《禅净四料简》
Chán And Pure Land’s Fourfold Explanations
(Brief On Chán And Pure Land’s Four Categories)
有禅无净土，
十人九蹉路。
阴境若现前，
瞥尔随他去。
With Chán [and] without Pure Land [practice, of] ten persons, nine [will] detour [on the] path. [The] intermediate state [between death and rebirth], if manifesting before [them], swiftly [will] it [be] followed [according to their karmic inclinations]. [1]
无禅有净土，
万修万人去。
若得见弥陀，
何愁不开悟。
Without Chán [and] with Pure Land [practice, of] ten thousand cultivators, ten thousand persons [will] go [to Pure Land]. If attaining sight [of] Amitābha Buddha, why worry [about] not awakening? [2]
有禅有净土，
犹如戴角虎。
现世为人师，
来生作佛祖。
With Chán [and] with Pure Land [practices, cultivators are] similar to tigers bearing horns. [In their] present lives as humans’ teachers, [in their] future lives becoming Buddhas. [3]
无禅无净土，
铁床并铜柱。
万劫与千生，
没个人依怙。
Without Chán [and] without Pure Land [practices], iron beds and bronze pillars [await them. For] ten thousand kalpas and thousands [of] lives, [with] no person [to] rely upon. [4]
– 净土宗六祖永明延寿大师 |
法眼宗三祖永明禅师
– Pure Land Tradition’s 6th Patriarch Great Master Yǒngmíng Yánshòu |
Dharma Eye (Fǎyǎn) Tradition’s 3rd Patriarch Chán Master Yǒngmíng
《禅净四料简》，修持之龟鉴
‘Chán & Pure Land Brief On Four Categories’, Serving As An Example For Future Generations, For Cultivation And Upholding
料简是衡量抉择的意思。大师诠释禅宗与净宗的内在关联，为后世修行人建构了禅净理智抉择的参照系，影响后人甚大。
The ‘Brief On Four Categories’ is for comparison of choices. Great Master commented upon and explained the innate relation of the Chán and Pure Land traditions. For practitioners, he constructed a rational frame of reference, which had extremely great influence on later generations.
对四料简的诠释，诸家多有不同，以下是简略解释。（详细解说请看印光大师的《净土决疑论》 ）
There are many different interpretations on the Brief On Four Categories. The following is a brief explanation. (For a detailed explanation, please study Great Master Yìnguāng’s ‘Treatise For Resolution Of Pure Land Doubts’.)
要理解四料简的含义，首须详知，禅是什么？净是什么？「有禅」指的是什么意思？「有净」指的是什么意思？何谓禅？即吾人本具的真如佛性，宗门所谓父母未生前本来面目。何谓净？即信愿持名，求生安养，非偏指唯心净土、自性弥陀而言。
To understand the meaning of the Brief On Four Categories, one must first know what is Chán and Pure Land, what is ‘with Chán’ and ‘with Pure Land’? What is Chán? It is our true nature, the Buddha-nature we originally possess, that the Chán tradition calls our original face before our parents were born. What is Pure Land? It is to, with Faith and Aspiration, uphold the name of Buddha, to seek birth in the Pure Land Of Peaceful Nurturing, which is not particular reference to Mind-Only Pure Land, or speaking about Self-nature Amitābha Buddha (which is our unrealised Buddha-nature).
何谓有禅？即参究力极，念寂情亡，彻见父母未生前本来面目，是明心见性的境界。何谓有净？即真实发菩提心，生信发愿持佛名号，求生西方净土之事。
What is ‘with Chán’? It is when the power of meditative investigation is utmost, such that thinking is silenced and passions ceased, to thoroughly see one’s original face before one’s parents were born, which is the state of understanding one’s mind to see one’s true Nature. What is ‘with Pure Land’? It is to truly give rise to Bodhicitta, by giving rise to Faith and Aspiration, to uphold the name of Buddha, to seek birth in the Western Pure Land.
