Distinguishing the Consequences of Wholesome and Unwholesome Actions (Fo Shuo Fenbie Shan E Suo Qi Jing) 佛說分別善惡所起經

Translated by An Shigao

Colophon

第 17 冊　No. 729 佛說分別善惡所起經 後漢 安世高譯 共 1 卷 Volume 17, No. 729; Distinguishing the Consequences of Wholesome and Unwholesome Actions (Fo Shuo Fenbie Shan E Suo Qi Jing); Translated by An Shigao in the Later Han in 1 scroll

Notes

Date 148-170 from Lancaster (2004, 'K 810')

English Translations

None

Summary

The Buddha, while residing in Śrāvastī, taught about the consequences of good and evil actions, explaining the five paths of existence: heavenly beings, humans, hungry ghosts, animals, and hellish beings. He emphasized that those who do not seek liberation continue to suffer in the cycle of birth and death. The Buddha then described the benefits of virtuous actions such as non-killing, honesty, faithfulness, kindness, and generosity, which lead to happiness, respect, and rebirth in better conditions. Conversely, he warned against the consequences of harmful actions like killing, stealing, adultery, lying, and intoxication, which result in suffering, social disgrace, and rebirth in lower realms or hell.

Primary Source

An Shigao, 《佛說分別善惡所起經》 'Fo Shuo Fenbie Shan E Suo Qi Jing,' in Taishō shinshū Daizōkyō 《大正新脩大藏經》, in Takakusu Junjiro, ed., (Tokyo: Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō Kankōkai, 1988), Vol. 17, No. 729, Accessed 2016-09-25, http://tripitaka.cbeta.org/T17n0729.

References

  1. FGDB, s.v. 佛說分別善惡所起經.
  2. Lancaster 2004, s.v. K 810.

Collection vocabulary analysis