同做一件事，却有不同未来

Some may question, “These people are actually doing good things to others and keeping up with their practice, not killing or stealing. Why use the word ‘unwholesome’ to describe their intentions?” That is because even if one succeeds in reaping the benefits of this life through practice, so what? It is altogether likely that after regaining health, for instance, one may do something resulting in more negative karma, leading to more suffering in the future. Even though the motivation itself is not evil, it remains a potential cause of affliction. It not only will not help end suffering but more may ensue because of it. Hence, the descriptive word ‘unwholesome’is assigned to this type of motivation.

有人不禁会生起疑惑：这些人是在行善、修法，并非想杀人、偷盗，为何要用“不善”二字呢？那是因为，虽然仅仅为了今生的健康长寿等而修行，也有可能达到目的，但在达到健康长寿的目的以后，又能怎样呢？也许，在健康无病之时，会造更多的业，从而导致更多痛苦。这种动机本身虽然不是罪恶，但因为毕竟是有漏之法，不但无法离开痛苦，而且会引发众多苦痛，所以，此动机称为不善。

The point is that Buddhist teachings are not just some stuff for casual conversation, nor should they be studied as cultural or academic subject. They ought to be applied in managing our daily life.

听闻这些修法，不是为了茶余饭后的闲聊，也不能当成一种文化、学问来研究，而是要运用于日常生活的处事待人之中。

How should it be applied? Here is an example from the Mahayana Abhidharma Sangiti Shastra. Three people were having a meal together. One of them thought, “I’m going to steal something (or kill some animals) after my meal.” Another thought，“I’m going to help releasing some animals (or do prostrations) afterward.” The third person thought, “I just want to fill my empty stomach; nothing else is planned afterward.” They were all having a meal, but because each had a different purpose of eating, the same action resulted in three different kinds of karma. Eating, in the case of the one who wanted to kill and steal afterward, was doing evil; good karma for the one who wanted to do beneficial things afterward, which surely will bring good rewards in the future; neutral effect for the one who just wanted to fill the stomach, an ordinary daily activity that would not have any particular consequences. They were doing neither good nor bad things when having a meal. However, different motivations ended up causing three different results. It shows just how crucial motivation is.

具体如何运用呢？我们可以打一个比方，《大乘阿毗达摩论》中讲过：有三个人一起吃饭，其中一人想，吃完饭后我要去偷盗、杀生……；另一人想，吃完饭后我要去放生、磕头……；第三人只是为填饱肚子，吃饭以后没有什么打算。同样是吃一顿饭，因为三个人各自的不同目的，同样的“吃饭”，就变成了三种不同的业。其中，吃完饭后打算杀生、偷盗的人，他的“吃饭”就是造罪；吃饭是为了有体力去磕头或做其他善事的人，他的“吃饭”就变成善业，将来肯定会获得善果；只想填饱肚子的人，他的“吃饭”就成了既非善、亦非恶的无记业，是一种很平常的生活，也就不会有特殊的善恶果报。这三个人在吃饭时，虽然既没有去造恶，也没有去行善，但由于动机不同，“吃饭”的结果就有三种差别。所以，动机至关重要。