| English Translated by BTTS |
爾時，阿難陀尊者，在靈山會上，壹千二百五十人俱。阿難頂禮合掌，繞佛三匝，胡跪問訊。
At that time, Ananda was on Magic Mountain, together with twelve hundred fifty in the assembly. Ananda made obeisance with his palms together, circumambulated the Buddha three times, and knelt with his palms joined.
請問本師釋迦牟尼佛，南閻浮提內，一切眾生，未法時至，多生不善，不敬三寶，不孝父母，無有三光五倫，雜亂貧窮，下劣六根，不足殺生害命，富貴貧窮，亦不平等，以何果報，望世尊慈悲，願為弟子解說。
Then he asked Shakyamuni Buddha this question: “During the Dharma-Ending Age, all the living beings in Southern Jambudvipa will give rise to much unwholesome karma. They will not revere the Triple Jewel, or respect their parents. They will be lacking in the Three Bonds. The Five Constants that safeguard the universal obligations between people will be in disharmony and disarray. Beings will be poor, destitute, lowly, and vile. Their six faculties will suffer impairment. All day long they will engage in killing and harming. Moreover, they will not be of equal status; some will be wealthy while others will be poor. What are the conditions leading to these various different rewards and retributions? We disciples pray that the World Honored One will compassionately explain each one of these for us.”
佛告阿難，言於諸大弟子，汝今諦聽，善哉善哉，吾當為汝等，分明說之，是故世間壹切男女，貧賤富貴，受苦無窮，享福下賤，皆是前生因果之報。
The Buddha told Ananda and the assembly of great disciples, “You should now listen attentively. Good indeed, good indeed! I will clearly set forth all of this for you. All men and women of the world, whether they be poor and lowly or wealthy and noble, whether they be undergoing limitless sufferings or enjoying blessings without end, are all undergoing the rewards or retributions which are due to causes and effects from their past lives.
以何所作，故先須孝敬父母，次要敬信三寶，三要戒殺放生，四要持齋布施，五要了知正道，廣種後世福田。
What should they do from now on?
“First, they should be filial and respectful to their parents. Next, they should reverently believe in the Triple Jewel. Third, they should refrain from killing and instead liberate the living. Fourth, they should eat pure vegetarian food and practice giving. These acts will enable them to plant seeds in the field of blessings for their future lives.”
佛說因果偈曰
Then the Buddha spoke these verses on cause and effect
富貴皆由命，前世各修因。
有人受持者，世世福祿臻。
Wealth and dignity come from one’s destiny
From causes planted in lives in the past.
People who hold to this simple principle
Will reap good fortune in lives in the future.
善男信女聽言因，聽念三世因果經。
三世因果非小可，佛言真語實非輕。
今世做官為何因，三世黃金妝佛身。
三世修來今世受，紫袍玉帶佛前求。
雕刻佛像塑菩薩，容貌端正蓋世人。
莫說做官皆容易，前世不修何處來。
Kind men and women, listen to the causes,
Hear and remember this Sutra’s reminder
Of the causes and effects of karmic deeds
In the past, in the future, and in the present.
Cause and effect is no small care.
True are my words; don’t take them lightly.
Why are some people officials at present?
Because with gold they gilded the Buddhas
In their past lives, long long ago.
It’s from their practice in lives in the past
That they reap in this life a rich fruition.
The purple gown and golden cordon–
The honored marks of higher office:
Should you seek them, seek with the Buddhas
Gilding the Buddhas is your own gain;
Robing Thus Come Ones, you robe yourself.
Don’t say it’s easy to become an official;
It cannot happen if causes aren’t planted.
騎馬坐轎為何因，前世修橋補路人。
穿綢穿緞為何因，前世施衣濟災民。
有食有穿為何因，前世茶飯施貧人。
無食無穿為何因，前世無舍半分文。
What are the causes of owning a carriage
And riding on palanquins? People like that
Were builders and menders of bridges and roads.
Why are some people wearers of fine material?
That is because in times in the past,
Robes they save as gifts to the Sangha.
Sometimes people have plentiful goods,
The reason, in fact, again is quite fair.
In the past those people gave food to the poor.
Others don’t have food or drink,
Who can guess the reason why?
Before those people were plagued with a fault:
Stingy greed made them squeeze every penny.
The well-to-do among us dwell
In very tall mansions and vast estates.
