conceit, and arrogance one obtains the karmic retribution of being born into a noble lineage.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women whose hearts are exceedingly stingy and miserly, who do not make offerings to the śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, and the like—such things as food and drink, clothing, medicine, beds and bedding, dwellings—down to not even offering scented powder or incense to burn. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they fall into the evil destinies and undergo suffering in the hells. After undergoing the hellish retribution, even if they obtain a human body, for many lifetimes they are often poor, wanting, and destitute. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of miserliness and stinginess one draws on the karmic retribution of poverty, lowliness, and destitution.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women whose hearts are not stingy, who often bring food and drink, clothing, medicine, beds and bedding, dwellings, down to scented powder and incense to burn, and offer them to the śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, and the like. By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the good destinies and receive the bodies of gods and humans. After enjoying the blessed reward of the heavens, they are born again into the human realm, and for many lifetimes they are often wealthy, honored, and at ease. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of not being stingy one is moved to obtain the wholesome fruit of wealth and honor.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women whose hearts do not love and delight in the scriptures and the True Dharma, and who moreover do not inquire and ask about the meaning and principles from the śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas. What is wholesome, what is unwholesome, what should be aroused, what should not be aroused, what should be done, what should not be done—these they do not inquire and ask about in order to obtain answers.

By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they fall into the evil destinies and undergo suffering in the hells. After undergoing the hellish retribution, even if they obtain a human body, for many lifetimes they are foolish and dull, without wisdom. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of not loving, delighting in, and inquiring about the True Dharma one draws on the karmic retribution of foolishness and dullness.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! In the world there is a class of men and women whose hearts often love and delight in the scriptures and the True Dharma, and who are fond of inquiring and asking about the meaning and principles from the śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas. What is wholesome, what is unwholesome, what should be aroused, what should not be aroused, what should be done, what should not be done—they are fond of inquiring and asking about such meaning and principles in order to obtain answers.

By reason of these causes and conditions, after the body breaks up and life ends, they are born into the good destinies and receive the bodies of gods and humans. After enjoying the blessings of the heavens, they are born again into the human realm, and for many lifetimes they are fully endowed with wisdom. Śuddhamati, you should know that by the cause of loving and delighting in the scriptures and the True Dharma one is moved to obtain the karmic retribution of clear and bright wisdom.

Furthermore, Śuddhamati! As I have taught above, the kinds of cause and effect such as these differ very greatly. Therefore, you should know that one who sows the cause of a short life span will reap the fruit of a short life span; one who sows the cause of a long life will reap the fruit of a long life; one who sows the cause of many illnesses will reap the fruit of many illnesses; one who sows the cause of few illnesses will reap the fruit of few illnesses; one who sows the cause of ugliness will reap the fruit of ugliness; one who sows the cause of beauty and comeliness will reap the fruit of beauty and comeliness; one who sows the cause of things not according with one's wishes will reap the fruit of things not according with one's wishes;

one who sows the cause of things according with one's wishes will reap the fruit of things according with one's wishes; one who sows the cause of being born into a lowly lineage will reap the fruit of being born into a lowly lineage; one who sows the cause of being born into a noble lineage will reap the fruit of being born into a noble lineage; one who sows the cause of poverty will reap the fruit of poverty; one who sows the cause of wealth and honor will reap the fruit of wealth and honor; one who sows the cause of foolishness will reap the fruit of foolishness; one who sows the cause of wisdom will reap the fruit of wisdom.

Śuddhamati! Therefore, you should now clearly understand that the cause and effect of a short life is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of a long life is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of many illnesses is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of few illnesses is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of ugliness is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of beauty and comeliness is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of things not according with one's wishes is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of things according with one's wishes is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of being born into a lowly lineage is the teaching of the Buddha,

the cause and effect of being born into a noble lineage is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of poverty is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of wealth and honor is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of foolishness is the teaching of the Buddha, the cause and effect of wisdom is the teaching of the Buddha.

Therefore, the wise should practice in accordance with the teachings above. Śuddhamati! You should know that the Buddha teaches that a long life is owing to a supreme and excellent wholesome karmic retribution. Few illnesses is a supreme and excellent wholesome karmic retribution. Beauty and comeliness is a supreme and excellent wholesome karmic retribution. Obtaining things as one wishes is a supreme and excellent wholesome karmic retribution. Being born into a noble lineage is a supreme and excellent wholesome karmic retribution. Wealth and honor is a supreme and excellent wholesome karmic retribution. Having wisdom is a supreme and excellent wholesome karmic retribution.

Śuddhamati! Dharmas such as these are the teaching of the Buddha. You should cultivate them.

At that time, Śuddhamati, having heard the teachings of the Buddha as above, was exceedingly joyful in heart, and so said to the Buddha: World-Honored One! It is like there being dark places in the world through which one cannot pass back and forth. Though one has eyes, one cannot see.

If there is someone possessed of wisdom, holding a torch in hand to shine a light, then that road can be traversed back and forth. The World-Honored One is also like this! He skillfully teaches the True Dharma, destroying those who are without wisdom, and is able to distinguish each and every one of the dharmas.

What is wholesome, what is unwholesome, what should be aroused, what should not be aroused, what is worthy of being done, what is not worthy of being done—dharmas such as these, only the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Equal, the Perfectly Enlightened One, appearing in the world, is able to skillfully proclaim. This day I swiftly obtain these wholesome benefits and joys. I now take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, take refuge in the Saṅgha, and uphold the precept of not killing, and so forth, becoming a lay disciple.

I humbly beg the World-Honored One to receive me.

The Buddha said: Good indeed, good indeed! Now I receive you.

At that time, the lay disciple Śuddhamati said to the Buddha: World-Honored One! The people in this city of Śrāvastī, if they are able to hear these things, should all remember and reflect that the son of Tuṇidya, throughout the long dark night, often brought benefit and gave instruction to sentient beings.

Having spoken these words, the lay disciple Śuddhamati bowed his head in homage to the Buddha and then withdrew.