【解】：问：临终佛现，宁保非魔？
[Explanation]: Question: When approaching [the] end [of life, with the] Buddha appearing, how [can it be] guaranteed [that he is] not [a] demon?
答：修心人不作佛观，而佛忽现，非本所期，故名魔事。
Answer: [When] persons cultivating [their] minds [are] not doing Buddha [mindfulness or] contemplation, yet [with the] Buddha suddenly appearing, not [being] originally who expected, thus [is this] named [a] demonic matter.
[Note 1: For example, if mindful of breathing, yet seeing a Buddha appearing, with such cause and effect not matching, this is considered a demonic matter. Some of these matters are not caused by external demons, but inner demons, in terms of false (or stray) thoughts arising from the Three Poisons of greed, hatred and delusion.]
念佛见佛，已是相应。
[When] mindful [of the] Buddha, seeing [that] Buddha, [this] then is correspondence [with the Buddha].
[Note 2: As taught in the ‘Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section (On) Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration (With) Mindfulness (Of) Buddha’《大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》:
「若众生心，忆佛念佛，先前当来，必定见佛。」
‘If sentient beings’ minds, recollect (the) Buddha (and/or are) mindful (of the) Buddha, now (or in the) future (e.g. when approaching the end of life), (they) will definitely see (the) Buddha.’]
况临终非致魔时，何须疑虑？
Moreover, when approaching [the] end [of life with mindfulness of Buddha that is the cause for having protection, thus with] no cause [for] demonic [matters], where [is there] need [for] doubt [and] worry?
[Note 3: When mindful of Buddha, there will be the mindful protection of all Buddhas. Also, the demonic will disappear when there is mindfulness of Buddha, and the Buddha will appear. As taught in the Amitā(bha) Sūtra《阿弥陀经》:
「若有善男子、善女人，闻是经受持者，及闻诸佛名者，是诸善男子、善女人，皆为一切诸佛之所护念」
‘(I)f (there) are good men (and) good women, (who) hear this sūtra, accept (and) uphold (it), and hear all (these) Buddhas’ names (which includes that of Āmítuófó), all these good men (and) good women (will), by all Buddhas, (be) mindfully protected’]
– 净土宗九祖澫益大师
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》
– Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì
(Essential Explanation [Of The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Amitā[bha] Buddha)
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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下文: 应当何时一心念佛？
Next Section: When To Have Wholehearted Mindfulness Of Buddha?
https://purelanders.com/2019/09/06/when-to-have-wholehearted-mindfulness-of-buddha
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》全英译
Complete English Translation Of ‘The Essential Explanation On The Amitābha Sūtra As Spoken By The Buddha’
https://purelanders.com/yaojie