The reason is they gladly gave rice,
Lavishing gifts of grain on monasteries.
Enjoying blessings and justly prosperous,
Are People who reap a fitting reward.
高樓大廈為何因，前世造庵起涼亭。
福祿俱足為何因，前世救濟受災人。
相貌端莊為何因，前世花果供佛前。
聰明智慧為何因，前世吃齋念佛人。
In times now past they helped build temples
And saw that the Sangha had huts and shelters.
Some people’s features are fine and perfect,
Surely the reason for such rewards
Is that beautiful flowers they offered to Buddhas.
Why are some people gifted and wise?
In former lives they ate pure food
And remembered the Buddhas with mindful regard.
Look at men whose wives are loyal,
Their reward comes now for what happened before:
Their conditions are strong in the Buddha’s door.
賢妻美婦為何因，前世佛前結彩多。
夫妻永壽為何因，前世長幡敬佛前。
父母雙全為何因，前世敬重孤獨人。
無父無母為何因，前世忤逆不孝順。
Some have marriages lasting and meaningful.
Their happiness doesn’t happen by chance.
The cause this time is the hanging of canopies
And streamers before the Buddhas’ statues.
Some happy fellows’ fathers and mothers
Enjoy long lifespans, contentment, and ease.
Where is the source for rewards such as these?
They protected orphans in times now past
And regarded all elderly ones as their own.
Orphans must live without fathers and mothers
Since before they shot down birds for sport.
多子多孫為何因，前世開籠放鳥人。
今生無子為何因，前世皆因溺嬰身。
今生長壽為何因，前世買物多放生。
今生短命為何因，前世宰殺眾生身。
How does one get lots of children and grandchildren?
By letting birds fly from their cages to freedom.
In raising children, some really fail badly.
It’s because before they drowned female infants.
When barren, people won’t bear any children.
That’s their due for committing promiscuous deeds.
Some have long lifespans, why are they lucky?
Liberating creatures, they ransomed lives.
Have you seen how many suffer short lifespans?
Their wanton slaughter of beings is why.
今生無妻為何因，前世虐待婦女們。
今生守寡為何因，前世輕賤丈夫身。
今生奴婢為何因，前世忘恩負義人。
今生眼明為何因，前世舍油點佛燈。
Lonely are men whom no women will marry.
They’re paying their debt for committing adultery.
Widows bear a sad retribution.
They held their past lives’ husbands in scorn.
Servants and slaves made that bondage themselves
By neglecting repayment of goodnesses done them.
Bright are the eyes of some fortunate beings.
Before Buddhas they offered lamps filled with oil.
今生眼瞎為何因，前世損路害失明。
今生臭口為何因，前世吹滅佛前燈。
今生聾啞為何因，前世惡口罵雙親。
今生駝背為何因，前世嘲笑拜佛人。
The blind of this world bear a heavy burden
For past failure to tell the way clearly to travelers.
Some people’s mouths are very misshapen.
They blew out lamps on the Buddhas’ altars.
To be deaf and mute is a dreary existence.
Reward appropriate for scolding one’s parents.
How do people get to be hunchbacks?
They berated and laughed at those bowing to Buddhas.
今生缺手為何因，前世造業害旁人。
今生跛腳為何因，前世攔路打劫人。
今生牛馬為何因，前世欠錢不還人。
今生豬狗為何因，前世皆因騙害人。
Take heed of malformed hands, my friend.
They betray people prone to evil.
Fellows with crippled and useless feet
Ambushed and robbed with reckless abandon.
Most cows and horses were humans before–
Peoplewho didn’t settle their debts.
Many former people are now pigs or dogs
Because they injured and cheated others.
今生多病為何因，前世酒肉供佛前。
今生無病為何因，前世施藥救病人。
今生囚牢為何因，前世作惡害別人。
今生餓死為何因，前世糟塌五谷人。
Illness and pain: an effect inevitable
For bestowing meat and wine on the Buddhas.
Freedom from illness: a fine reward
For relieving the sick by bestowing medicines.
The fate of imprisonment catches some people
Due to fiendish deeds and a failure to yield.
Death by starvation: due retribution
For stopping up holes of rats and snakes.
