Commentary on The Sutra of the Combined Teachings of the Father and Son (153)

The Karmic Retribution of Coveting Delicacies in a Dream

Original Text: The Buddha said, "Great King, it is so, indeed. When foolish ordinary beings see delicious food, they develop attachment in their minds, giving rise to actions driven by greed—three bodily, four verbal, and three mental actions. These actions, created initially, perish instantaneously. Once these actions cease, they do not abide in the east, south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, above, below, or anywhere in between. However, at the final moment when the vital force ceases, the karmic retribution created by oneself throughout this life will fully manifest. It is like awakening from a dream yet still recalling the events that occurred within it."

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, it is indeed so. When deluded ordinary beings encounter delicious food, they develop a coveting mind, committing actions driven by greed—three types of bodily karma, four types of verbal karma, and three types of mental karma. From the very moment of creation, these karmic actions perish instantaneously even as they are formed. After these actions cease, they do not dwell anywhere—not in the east, south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, above, below, or in between. Yet, when life approaches its final end, the karmic retribution created by oneself in this lifetime will fully manifest. It is like awakening from a dream and still remembering the events that happened within it.