Scripture of Karmic Retribution and Causality 太上洞玄灵宝业报因缘经

According to research, it was probably compiled from the late Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Early Tang Taoist works such as Sandong Fengdao Kejie (Precepts for Worshiping the Dao in the Three Caverns) and Xuanmen Dalun (Great Treatise on the Mysterious Gate) already quoted this scripture. Consisting of ten volumes, it is included in the Benwen (Scripture Text) category of the Dongxuan Section in the Daozang.

Scripture of Karmic Retribution and Causality

In addition, there are more than twenty Tang-dynasty Dunhuang manuscripts titled Taishang Yebao Yinyuan Jing (Supreme Scripture of Karmic Retribution and Affinities). The core content of this scripture is to promote the doctrine of karmic retribution and affinities, explaining that all sins, blessings, good and bad fortunes in human life are the karmic retributions from past lives. It exhorts people to cultivate the Dao, observe precepts, repent for sins committed in past lives, perform good deeds and help the world, so as to seek blessings in the next life. The scripture comprises a total of twenty-seven chapters. The first chapter is Kaidu Pin (Chapter of Salvation and Deliverance), in which the Supreme Dao Lord explains the karmic retributions and affinities of human life to the Perfected One of Great Compassion and Universal Salvation. Followed by three chapters—Shandui Pin (Chapter of Good Retributions), Ebao Pin (Chapter of Evil Retributions) and Shouzui Pin (Chapter of Suffering Retributions)—it elaborates on various phenomena of karmic retribution across the three lifetimes. Then come chapters such as Chan Hui Pin (Chapter of Repentance), Fengjie Pin (Chapter of Observing Precepts), Chizhai Pin (Chapter of Keeping Fasts), Songnian Pin (Chapter of Recitation and Contemplation), Xingdao Pin (Chapter of Practicing the Dao), Hongshi Pin (Chapter of Great Vows), Fayuan Pin (Chapter of Making Aspirations) and Zantan Pin (Chapter of Praise), indicating the deeds of repenting sins, believing in the Dao and vowing to help others. Next are chapters including Bushi Pin (Chapter of Almsgiving), Ciji Pin (Chapter of Compassion and Relief), Jiuku Pin (Chapter of Relieving Suffering), Gongde Pin (Chapter of Merits and Virtues), Yinggan Pin (Chapter of Responsive Connections) and Fu Bao Pin (Chapter of Blessings and Rewards), expounding the way of practicing almsgiving to help others and accumulating blessings through good deeds. Then chapters such as Shenshen Pin (Chapter of Generating Spirit), Hongjiao Pin (Chapter of Propagating the Teaching), Zhengshi Pin (Chapter of Verification), Sheyin Pin (Chapter of Grasping Causes), Shenghua Pin (Chapter of Generation and Transformation), Guangtong Pin (Chapter of Comprehensive Governance) and Huizhen Pin (Chapter of Uniting with the True) point out the methods of stabilizing one’s will, practicing quiet observation, attaining enlightenment according to opportunities, understanding that all dharmas are empty, and cutting off the causes of suffering. Finally, the two chapters—Xujiao Pin (Chapter of Narrating the Teaching) and Liutong Pin (Chapter of Circulation and Dissemination)—extol the merits and virtues of this scripture, aiming to widely propagate the Triyana scriptures and teachings for the benefit of all sentient beings. Overall, the book has a complete system and a clear core ideology, and exerted a considerable influence on the development of Taoism doctrines during the Sui and Tang dynasties.