誡觀六道流轉受報無窮法第十三
Contemplating the Endless Retribution of Rebirth in the Six Realms — Chapter 13
三界眾生無始已來造善惡業，皆熏本識成業種子，淨染合雜數過塵算，受六道報生死無邊。從地獄出，生諸天中、人中、鬼神畜生中。畜生者先受蝎蠓蠕動形類，一日一夜百死百生，千死萬生漸受大身，乃至摩竭魚等長十千由旬。脫畜生身受修羅身，天上福盡復生地獄餓鬼中。經云：鬼有百千萬種，果報各別。六道人畜，各千萬種，色命苦樂質像好醜，千差萬品，說難窮盡。今言人道本業來處，經云：受形顏貌端正，為性淨潔，諸天中來；皮膚麁弊，不喜修施，畜生中來；形色醜惡，瞪矒少智，地獄中來；舉動輕躁，獼猴中來；機捷調戲，妓兒中來；性多諂媚，鬼神中來。略而言之，廣即難盡。一道之中有恒河沙因果，受一螘身猶經多劫，況受餘形及餘道中，是故生死不可窮盡。汝可諦觀，捨身命時受大苦痛，受身生時復大苦痛，如是苦痛已經塵劫，已捨無數身，已受無邊苦。愚者於中猶行放逸，汝可思之勤求出離，專精策勵成無學果，證真解脫快樂安隱。能如是觀者，名為淨心。偈曰：
From beginningless time, sentient beings in the three realms have created good and evil karma, all of which has permeated their fundamental consciousness, forming karmic seeds. Pure and impure seeds are mixed together, more numerous than grains of sand. They undergo the six paths of rebirth, with endless cycles of birth and death.
Emerging from hell, they are born among the heavens, among humans, among hungry ghosts, animals, and titans. Those born as animals first take the form of scorpions, gnats, wriggling creatures—dying a hundred times and being reborn a hundred times in a single day and night. Then a thousand deaths and ten thousand births, gradually taking on larger forms, until they become fish like the makara, ten thousand leagues long. Leaving the animal realm, they take the body of a titan. When their heavenly merit is exhausted, they fall again into hell or the realm of hungry ghosts.
The sutras say: There are hundreds of thousands of kinds of ghosts, each with its own retribution. The six realms of humans and animals each have hundreds of thousands of varieties. Their forms, lifespans, joys and sufferings, appearances beautiful and ugly—a thousand differences, ten thousand distinctions—are too vast to fully describe.
Now, speaking of the original karma that brings one into the human realm: The sutras say: Those born with a handsome appearance, pure and clean by nature, come from the heavens. Those with rough, coarse skin who dislike giving come from the animal realm. Those with ugly features, dull-eyed and slow-witted, come from hell. Those whose movements are light and restless come from the monkey realm. Those who are clever and fond of joking come from the entertainer realm. Those who are naturally flattering come from the ghost realm.
This is only a brief summary; a full account would be endless. Even within a single realm, there are causes and effects as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Even taking the body of an ant involves passing through many kalpas—how much more so other forms and other realms? Therefore, birth and death are utterly endless.
Look closely: When you leave a body, you experience great pain. When you take on a new body, you experience great pain again. Such pain has already continued for countless kalpas. You have already abandoned countless bodies and endured boundless suffering. Yet the foolish still indulge in carelessness amidst all this.
Reflect on this diligently. Strive earnestly for liberation. Apply yourself with focused effort to attain the fruit of the arhat, realize true liberation, and dwell in happiness and peace. One who can contemplate in this way is said to have a pure mind.
A verse says:
一切世人欲受樂， 遣修樂因不肯作，
愚人得樂謂常樂， 不覺命終被減削。
十五姿容言可愛， 四十已去自疎索，
縱使生天八萬劫， 不免無常墮溝壑。
凡夫暫樂忘大苦， 受大苦時復忘樂，
所受苦樂皆空華， 本來祇是情迷錯，
迷解悟道獲神通， 永斷生死名真樂。
People all desire happiness in their lives, Yet won't create the causes from which it derives.
Fools, when happy, think it's forever, Unaware that death will sever.
At fifteen, youthful charm is admired, Past forty, one grows tired and retired.
Even if born in heaven for eighty thousand years, One can't escape impermanence's fears.
Ordinary folk, in brief joy, forget great pain, When great pain comes, they forget joy again.
Both pain and joy are like flowers in the sky— From the start, it's the mind's illusion gone awry.
When illusion ends, awakened to the Way, one gains transcendent power, Permanently ending birth and death—that's true joy's final flower.