(４１)现在我们可以讨论下面问题：
“乐与苦源自何处？”或“苦从何来？”

41) Now we can discuss the question,

41) “Where do happiness and suffering originate?” or at least, “Where does suffering originate?”

　　一般认为，快乐和痛苦是由前业引起的，这答案只对了一点点。若是由许多种类的因缘条件产生，无明是因、爱是因、取是因，而业也是因，一切都是苦的因缘。
　　谈到苦来自于业，大家应该还记得新业——现世的业，它是这一生新造作的无明、爱、取，现在就把这些当作苦因及苦来思考。我们必须了解旧业是敌不过新业的，因为我们有能力可以造第三种业。第三种业能完全革除旧业(参阅第１４则)，旧业只由善、恶业组成，除此之外就没有别种了。
　　新业可以是三种业中的任何一种，第三种业就是八正道，当我们使它生起，它就能息灭第一、第二种业。所以，如果我们能完全过正道的生活，就可彻底止息烦恼。新业就是正道，它能完全控制旧业，这是上面所说的旧业敌不过新业。

IT IS GENERALLY said that happiness and suffering arise from previous kamma. This is the least correct answer. Suffering is something that arises from causes and conditions, and these causes and conditions are of several sorts, kinds, and varieties. Ignorance is a cause, craving is a cause, attachment is a cause, and kamma is a cause too. Now in saying that suffering comes from kamma, we ought to have in mind new kamma, kamma in the present life, that is to say, the brand-new ignorance, craving, and attachment of this life. Think of these as the factors responsible for suffering, the roots causing the arising of suffering. We must realize that old kamma is unable to stand up to new kamma, because we have the power to produce new kamma. New kamma, the third type of kamma, is capable of abolishing old kamma completely (see No. 14). Old kamma consists of just good kamma and bad kamma. There is no other sort of old kamma. New kamma, however, can be any one of three lands, the third kind being simply the Noble Eightfold Path. When we cause it to arise, it suppresses the first and second types of kamma. If we live the Path thoroughly, that is, put a complete end to the defilements, the new kamma (the Noble Path) completely overwhelms the old kamma, both good and bad. That is to say, old kamma (the first and second types only) cannot stand up to new kamma (the third type).

　　因此，我们应该注意“正道”。前面我曾说过，如果修习平常道会怎么样，修习捷径又是怎么样(参阅第１３则)，走捷径的修行法是直接观照，以摧毁对“我”、“我所有”的执著。这种业是最有力的新业，它一旦生起就会像剃刀一样锐利，能够摧毁大量持久不衰的旧业。
　　苦是由新业——今天的无明、爱、取所生。才只是昨天和前天的见色、闻声、嗅香、尝味，就会生起无明、爱、取，而感到苦。因此，我们必须要迅速地造作新业(第三种业)，才可以摧毁它们。
　　不要错以为苦全由旧业产生，事实上，旧业有它的起因，就必须要回到过去才能断苦，但那已经过去的要如何断除呢？因此，这比不上新业——第三种业，它可以彻底地止息旧业。

So we ought to take an interest in this thing called the Noble Path. I spoke before about what it is like if we practise the ordinary old way, and what it is like if we practise the short cut method (see No. 13). The practice of the short cut method consists in direct self-examination with a view to destroying grasping at the ideas of “self” and “belonging to self”. That new kamma will be of the third type, the most powerful kamma. Once arisen it will be razor- sharp and capable of destroying a great quantity of longstanding old kamma. Suffering arises from new kamma, from today’s ignorance, craving, and attachment. These arise through our having seen shapes and colours, heard sounds, smelt odours, and tasted flavours just yesterday and the day before. They can be wiped out by new kamma which we have to produce too. Don’t be deceived into thinking it is all due to previous kamma. Previous kamma can be traced back to a series of causes which can be wiped out! So don’t ignore new kamma of this third type. It is capable of annihilating old kamma absolutely and completely.