未曾有說因緣經 • 白話講解及經法研探

The Buddha himself named this sutra: "The Sutra of the Causes and Conditions That Have Never Been Spoken Of". "Never" refers to unprecedented and remarkable. In this sutra, the Buddha unprecedentedly revealed through four verses the dharma of all cause-condition-consequence-retribution in and between lives and deaths: 「知死有生，作善獲福，為惡受殃，修道得道。」 Realizing that there will be a new birth after death; performing virtuous deeds will harvest blessings; committing evil deeds will suffer misfortunes; cultivating the Buddha's Path will obtain the Path. This four-verse dharani establishes the preliminary foundation of the root of correct faith for all sentient beings. In the "Flower Ornament Sutra" (Avatamsaka Sutra), it says: "Faith is the origination of path and the mother of virtue." "Faith" is the most important "cause" — all virtuous roots are established from here; all cultivation of the path begins from here; all merits and virtues are realized from here. This sutra contains vivid stories of the past lives of the Buddha Sakyamuni as a hyena as well as King Ajita, Sariputra as Lord Sakra, Queen Mallika as Lady Tiwei and the five stone women as deceiving sramanas (monks). Also appearing in the sutra are the Buddha's mundane wife Yasodhara and son Rahula; his disciples Maudgalyayana and Ananda; and King Prasenajit and Prince Jeta who went to pay respects to the Buddha and thus encountered a rare chance to receive teachings directly from the Buddha himself.