如何念佛时断除杂念？
How To Eliminate Mixed Thoughts During Mindfulness [Of] Buddha?
至于念佛，心难归一，当摄心切念，自能归一。
As for mindfulness [of the] Buddha[‘s name] [i.e. Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛], [with the] mind difficult return [to be] one [i.e. with wholeheartedness (一心)] , [you] should gather [the] mind [with] sincere mindfulness, which will naturally [be] able [to] return [to be] one [i.e. without being scattered (不乱)].
摄心之法，莫先于至诚恳切。心不至诚，欲摄莫由。
[Of the] methods of gathering [the] mind, [there is] none [like] first relying on utmost sincerity [and] earnestness. [If the] mind [is] not utmost sincere, desiring [to] gather [it, there is] no cause.
既至诚已，犹未纯一，当摄耳谛听。无论出声、默念，皆须念从心起，声从口出，音从耳入。
Since utmost sincere already, [but] still yet [to be] purely singular [in mindfulness, you] should gather [the] ears [with] attentive listening. Regardless [of whether] verbally [or] silently reciting, all must [have] recitation from [the] mind arising, [with the] sound from [the] mouth exiting, [and the] sound from [the] ears entering.
（默念虽不动口，然意地之中亦仍有口念之相。）
([For] silent recitation, although not moving [the] mouth [reciting], however, within that mind ground, also still having [the] ‘form’ of [the] mouth reciting.)
[Note 1: Thus, with the mental ‘sound’ exiting from the mind entering mental ‘ears’. There is no need to visualise this, as there should only be sincere reciting and sincerely listening to it.]
心口念得清清楚楚，耳根听得清清楚楚，如是摄心，妄念自息矣。
[With the] mind [and thus] mouth reciting very clearly, [and the] ear root listening very clearly, thus gathering [the] mind, false thoughts will naturally cease.
[Summary: To gather in (or calm and concentrate) the mind to prevent scatteredness (due to having stray thoughts), there should be utmost sincere (wholehearted) reciting and listening to one’s own recitation, be it aloud or silent.]
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师文钞》（正编）：复高邵麟书四；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Fourth Reply Letter [To] Gāo Shàolín;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第六十一）：三、示修持方法：甲、示念佛方法（第九则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (61st Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: First, Guidance [On] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’s Methods (9th Short Section)
[Ref: #61 / 3.1.9]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关典籍
Related Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
https://purelanders.com/jinghualu
相关教理
Related Teachings:
[后端]: 十念记数法与晨朝十念法
[Next Section]: The Method Of Ten Recitations With Counting And The Method Of Early Morning’s Ten Recitations
https://purelanders.com/2019/08/31/the-method-of-ten-recitations-with-counting-n-the-method-of-early-mornings-ten-recitations
