为了生死，预修念佛
[183] For Liberation [From The Cycle Of] Birth [And] Death, In Advance Cultivate Mindfulness [Of] Buddha
大丈夫生于世间，事事无不预为之计。唯于生死一事，反多置之不问。直待报终命尽，则随业受报，不知此一念心识，又向何道中受生去也。
[Many] men [of] great character, [when] living in [this] world, [are] for all [kinds of] matters, not [without] in advance, for them planning. Only for [this] one matter [of liberation from the cycle of] birth [and] death, [it is] instead mostly set aside without question. Waiting until [this] retribution [body] ends, [when] life exhausts, then following karma [to] receive retribution, not knowing [where] this one thought’s mental consciousness, again to which path within, [is] going [to] receive [re]birth.
[Note 1: Those of truly great character (大丈夫), be they male or female, should be wise, to quickly plan for their eventual departure, which can occur sooner than later, for the swiftest progress towards Buddhahood. The path to take for doing so is the Pure Land (净土) path.]
[Note 2: Ours are evil karmic retribution bodies (业报身) as they are subject to cyclical birth, ageing, sickness and death.]
人天是客居，三途是家乡。三途一报百千劫，复生人天了无期。由是言之，则了生死之法，固不可不汲汲讲求也。
[In the] human [and] heavenly [paths, we are like] guests residing, [while the] three paths are [like our] hometowns. [In the] three paths, once [with] retribution [for] hundreds [of] thousands [of] kalpas, [to] again [be] born [as] human [and] heavenly [beings is] without [a] definite date. Due [to] this speaking, then of [the] method [to be] liberated [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, [it] certainly must not [be] not urgently emphasised [upon].
[Note 3: The human and heavenly paths (人天道) are relatively not easy to reach and stay in life after life, as there is criteria of observing the Five Precepts (五戒) and doing of the Ten Good Karmas (十善业) respectively. It is thus easy to fall from them.]
[Note 4: Guests reside at where they are only for a short while, while hometowns are where we often return, to stay longer.]
[Note 5: The three paths (三途) are the three lower realms of hell-beings (地狱众生), hungry ghosts (饿鬼) and animals (畜生), where there is more intense suffering, from the three poisons (三毒) of hatred (嗔), greed (贪) and delusion (痴) respectively.]
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》（续编）：净土问辨序；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Preface [Of] Pure Land Enquiries [For] Discernment;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百八十三则）：四、论生死事大：甲、警人命无常（第五则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (183rd Short Section): 4th [Chapter]: Discussion [On] Births’ [And] Deaths’ Great Matter: First, Warnings [On] Human Life’s Impermanence (5th Short Section)
[Ref: #183 / 4.1.5]
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
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