Two Kinds of Retribution in Buddhism: Direct Retribution & Circumstantial Retribution

Описание: [v11] Transcript: https://tnhtalks.wordpress.com/2026/0...
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"In Buddhism, we speak of two kinds of retribution (quả báo, vipākadharma, 果報). The first is direct retribution (chánh báo, 正報). And the second is circumstantial retribution (y báo, 依報).

"Direct retribution (chánh báo 正報) is our body and mind. And circumstantial retribution (y báo 依報) is our living environment and life circumstance. Báo (報) means "retribution.

"Let's say, if we sow sunflower seeds, we will harvest sunflowers. The harvesting of sunflowers is retribution.

"Because, since the past, we have lived and done certain actions in body, speech, and mind—today our body is like this, and our mind-consciousness is like this. That's direct retribution (chánh báo, 正報). Our outer form, our physique, our health, as well as our thoughts and feelings are direct retribution.

"And there's a living environment or life circumstance surrounding that body-mind, which is called circumstantial retribution (y báo 依報).

"Y (依) means 'that which we depend on, lean on, rely on.' In other words, it is 'environment.'

"Don't think that this environment is outside of us. This living environment and life circumstance is also created by us, because both are retribution (báo 報) the same."

This is an excerpt from Part #32 of the “The Living Tradition of Meditation Practice”, given by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh on November 26, 1995, in the Lower Hamlet, in the Winter Rains Retreat 1995-1996.

⚫ Full talk's original title: "Hoàn Thiện Bản Thân và Hoàn Cảnh[TTSĐCTTĐB 32] | TS Thích Nhất Hạnh(26-03-1995, XH, Làng Mai"
⚫ Full talk originally posted: by Làng Mai Editorial Team on Plum Village’s Vietnamese YouTube Channel on Jul 26, 2023 (video) at    • Hoàn Thiện Bản Thân và Hoàn Cảnh[T...  ; and on the Plum Village’s Vietnamese website, date unknown (transcript) at https://langmai.org/tang-kinh-cac/bai..., date unknown
⚫ Full talk given: on November 26, 1995, Lower Hamlet, Plum Village France, in the Winter Rains Retreat 1995-1996
⚫ Excerpt's length: 47 minutes 02 seconds
⚫ To watch the full Dharma talk with English subtitles and transcript, please stay tuned!
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REFERENCES (Resources used to translate this Dharma talk)
Please kindly refer to the Video Transcript link above for the full list.
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THUMBNAIL PHOTO COURTESY of langmai.org and plumvillage.org
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