倘参禅未悟，或悟而未彻，皆不得名为有禅；倘念佛偏执唯心，而无信愿，或有信愿，而不恳切，皆不得名为有净土。
If yet to awaken by Chán meditation, or with awakening that is not yet thorough, both of these cannot be named as ‘with Chán’. If yet to have Faith and Aspiration by mindfulness of Buddha due to particular attachment to Mind-Only Pure Land, or having Faith and Aspiration that is not yet sincere, both of these cannot be named as ‘with Pure Land’.
大师四料简，言简义丰，立意精当，无论何种根机的众生，均能从中获得无穷的受用。上根利器无妨禅净双修，中下根性自应稳守净宗阵地，老实念佛，总以西方净土为最后指归。
The words of Great Master’s ‘Brief On Four Categories’ are brief yet full of meaning, precise and appropriate. Regardless of sentient beings’ spiritual roots, all are able to obtain boundless benefits from it. Those of higher roots and sharper capacities might as well cultivate both Chán and Pure Land. Those of medium and lower roots should steadily guard their position on the Pure Land teachings, by earnestly practising mindfulness of Buddha, always with the Western Pure Land as the final direction and refuge.
Combinations Of Chán & Pure Land Practice
(A Simplified Explanation)
[1] This describes the highly possible great risk of practising meditation misguidedly with Self-Power only, while not connecting to the Other-Power of Amitābha Buddha and his Pure Land for securing a safe rebirth to continue practice of the Dharma without interruption or retrogression. Thus, it is dangerous to have only Chán practice.
[2] This describes the great security that Pure Land practice offers, which leads to meeting Amitābha Buddha, to be able to learn and master the path to enlightenment through him. Thus, it is important and urgent, due to lack of time in this life, to have at least Pure Land practice first, due to its ease, reliability and safety.
[3] This describes how mastering both Chán and Pure Land practices creates great additional advantages, leading to the ability to share the Dharma with others now, and to definitely become fully enlightened through Pure Land. Thus, it is best to have both practices, although priority still goes to mastering Pure Land practice first, due to reasons stated in [1] and [2].
‘[In this] Dharma-Ending Age, [when the Pure Land path is the only path to liberation], if cultivating Chán [and] Pure [Land practices], first [focus upon mastering] Pure Land [practice], later Chán [practice, with] Pure Land [and] Chán [for] dual cultivation.’ (末法时期，若修禅净，先净后禅，净禅双修。)
That said, when there is Pure Land practice only, there is the essence of Chán practice embedded within at the same time, although when there is traditional Chán practice only, there is no essence of Pure Land practice within at the same time. (See related article below on how the essence of Pure Land practice is already one with the essence of Chán practice.)
[4] This describes the worst-case scenario of doing great evil while not having any Dharma practice, thus being reborn into the hells for a long time without any refuge due to great negative karma. Thus, it is worst to have no practice at all.
[5]
净禅偈
Verses On Pure Land And Chán
末法时期，
先禅后净，
难上加易，
颠倒程序。
In this Dharma-Ending Age,
to first cultivate the Chán path and later the Pure Land path,
is to upon the Difficult Practice Path add the Easy Practice Path,
which is inverting of the right sequence.
净易禅难，
若欲都修，
先净后禅，
净禅双修。
With the Pure Land path easy and the Chán path difficult,
if desiring to have both cultivated,
first cultivate the Pure Land path and later the Chán path,
to have the Pure Land and Chán paths both cultivated.
大集经教，
念弥陀名，
已是无上，
深妙之禅。
The Great Collection Sūtra also teaches,
that mindfulness of Āmítuófó’s name,
is already the unsurpassable,
profound and wonderful Chán practice.
有净见佛，
何愁不悟？
先成猛虎，
后戴角虎。
Having the Pure Land path, thus seeing the Buddha,
why worry about not awakening?
First accomplish as powerful tigers,
later as horn-bearing tigers.
相关文章
Related Articles:
念佛圆通章之禅净双修
Chán & Pure Land’s Dual Cultivation
In The Perfect Penetration Via Mindfulness Of Buddha
https://purelanders.com/2019/01/17/chanjingshuangxiu-in-yuantongzhang
《无上深妙禅》
Unsurpassable Profound And Wonderful Chán
https://purelanders.com/2020/06/unsurpassable-profound-and-wonderful-chan
