(４１)現在我們可以討論下面問題：
“樂與苦源自何處？”或“苦從何來？”
41) Now we can discuss the question,
41) “Where do happiness and suffering originate
” or at least, “Where does suffering originate
”
一般認爲，快樂和痛苦是由前業引起的，這答案只對了一點點。若是由許多種類的因緣條件産生，無明是因、愛是因、取是因，而業也是因，一切都是苦的因緣。
談到苦來自于業，大家應該還記得新業——現世的業，它是這一生新造作的無明、愛、取，現在就把這些當作苦因及苦來思考。我們必須了解舊業是敵不過新業的，因爲我們有能力可以造第叁種業。第叁種業能完全革除舊業(參閱第１４則)，舊業只由善、惡業組成，除此之外就沒有別種了。
新業可以是叁種業中的任何一種，第叁種業就是八正道，當我們使它生起，它就能息滅第一、第二種業。所以，如果我們能完全過正道的生活，就可徹底止息煩惱。新業就是正道，它能完全控製舊業，這是上面所說的舊業敵不過新業。
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，我們應該注意“正道”。前面我曾說過，如果修習平常道會怎麼樣，修習捷徑又是怎麼樣(參閱第１３則)，走捷徑的修行法是直接觀照，以摧毀對“我”、“我所有”的執著。這種業是最有力的新業，它一旦生起就會像剃刀一樣銳利，能夠摧毀大量持久不衰的舊業。
苦是由新業——今天的無明、愛、取所生。才只是昨天和前天的見色、聞聲、嗅香、嘗味，就會生起無明、愛、取，而感到苦。因此，我們必須要迅速地造作新業(第叁種業)，才可以摧毀它們。
不要錯以爲苦全由舊業産生，事實上，舊業有它的起因，就必須要回到過去才能斷苦，但那已經過去的要如何斷除呢？因此，這比不上新業——第叁種業，它可以徹底地止息舊業。
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.