《太上說輪轉五道宿命因緣經》

Interpretation of the Scripture on the Rotation of Five Paths and Predestined Karma as Spoken by the Most High:

The Most High Lord Lao (one of Daoism's supreme deities) resided in the meditation retreat of Kapilavastu with an assembly of 1,250 celestial immortals, earthly transcendents, and jade maidens during the nine-month purification retreat. After its completion, they journeyed to the Jetavana Grove in Shravasti. At the border between these two kingdoms stood an enormous tree called "Shijulei," towering 1,860 li high with a canopy spanning 630 li. This miraculous tree bore tens of millions of fruits with honey-like sweetness that could cure all ailments and bestow acute senses. Seated beneath its branches, Lord Lao watched as the assembled immortals partook of its fruits.

The Left Primordial Perfected Being (a high-ranking immortal official) addressed the gathering: "I observe that all phenomena between heaven and earth follow their own predestined karma." The assembled transcendents immediately approached with reverence, kneeling to inquire: "Venerable Celestial Worthy, we beseech you to expound the profound principles of these karmic connections, for your disciples earnestly wish to understand."

The Perfected Being responded: "Excellent! Let those who wish to understand listen attentively. The Dao teaches: Human beings accumulating virtue and merit are like this sacred tree—from tiny seeds they grow gradually to bear boundless fruit. Those who become emperors, generals, or nobility in this life owe it to their past devotion in worshiping the Three Treasures (the Dao, its teachings, and the monastic community). Present wealth and abundance stem from past generosity. Longevity free from illness comes from strict observance of precepts in previous existences. Graceful appearance, radiant complexion, and dignified manners that attract admiration result from cultivating forbearance. Diligence and unwavering commitment originate in past accumulations of virtuous practice. Composed speech and careful conduct derive from profound contemplation in former lives. Wisdom to comprehend scriptures and enlighten others springs from deep study of sublime teachings and efforts to awaken beings in prior incarnations."

(Note: This scripture illustrates through the law of karma how present circumstances manifest from past actions, emphasizing the vital importance of sustained spiritual cultivation.)

This scripture expounds the principle of karmic retribution, explaining that all circumstances encountered in one's present life are the results of past actions:

Those who enjoy wealth and status in this life did so because they cultivated wisdom in previous existences. People with clear, melodious voices were those who frequently chanted praises to the Three Jewels (the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) in past lives.

Individuals with healthy, clean bodies possessed compassionate hearts in former incarnations. The Left Origin Perfected Being (a Daoist immortal) explains that true compassion encompasses four qualities: cherishing all beings with a mother's love for her child; wishing all creatures could attain freedom; experiencing constant joy through understanding the true meaning of Daoist teachings; and never committing harmful deeds that injure others.

Beautiful features result from showing respect to others in past lives, while ugliness stems from habitual anger. Ignorance comes from neglecting study in previous existences, and stubborn foolishness arises from refusing to teach others.

Muteness is the karmic consequence of false accusations and slander. Deafness and blindness result from refusing to study scriptures or listen to teachings. Those born as servants failed to repay debts and showed disrespect to the Three Jewels. Dark, unattractive skin comes from obstructing light (metaphorically hindering virtuous deeds).

Rebirth among naked tribes stems from improperly dressed visits to Daoist temples. Birth in the Horse-hoof Kingdom (possibly referring to centaur-like tribes) results from giving charity then regretting it. Those reborn as deer were people who enjoyed frightening others in past lives.

Dragon transformation comes from habitual teasing of others. Strange ulcers and illnesses arise from needlessly whipping living creatures. Being universally disliked stems from constantly showing displeasure toward people, while receiving love and respect comes from greeting everyone with joy.

Those frequently imprisoned or shackled by authorities were people who enjoyed binding and tormenting others in previous existences.

All these examples illustrate the principle of "reaping what one sows," emphasizing how human words and deeds generate corresponding karmic consequences either in this life or future incarnations.

This scripture expounds the principle of karmic retribution, stating that one's present circumstances are the result of past actions, while current deeds determine future rebirth. The specific correspondences are as follows:

Those who imprisoned living beings without cause in past lives will be born with cleft lips in this life. Those who enjoyed fishing will receive corresponding karmic consequences. People who resent hearing kind words and delight in sowing discord will be reborn as dogs with drooping ears. Those who hear scriptures but refuse to accept them will take rebirth as donkeys.

The miserly and gluttonous who hoard food for themselves will become hungry ghosts or be reborn into poverty and starvation, clothed in rags. Those who eat delicacies themselves while giving scraps to others will become pigs or dung beetles. Robbers who steal possessions and strip others of clothing will be reborn as sheep, flayed to repay their debts. Those who delight in killing and fishing will become mayflies that live but a day. Thieves without justification will be reborn as slaves, oxen or horses.

Adulterers who violate others' wives and daughters without regard for Heaven, Earth or the spirits will descend directly into hell (where men embrace red-hot bronze pillars and women lie on iron beds), thereafter reborn as chickens or ducks. Liars who distort good into evil will suffer molten copper poured down their throats, have their tongues torn out, and be plowed by oxen in hell, later becoming owls or other ominous birds whose cries terrify people. Drunkards who violate precepts will fall into hell and be reborn with extreme foolishness. Quarreling spouses who constantly fight will become turtledoves or pigeons. Those who exploit others' labor will be reborn as elephants.

