好乐
Fond Delights
人处世各有所好，亦各随所好以度日而终老，但清浊不同耳。
[Of] humans conducting [themselves in this] world, each has that fond [of], also [with] each according [to] that fond [of], with [it] passing the days, and for spending one’s last years. However, [their] purity [and] defilements [are] not [the] same.
至浊者好财，其次好色，其次好饮。
Those utmost defiled [are] fond [of] wealth, next fond [of] sex, next fond [of] drinking [alcohol].
稍清，则或好古玩，或好琴棋，或好山水，或好吟咏。
[Those] slightly [more] pure, thus [are] perhaps fond [of] antiques, or fond [of] zither [and] chess, or fond [of] mountains and rivers [in paintings or travels], or fond [of] reciting poetry.
又进之，则好读书。
Further advancing, thus [is] fondness [of] reading books.
开卷有益，诸好之中，读书为胜矣！
[As] opening scrolls is beneficial, within all [that] fond [of], reading books [is] as [the] supreme!
然此犹世间法。
However, these [are] still [of] worldly Dharma [i.e. phenomena].
又进之，则好读内典。
Further advancing, thus [is] fondness [of] reading [the] inner classics [i.e. Buddhist scriptures].
又进之，则好净其心。
Further advancing, thus [is] fondness [of] purifying their minds.
好至于净其心，而世出世间之好最胜矣！
[With] fondness utmost of purification [of] their minds, [this] then, [is] of [that] worldly [and] world-transcending fond of, [the] most supreme!
渐入佳境如食蔗喻。
Gradually entering [the] most excellent state, [this is] like eating sugar cane, [as an] analogy, [increasingly sweet when chewed].
净土宗八祖莲池大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí
《竹窗随笔》
Essays Written [By The] Bamboo Window
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
