只贵真实修行
Only Valuing True Cultivation
学佛者无用庄严形迹，只贵真实修行。
Those learning Buddhism [have] no use [for] magnificent etiquette, only valuing true cultivation.
[Note: This means there is no need to deliberately appear majestic outwardly, as sincere practice within the mind is what truly matters.]
在家居士，
[For] laypersons at home,
不必定要缁衣道巾，带发之人，自可常服念佛；
[It is] not [a] must [to wear] black robes [or the] path’s cap, [as] all people [who] wear hair, can certainly [wear] ordinary clothes [to be] mindful [of] [Amitābha] Buddha[‘s name: ‘Āmítuófó’ (阿弥陀佛)];
不必定要敲鱼击鼓，好静之人，自可寂默念佛；
[It is] not [a] must [to] knock [a] wooden fish [or] strike [a] drum, [as] all people [who are] fond [of] quietude, can certainly [be] still [and] silent [to be] mindful [of] Buddha;
不必定要成群做会，怕事之人，自可闭门念佛；
[It is] not [a] must [to] form groups [and] hold assemblies, [as] all people [who are] afraid [of getting] involved, can certainly close doors [to be] mindful [of] Buddha;
不必定要入寺听经，识字之人，自可依教念佛。
[It is] not [a] must [to] enter monasteries [to] listen [to] sūtras, [as] all people [who can] read words, can certainly rely [upon the] teachings [to be] mindful [of] Buddha.
千里烧香，不如安坐家堂念佛；
[Travelling a] thousand miles [to] burn incense, [is] not as good as [to] peacefully sit [before the] home shrine, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha;
供奉邪师，不如孝顺父母念佛；
Making offerings [to] evil teachers, [is] not as good as [to be] filial [to] parents, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha;
广交魔友，不如独身清净念佛；
Widely making demonic friends, [is] not as good as [to be] solitary [and] pure, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha;
寄库来生，不如现在作福念佛；
Sending stores [of burnt paper money ‘for’ the] future life, [is] not as good as [to] now create blessings, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha;
许愿保禳，不如悔过自新念佛；
Making wishes, appealing [for] blessings [by] making sacrifices to avoid calamities, [is] not as good as [to] repent [for] transgressions [to] start afresh, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha;
学习外道文书，不如一字不识念佛;
Learning [from] external paths’ essays [and] books, [is] not as good as not recognising one word, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha;
无知妄谈禅理，不如老实持戒念佛;
Ignorantly [and] arrogantly discussing Chán principles, [is] not as good as earnestly upholding [the] precepts, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha;
希求妖鬼灵通，不如正信因果念佛。
[Having] hopes [and] requests [of] demons [and] ghosts [for] spiritual connection, [is] not as good as [having] right faith [in karmic] cause [and] effect, [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha.
以要言之,
With [their] essence, speaking of [these],
端心灭恶，如是念佛，号曰善人;
Uprighting [the] mind [to] eradicate evil, [those] thus mindful [of] Buddha, [are] named [as] good humans;
摄心除散，如是念佛，号曰贤人;
Gathering [the] mind [to] rid scatteredness, [those] thus mindful [of] Buddha, [are] named [as] virtuous humans;
悟心断惑，如是念佛，号曰圣人。
Awakening [the] mind [to] sever confusions, [those] thus mindful [of] Buddha, [are] named [as noble] sagely humans.
净土宗八祖莲池大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí
《云栖法汇》
Yúnqī’s Dharma Collection
Namo Amituofo : Translation and note by Shen Shi’an