毒藥死者為何因，前世藥物毒眾生。
伶仃孤苦為何因，前世惡心侵算人。
今生矮者為何因，前世地下看經文。
今生吐血為何因，前世酒肉念經人。
Appropriate that a victim of poisoning
Caused aquatic poisoning; dammed up waters.
Abandoned, forlorn, rejected beings
Were cruel of old, abusing others.
The stature of some is extremely short.
Before, they read Sutras spread out on the floor.
Vomiting blood? Believe it’s from first
Eating meat, then reciting the Sutras.
今生耳聾為何因，前世擾亂念佛人。
今生瘋癲為何因，前世葷辛佛前供。
今生臭氣為何因，前世汙物放佛前。
今生吊死為何因，前世劫索在山林。
Another deed that determines deafness:
To not listen well to Sutra recitals.
Sores and scabies bother some people
Who gave stinking fish and flesh to the Buddhas.
People who reek with a terrible stench
Sold inferior scents and phony goods.
Why do some by their own hand hang themselves?
Before, they used nooses to capture their prey.
鰥寡孤獨為何因，前世狠心嫉妒人。
雷打火燒為何因，大秤小鬥不公平。
蛇咬虎傷為何因，前世冤家對頭人。
萬般自作由自受，地獄受苦怨何人。
All those widowed, alone, unwed, or orphaned,
Are now paid justly for former jealousy.
Those struck by lightning, consumed by fire,
Rigged their scales to better their business income.
Fierce tigers and snakes that feast on people
Are enemies bearing resentments from lives before.
In our myriad deeds, whatever we do,
We reap our own rewards, it’s true.
Who can we blame for our woe in the hells?
Who can there be to blame but ourselves?
莫道因果無人見，遠在兒孫近在身。
前世修福今世享，今世修積後世受。
有人受持因果經，消災免難壽延長。
有人講說因果經，事事如意得稱心。
Don’t say that cause and effect is unseen.
Look at you, your offspring, heirs, and grand children.
If you doubt the good of pure eating and giving,
Look around and find those enjoying fortune.
Having practiced of old, they now harvest abundance.
To cultivate now will bring blessings anew.
Those who slander the cause and effect in this Sutra
Will fall and have no chance to be human.
有人高唱因果經，生生世世得聰明。
有人印送因果經，災兇橫禍不臨身。
若是因果無處應，善惡賞罰如何分。
若人念佛虔誦經，同生西方極樂行。
Those who recite and uphold this Sutra
Are supported by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Write out this Sutra, study it hard
And in the future your families will flourish.
若人深信因果經，事事件件皆稱心。
三世因果說不盡，上天不虧善心人。
三寶門中福好修，壹文喜舍萬文收。
以君寄在祿宮庫，世世生生福不休。
Uphold this Sutra atop your heads
To avert disasters and fatal accidents.
To lecture this Sutra on Cause and Effect
Is to sharpen your wits in successive rebirths.
Chanting this Sutra on Cause and Effect
Will make one revered, well-regarded by all.
Print and distribute this precious Sutra
And reap rebirth as a ruler or king.
若問前世事，今生受者是。
若問後世事，今生作者是。
善男信女聽知音，印送此經吉星臨。
能送十本身強壯，如送百本福壽增。
如送千本無災難，愈多相送愈得善。
多多益善福星臨，世代兒孫家道興。
壹人傳十十傳百，永世不墮地獄門。
To verify former cause and effect,
Regard Mahakashyapa’s golden body.
A case of future cause and effect:
Bhikshu Good Star slandered the Dharma
And lost his chance for human life.
If cause and effect contained no truth,
Why did Maudgalyayana seek to rescue his mother
From the hells to save her from suffering?
Those who trust the words of this Sutra as true,
Will all be reborn in the Western Land of Bliss.
To speak of present cause and effect
To proclaim future and past as well,
Is a deed that could never be done to its end.
Join at the door of the Triple Gem.
With blessings and wholesome belief one can enter
The door, supported by gods and dragons,
Dragons and gods who won’t let you down.
For every part of giving you practice,
You’ll reap ten thousand parts reward.
Such blessings are stored in a solid treasury,
For enjoyment in future rebirths without end.
If you care to know of past live’s causes,
Look at rewards you are reaping today
If you wish to find out about future lives,
You need but notice what you’re doing right now.
End Of The Buddha Speaks The Sutra On Cause and Effect In Three Periods Of Time. ♣
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