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净土宗十三祖印光大师
The Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
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Preface Section
原文：世间最可惨者，莫甚于死。而且举世之人，无一能幸免者。以故有心欲自利利人者，不可不早为之计虑也。
白话：世间最可悲的，就是死亡。而且世上的每一个人，没有一个能侥幸免死。所以有心想要利益自己与他人的，应该尽早为死亡考虑与计划。
In this world, that most tragic, is with nothing more than death. Moreover, of people throughout the world, no one is able to fortunately avoid it. Therefore, those who have the intention and desire to benefit oneself and benefit others, must not not soon have deliberate planning and considering for it.
原文：实则死之一字，原是假名，以宿生所感一期之报尽，故舍此身躯，复受别种身躯耳。不知佛法者，直是无法可设，只可任彼随业流转。
白话：其实，死这一个字，原本是假用的名词，是因为前生所招感的一期生命果报完毕，所以舍离这个身躯，再受用别种身躯而已。不知道佛法的人，简直没办法准备，只能随着业力轮回。
Actually, of ‘death’, this one word, it is originally a false name [for conventional use], with past lives’ those retributions connected to one lifetime ending, thus abandoning this body, to again receive another kind of body only. Those who do not know the Buddha’s Dharma teachings, simply have no way to plan and prepare for it, and can only let themselves follow their karmas to be reborn.
原文：今既得闻如来普度众生之净土法门，固当信愿念佛，预备往生资粮，以期免生死轮迴之幻苦，证涅槃常住之真乐。
白话：现在既然听到释迦如来【即是释迦牟尼佛】为普度众生的净土法门，应当生起信心发愿求生西方极乐世界【即是净土】而念佛，预备往生的资粮，为了避免生死轮回中梦幻似的痛苦，证得涅槃常在的真正安乐。
Now, since we have attained hearing of the Thus Come One’s [Śākyamuni Buddha] Pure Land Dharma Door, that universally delivers sentient beings, we certainly should, with Faith and Aspiration [Vow], recite Āmítuófó’s name (阿弥陀佛), to prepare rebirth’s [Three] Provisions, with the hope of avoiding the illusory suffering in the cycle of birth and death, and for realising the true bliss of Nirvāṇa [Buddhahood] that constantly abides.
原文：其有父母兄弟，及诸眷属，若得重病，势难痊癒者，宜发孝顺慈悲之心，劝彼念佛求生西方，并为助念。俾病者由此死已，即生净土。其为利益，何能名焉？
白话：如果你有父母兄弟姐妹，及一切眷属，得了重病，而病势难以痊癒，你应当发孝顺与慈悲的心，劝导他们念佛求生西方，并为他们助念。令病者因此死后，即刻往生净土。这么大的利益，怎么能用言语表达？
If there are those with their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and all family members, who have become seriously sick, with conditions difficult for complete recovery, they should give rise to the mind of filial piety, loving-kindness and compassion, to encourage them to recite Āmítuófó’s name, for seeking birth in his Western Pure Land, also for them offering support-chanting. So that those sick, following this, deceased already, can immediately be born in the Pure Land. Of these actions’ benefits, how are they able to be named?
原文：今列三要，以为成就临终人往生之据。语虽鄙俚，意本佛经。遇此因缘，悉举行焉。
白话：现在列出三大要点，为成就临终人往生西方的依据。言语虽然粗俗，意义本从佛经而来。遇到这个因缘，希望大家都能奉行。
Now to be listed are Three Essentials, with them to rely on, for accomplishing people approaching life’s end, to be reborn in Pure Land. Although these words are unrefined, their meanings originate from the Buddha’s sūtras. Having encountered these causes and conditions, may all uphold them in practice.
原文：这三要者：
白话：这三大要点是：
These Three Essentials are:
原文：第一，善巧开导安慰，令生正信。
白话：第一，善巧开导与安慰，令生起真正的信心。
First, skilfully inspire, guide and console, to enable giving rise to right Faith.
原文：第二，大家换班念佛，以助净念。
白话：第二，大家换班念佛，为帮助生起清净的念佛。
Second, everyone should take shifts to recite Āmítuófó’s name, so as to support pure mindfulness.
原文：第三，切戒搬动哭泣，以防误事。
白话：第三，千万不能搬动与哭泣，为防止误事。
Third, there must be avoiding of moving and touching the body, and crying, so as to prevent bungling the matter [of reaching Pure Land].
原文：果能依此三法以行，决定可以消除宿业，增长净因，蒙佛接引，往生西方。
白话：如果能依止这三个方法而行，决定可以消除之前所造的业障，增长往生净土的因缘，得到佛的接引，往生西方。
If able to rely on these three Dharma teachings, with them for practice, this definitely can eliminate past evil karmas, increase and grow pure causes, to receive the Buddha’s reception and guidance, to be reborn in his Western Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界).
原文：一得往生，则超凡入圣，了生脱死，渐渐进修，必至圆成佛果而后已。
白话：一得往生西方，就能超越凡夫入圣位，了脱生死，渐渐进修，然后必定达到圆满成佛的果位。
Once attaining rebirth, then transcends the ordinary and enters the noble, to be completely liberated from the cycle of birth and death, gradually advancing in cultivation, to definitely reach perfect accomplishment of Buddhahood then.
原文：如此利益，全仗眷属助念之力。能如是行，于父母，则为真孝。于兄弟、姐妹，则为真弟。于儿女，则为真慈。于朋友、于平人，则为真义、真惠。
白话：这样的利益，全仰仗眷属的助念力。能如此做，于父母，叫做真正的孝顺。于兄弟、姐妹，叫做真正的兄弟与姐妹情。于儿女，叫做真正的慈悲。于朋友、与平常人，叫做真正的正义、真正的恩惠。
Benefits like these, completely rely on the power of family members’ support-chanting. Those able to thus practise, for their fathers and mothers, this then is true filial piety. For brothers and sisters, this then is true fraternity. For sons and daughters, this then is true loving-kindness. For friends and for common people, this then is true righteousness and true kindness.
原文：以此培自己之净因，启同人之信向。久而之之，何难相习成风乎哉？今为一一条陈，庶不至临时无所适从耳。
白话：用这来培养自己往生净土的因缘，启发有共同信心与方向的人。久而久之，不难互相习惯而成风气。现在一一条规为你陈说，以免临时不知所措。
With these, cultivate one’s own pure causes, and inspire faith’s direction of surrounding persons. Gradually over time, what difficulty is there, to be with one another used to these, for them to become common practices? Now for you, one by one, laying out and explaining them. Hopefully, you will not go so far to be, when at the last moment, not know what to follow.
English text © Shen Shi’an (Recirculation with permission via purelanders.com/contact)
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