The Profound Meaning of the Diamond Sutra from the Consciousness-Only Perspective (30)

The causes, conditions, and karmic retribution of giving (dāna) are realized through the tathāgatagarbha. The entire process of the act of giving is held and recorded by the tathāgatagarbha. When the causes and conditions mature, the tathāgatagarbha outputs this karmic seed, and sentient beings receive the retribution of merit. Generally speaking, this retribution is received in a later life, and is called ripened karma (vipāka-karma); but if this karma is very great, it can ripen within the conditions of this life, and then the retribution is received in the present life. The karma created by sentient beings—its retribution never disappears. Wholesome karma, unwholesome karma, and neutral (avyākṛta) karma are all collected and output by the tathāgatagarbha, absolutely without confusion or omission; karma created by person A will not be recorded to person B's account and have B receive the retribution. Generally speaking, once the retribution of wholesome and unwholesome karma has been exhausted, the karmic seeds disappear; evil karma that has been created can also be eliminated through repentance of transgressions. After attaining realization of the fruits or seeing the mind and seeing one's nature, the karma leading to the three evil destinies can be eliminated, and one will not fall into the three evil destinies in future lives. Whichever karma is stronger, that retribution is received first. Practitioners should always ensure that their wholesome karma outweighs their unwholesome karma, so that the unwholesome karma temporarily does not yield retribution; after a very long time, the karmic seeds wither. For example, sentient beings who have committed the five rebellious acts are reborn in the lowest of the low grade (adhamādhamavarga) into the land of bliss (sukhāvatī), where for twelve great kalpas they remain within the lotus flower with no opportunity to create karma; the karmic seeds slowly wither, and when the mind becomes pure, they emerge from the lotus flower.

Fearless giving includes saving the lives of sentient beings, relieving sentient beings from hardship, peril, and distress, removing psychological obstacles, and so on; one can receive the retributions of health and longevity, peace and happiness, smooth success in all matters, and wealth and honor. Sometimes material giving (dāna) contains fearless giving, and fearless giving contains material giving. Dharma giving yields retributions in both merit and wisdom, and also includes the retribution of fearless giving. Expounding the sutras and teaching the Dharma on behalf of the Buddha is direct dharma giving; printing sutra books, protecting the Sangha jewel in its propagation of the Dharma, and so on, are indirect dharma giving. But it is best to have first cultivated realization and attained the eye of the Path, having opened the wisdom of both the Great and Small Vehicles, so that one will not teach the fundamental Buddha-dharma incorrectly, will not mislead sentient beings in the wrong direction of practice, and even less will sever sentient beings' dharmakāya and wisdom-life; only then should one personally expound the sutras and teach the Dharma to guide sentient beings—this is the best way. When sentient beings protect and support Dharma masters in propagating the Dharma, they must also possess the eye of Dharma-selection; the eye of Dharma-selection is one of the seven factors of enlightenment, the ability to discern right from wrong in the Dharma. Otherwise, if the fundamental Buddha-dharma is propagated or assisted in propagation incorrectly, the retribution is also very heavy—one must be extremely careful.