鬼神
Ghosts [And] Gods
或问：「有鬼神欤？无鬼神欤？」
If asked, ‘Are [there] ghosts [and] gods? [Or] no ghosts [and] gods?’
曰：「有。」
Say, ‘[There] are.’
「 鬼神可信奉欤？不可信奉欤？」
‘[Are] ghosts [and] gods believable, [for] pious worship? [Or] not believable, [for] pious worship?’
曰：「亦可亦不可。」
Say, ‘Also believable, also not believable.’
「 何谓也？」
‘Why [is this] said?’
曰：「夫子不云乎『敬鬼神而远之』？
Say, ‘[Did] Confucius not say, “Respect ghosts [and] gods, yet distance from [them]”?
盖一言尽其曲折矣！
Covered [in this] one line [is] complete [with] that [which is] complicated.
『敬』之云者，有也。
Of “respect” said, have [it].
『远』之云者，信而不奉也。
Of “distance” said, believe yet not worship [them].
祀之以时，交之以礼，如是而已耳。
When [making] of timely offerings, make [them] with respect, [as] such, [and] nothing more.
过信而谄奉焉，冀其报吉凶、降福佑、获灵通，则骎骎然入于邪矣。
[If with] excessive belief then, flattering [with] offerings then, hoping [for] their informing [of the] auspicious [and] inauspicious, descent [of] blessings [and] protection, [and] obtaining [of] spirits’ communication, thus swiftly so, [is] entering of evil [with greed and delusion].
噫！有可敬而不可远者，诸佛诸菩萨是也。
Yes! Those worthy of respect, yet not [to be] distanced [from], are all Buddhas [and] all Bodhisattvas.
胡弗思也？」
How [can this] not [be] considered?’
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
