既知惭愧忏悔,何又依旧行履,恶不见减,善不见增乎。
Since knowing [how to be] shameful [and] repentant, why again as before walk [the old ways, with] evil not seemingly decreasing, [and] good not seemingly increasing?
无他,心不志诚故也。
Without other [reason, it is with the] mind not sincere [and single-minded] thus.
倘心主于诚,岂可知而故犯。
If [the] mind [is] with sincerity [as its] master, how can there be knowing [what is wrong], yet intentionally breaking [precepts]?
知而故犯者,以心实无决定改过迁善之诚恳故。
Those [who] know [what is wrong], yet intentionally break [precepts, are] with minds truly without sincerity [of] determination [to] correct faults, [to] change [to be] good thus.
汝自己欲为贤人善人,自可远离恶习。
[If] you yourself desire [to be] as [a] virtuous person, [a] good person, [you] naturally can far depart [from] evil habits.
不能远离者,系其心不决定,浮游缓慢,则难免仍归旧路矣。
Those not able [to] far depart, [are] attached [to] their minds [that are] not determined, [that] slowly wander [off the right path], thus [finding it] difficult [to] avoid again returning [to] old roads.
以后切勿再来信,汝不肯真实克除己私,我纵开示,究有何益。
In future, [you should] absolutely not again send letters [to me, if] you [are] not willing [to] truly subdue [and] eradicate [your] personal selfish [desires, as] I, even though [offering] instructions, in the end, what benefits [are there if not heeded]?
汝若肯认真省察自己过愆,何用我多说,即宗诚二字,已通通包括净尽。
You, if [already] willing [to] seriously examine your [own] faults [and] transgressions, what use [is there for] me [to] say [so] much, even though ‘Essential Sincerity’, [these] two words [of your Dharma name], already entirely includes [the key to] purity completely?
人若心无虚伪,决定不至不肯改过迁善。
[A] person’s mind without hypocrisy, definitely [will] not go so far [as to being] not willing [to] correct faults, [to] change [to be] good.
譬如真知其人是欲害我者,纵令彼多方巧诱,决不肯上他的当,以送我命。
For example, [if] truly knowing that [a] person is [with the] desire [to] harm me, even [if] that [person uses] many methods [to] ‘skilfully’ tempt, [I will] definitely not [be] willing [to be] fooled, with [being fooled thus] losing my life.
肯上当,是不知好歹之人。
[Those] willing [to be] fooled, are of people [who do] not know [the] good [from the] bad.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
复金益平居士书二
Second reply letter to layperson Jīn Yìpíng
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an