去障
Eliminating Obstacles
修行去障，亦有五等。
Cultivating practice [to] eliminate obstacles [or hindrances], also has five levels [or stages].
喻如一人之身，五重缠裹，最外铁甲，次以皮裘，次以布袍，次以罗衫，又次贴肉极以轻绡。
For example, of a person’s body, [with] five layers wrapping [and] binding, [the] outermost [is metal] armour plating, next with hide [and] fur, next with cloth robes, next with silk clothing. Further next, fitting snugly [to the] skin, [is] with light silk.
次第解之，轻绡俱去，方是本体赤[骨*歷]自身也。
One after another taken off, [until the] light silk [is] completely off, then is [the] original body [seen, with] only nudity [of] one’s body.
行人外去粗障，去之又去，直至根本无明极微细障皆悉去尽，方是本体清净法身也。
Practitioners [should first] externally eliminate coarse obstacles, [having] eliminated of [them], again [further] eliminating, until fundamental ignorance’s extremely fine obstacles [are] all eliminated completely. Then is intrinsic nature’s pure Dharma body [i.e. Dharmakāya] [realised].
[Note: The sincere and diligent practice of mindfulness of Buddha is the swiftest way to eradicate obstacles, both here and in Pure Land.]
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 & note by Shen Shi’an
