诸恶莫作，众善奉行。
[Of] all evils [do] not do [them, and of] all good practise [them].
起一念不正心，即是恶。
Giving rise [to] one thought [that is] not [with the] right mind, [this] immediately is evil.
必须洗涤净尽。非谓行之于事，方为恶也。
[There] must [be] cleansing [to] purify [the mind] completely, not saying [that only with the] doing of [an evil] matter, [is it] then as evil.
凡属主敬存诚，希圣希贤之念头，即是善。
[For] all belonging [to the mind], managing [with] reverence [and] maintaining sincerity, hoping [to follow the] thoughts [of the] noble, [and] hoping [to follow the thoughts of the] virtuous, [this] immediately is good.
必须扩充令其由中达外，圆满无缺。
[There] must [be] extending, [to] enable that [from] within reaching without, completely [and] without defect.
世之大恶，莫过于杀生食肉。
Of [the] world’s great evils, none surpasses [that] of killing [of] lives [and] eating [of] meat.
若能自由，即可断荤。
If able [to be] free [to decide], immediately can [one] sever [from] meat.
否则，心生怜悯，勿贪多食。
Otherwise, [with the] mind giving rise [to] empathy, [do] not [have] greed [for] much eating [of meat].
世间大善，莫过于自己念佛求生西方，又种种方便劝父母兄弟，妻子眷属，乡党邻里，亲戚朋友，及一切有缘者，同念佛求生西方。
[Of] worldly great good, none surpasses of oneself being mindful [of Amitābha] Buddha[‘s name: ‘Āmítuófó’, to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss], also [with] many kinds [of] skilful means, encouraging Fathers, Mothers, brothers, [sisters, husbands], wives, children, [other] family members, villagers, neighbours, relatives [and] friends, and all those with [karmic] affinity, [to] together [be] mindful [of] Buddha [to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land].
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
(复佛心居士书)
(Reply letter to layperson Fóxīn)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