(Note: "Naraka" is the Sanskrit term for hell; "Three Luminaries" refers to the sun, moon and stars.)

The Scripture on the Wheel of Five Paths and Karmic Destiny Spoken by the Great One primarily expounds the principles of karmic retribution and reincarnation. It teaches that a person's present circumstances and character are intrinsically linked to their actions in past lives.

First regarding officials: Those who hold government positions yet oppress the common people while drawing imperial salaries—using whips and punishments to extort taxes, suppressing legitimate grievances—commit grave sins. After death, they will descend directly into hell to endure countless torments. When their karmic debt is repaid and they reincarnate, they will be reborn as water buffaloes, suffering nose rings, heavy carts, and beatings to repay their former debts.

For ordinary people:

• Those presently averse to bathing were formerly pigs or dung beetles
• The stingy, greedy, and sarcastic were malicious dogs in past lives
• The cruel and obstinate were formerly sheep
• The tactless and impulsive were monkeys
• Those with fishy body odor were aquatic creatures like fish or turtles
• The malicious-hearted were venomous snakes
• Those who relish killing for gourmet dishes without compassion were jackals, wolves, or tigers
• Those born in remote barbarian lands disbelieved the Dao in former lives
• The hunchbacked failed to stand straight when worshiping deities
• The chronically ill requiring frequent acupuncture were quack doctors who mistreated patients for profit

On virtuous rebirths:

• The refined, upright, wise, and respected were celestial beings who expounded Daoist teachings
• The learned, intelligent, and non-greedy accumulated abundant merit
• Those with fair skin and handsome features maintained pure precepts

These teachings illustrate the cyclical nature of cause and effect, demonstrating how present circumstances stem from karmic causes sown in past existences.

This scripture expounds the principle of karmic retribution, stating that one's present circumstances are the fruits of past actions. In modern terms:

If a person is born with a naturally fragrant and pure body, it stems from making regular offerings to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) in past lives. Those who die by fire in this life were fond of arson and killing living beings in previous existences. Those who drown once threw innocent creatures into water. Those who hang themselves had bound others with ropes.

Death by wild beasts or venomous snakes indicates having taken money for murder in past lives. Those struck by lightning committed grave offenses—insulting elders, disobeying parents, and defiling the Three Luminaries (sun, moon, stars). Childless individuals who die alone previously envied and harmed others' children. Those who die young must suffer in the Three Wretched Realms (hell, hungry ghosts, animals) for millions of years before liberation.

Poor eyesight results from neglecting scriptures and failing to care for elders in past lives. Master craftsmen reincarnate from celestial palaces. The eloquent and wise delighted in listening to Dharma teachings. The deaf and mute once bullied people and animals.

Orphans who lose parents early previously killed others' parents. Those enslaved were once bandits—either burglarizing homes or kidnapping travelers to sell into slavery, destroying families. Their present state repays these karmic debts.

The Perfected Being of the Left Origin (a Daoist immortal) declares: "Throughout history, I've observed karmic retribution operating with such precision. All should be mindful of their conduct."

(Note: This scripture illustrates the law of cause and effect—"good begets good, evil begets evil"—through concrete examples to encourage virtue. The "Three Wretched Realms" refer to hell, hungry ghosts, and animals; the "Six Roots" denote the six sensory faculties: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.)

This scripture expounds the principles of accumulating virtue through good deeds and the law of karmic retribution, containing several key teachings:

On the Method of Performing Good Deeds:

Virtuous acts must be performed personally—whether lighting incense, preparing ritual offerings, or reciting scriptures. Just as one cannot feel full by asking others to eat on their behalf, merits gained through proxy cannot compare to those earned through direct practice.

The Left Origin Perfected Being (a high-ranking Daoist immortal) emphasizes the importance of consistent cultivation: burning incense, practicing the Dao, maintaining dietary precepts, scripture recitation, and keeping lamps lit should become daily disciplines. Such devoted practice brings blessings, awakens wisdom, secures divine protection, and wards off malevolent influences.

On the Consequences of Negligence:

Those who grow lazy in their practice will find no remedy when illness strikes. Last-minute vows to perform good deeds only attract obstructive karmic hindrances. Therefore, diligent cultivation must be maintained consistently—for retribution follows action as inevitably as a shadow follows form.

Parables on Generosity:

1. Planting fields of merit is like sowing trees—tiny seeds grow into mighty trunks bearing abundant fruit. The Supreme Dao Ancestor (the highest deity in Daoism) reveals to the immortals: the return on charitable acts is "giving one to receive ten thousand"—no idle promise.

2. Verse passages underscore: the wise delight in generosity, naturally receiving celestial protection. The rewards manifest not only as present-life peace and longevity, but ultimately lead to achieving immortality and liberating beings across all realms.

Insight into Karmic Causality:

The Supreme Dao Ancestor illuminates: while ordinary eyes cannot perceive sin and merit's consequences, the eye of Dao sees karmic retribution across countless eons as clearly as observing glass in one's palm. This scripture, titled The Scripture on Karmic Retribution and Predestined Conditions in the Five Paths of Rebirth, grants immeasurable merit to those who recite and propagate it.

Final Scene:

As the Left Origin Perfected Being, celestial immortals, and earthly beings hear this teaching, they rejoice profoundly. Circling three times in reverence, they prostrate in gratitude before departing.

Note: The Five Paths refer to the realms of rebirth—the celestial realm, human realm, animal realm, hungry ghost realm, and hell realm.