Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
171 - Primary Karma and Complementary Karma (continued 2/5)
Primary karma may be compared to taking an exam: multiple candidates may receive high marks; but, only one takes first place. Among the many heavy karmic actions one may commit in a lifetime, there is still only one that is the heaviest. This single decisive karma determines the realm of existence into which we are reborn after death. It is called primary karma.
Complementary karma, in contrast, refers to all the other karmic actions aside from the primary karma. These shape the countless differences in the destiny that we experience in the world we are reborn into.
The result brought about by primary karma cannot be altered. For example, if one is born as a human in this lifetime, one will not suddenly transform into an animal or hungry ghost unless one dies first.
However, the results of complementary karma can, to some degree, be changed through one’s present efforts — which are another source of karma. For example, someone born into poverty may rise to honor and great achievement through virtuous deeds and diligent work.
Primary karma is also called the leading cause, karma that pulls, or general-result karma — it is the karmic cause that leads beings to rebirth through the four modes of birth within the six realms, and it stands in contrast to complementary karma. For example, the karma that causes us to be born as a human is primary karma. The distinctions of: male or female, noble or lowly, wise or foolish, beautiful or ugly, rich or poor — these all arise from complementary karma.
In short: the karma that brings about the general result is primary karma; the karma that completes the particular results is complementary karma. It is like a painter who first sketches the outline, then later fills in the colors.
The above explains the situation of beings who continue to revolve in the six realms of rebirth. Because the destination brought about by primary karma never goes beyond the six realms, no matter how diligently one works through complementary karma, perfection remains difficult to attain. However, if one relies on the Buddha’s Vow-Power, exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, an entirely different world of perfect happiness and brilliance opens before us.
(to be continued tomorrow)
171 引業與滿業 (續)
「引業」，就像考試，名列前茅的人有好幾個，但第一名則只有一個。在這 當中「最重」的業卻只有一個。同樣的道理，眾生一生所造的業當中，雖然有 很多的重業，但最重的唯只一業，是決定我們死後投生的世界（六道）的業， 這叫作「引業」。
「滿業」，普指引業以外的一切業，是促成我們死後往生世界的種種千差 萬別命運之業。
由「引業」所呈現的果報不可改，比如，今生為人，除非此人死後，否則不 會變成畜生或餓鬼等他類眾生。
然而，「滿業」的果報，則有一部分可以依現生的努力（也是一種「業」）而 改變，如出生貧家，經行善積德，努力營生後，也可能轉向高貴騰踏。
「引業」，又名引因、牽引業、總報業，即牽引眾生往生六道四生中的業因 ，為「滿業」的對稱。譬如促使我們生而為人的業，便是引業，其中之男女、貴 賤、賢愚、美醜、貧富等差別，則是滿業所感。
簡而言之，引出「總報」之業為引業，圓滿「別報」之業稱為滿業。猶如畫師 ，先作模樣，後填眾彩。以上是就眾生輪迴六道之狀況來說明，由於「引業」所 至不出六道，故「滿業」再怎麼勤奮努力，仍難臻周全。但如乘佛願力，念佛往 生極樂淨土，則另有一番圓滿幸福的光彩景象。
Namo Amituofo!
