Discourses on the Sutra of the Father and Son Compilation (142)

The Karmic Retribution for Generating Hatred and Destructive Thoughts Toward a Corpse

Original Text: The Buddha said: "Great King, it is so, it is so. Ordinary beings, upon seeing such foulness and repulsiveness, generate hatred and resentment, slander, and destructive thoughts, thereby creating such karma—three [actions] through the body, four through speech, and three through the mind. After creating this karma, it perishes in an instant. This karma does not abide in the east, west, south, north, the four intermediate directions, above, below, or in between. At the final moment, when the life force ceases, the karmic retribution due to one’s own actions fully manifests before them, just as upon waking from a dream, one recalls the events of the dream."

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, it is indeed so. Ordinary beings, upon seeing such a foul and repulsive corpse, generate hatred, resentment, and destructive thoughts, creating unwholesome karma—three through the body, four through speech, and three through the mind. After creating these ten unwholesome karmas, the karmic actions perish instantly; karma arises and perishes simultaneously. Once perished, the karma has nowhere to go; it does not abide in the east, south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, above, below, or in between. Finally, when the life force ceases, all the karmic retribution due to be experienced in this present body fully manifests before them, just as after waking from a dream, one still recalls the events of the dream.