5月21日

善惡隨逐
北魏 般若流支 譯 ( 生卒年不詳 )

火刀怨毒等，雖害猶可忍；
若自造惡業，後苦過於是。
親眷皆分離，唯業不相捨；
善惡未來世，一切時隨逐。
隨花何處去，其香亦隨逐；
若作善惡業，隨逐亦如是。
眾鳥依樹林，旦去暮還集；
眾生亦如是，後時還合會。

──選自《正法念處經》

May 21

Positive and Negative Karma Follow
Translated into Chinese by Prajnaruci (Years unknown, Northern Wei Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

Harmful yet bearable
The blade of fire, and poison of hatred;
Shall one commit unwholesome karma,
The suffering will surpass the aforementioned.
Families and relatives separate,
Except for karma, which will never forsake.
In the future lives, be they good or bad,
Karma shall follow at all times.
Wherever the flowers may be,
Their scents will follow always;
Once karma is committed,
Whether wholesome or unwholesome,
Will also follow.
Birds abide on forest trees,
Departing at dawn, gathering at dusk;
The same goes for sentient beings
Who shall later, meet again.

── from Saddharma Smrty Upasthana Sutra (Sutra on the Right Mindfulness on the Dharma)