为何不只念自性佛？
[55] Why Not Be Mindful Of Self-Nature’s Buddha Only?
问：佛既心作心是，何不竟言自佛，而必以他佛为胜，何也？
Question: [On] Buddha, since [what the] mind becomes, [the] mind is, why not completely speak [of] Self-[nature’s] Buddha [自性佛], and why must [there be] with [the] Other-Buddha as superior?
答：此之法门，全在了他即自。
Answer: Of this Dharma Door, [it is] entirely in understanding [that the] Other [is] thus Self.
若讳言他佛，则是他见未忘；
If avoiding speaking [of the] Other-Buddha, then is [with] other view yet [to be] forgotten.
若偏重自佛，却成我见颠倒。
If particularly emphasising Self-[nature’s] Buddha, [this] however becomes self view’s inversion.
又悉檀四益，后三益事不孤起。
Also, [of the] Siddhāntas’ four benefits [in sequence (as numbered below), the] later three’s beneficial matters [do] not arise alone.
[Note 1:
Four Siddhāntas’ (四悉檀) Four Benefits (四益):
The Siddhāntas are the Buddha’s teaching methods, from the simple to the profound, for giving the Dharma to all sentient beings according to their capacities.
(1) Worldly Siddhānta (世界悉檀) for Joy’s Benefit (欢喜益)
(2) Individual Siddhānta (各各为人悉檀) for Giving Rise To Goodnesses’ Benefit (生善益)
(3) Curative Siddhānta (对治悉檀) for Elimination Of Evils’ Benefit (灭恶益)
(4) Supreme Truth’s Siddhānta (第一义悉檀) for Entering Of Principles’ Benefit (入理益)]
倘不从世界深发庆信，则欣厌二益尚不能生，何况悟入理佛？
If not from (1) [the] worldly, (2) profoundly giving rise [to] rejoice [and] Faith, then [will] joyful [seeking of the Land Of Ultimate Bliss (欣求极乐) and] revulsed [renunciation of the Sahā World’s (厌离娑婆)] two benefits still not [be] able [to] arise, much less [to] (4) awaken [and] enter [the] Principle Buddha [i.e. join the Dharma Body (法身) of all Buddhas]?
唯即事持达理持，所以弥陀圣众现前，即是本性明显；
(3) Only [with] following [of the] Practice Upheld reaches [the] Principles Upheld, therefore [with] Āmítuófó [and his] noble assembly appearing before [us], thus is [our] Original Nature clearly revealed.
往生彼土，见佛闻法，即是成就慧身，不由他悟。
[Being] reborn [in] that land, [to] see [the] Buddha [and] hear [the] Dharma, thus is [to] accomplish Wisdom’s Body, [that does] not need others’ awakening.
法门深妙，破尽一切戏论，斩尽一切意见，
[This] Dharma Door [is] profound [and] wonderful, [able to] destroy all frivolous discussions, [and] cut off all opinions.
唯马鸣、龙树、智者、永明之流，彻底担荷得去。
Only [those] of [the] grades [of] Mǎmíng [i.e. Aśvaghoṣa Bodhisattva], Lóngshù [i.e. Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva], [Great Master] Zhìzhě [and Great Master] Yǒngmíng, [can] completely shoulder, attain [and teach it].
[Note 2: Aśvaghoṣa Bodhisattva is the Chán Tradition’s 12th Indian Patriarch. Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva is regarded as the Eight Traditions’ Common Patriarch (八宗共祖). Great Master Zhìzhě is the Tiāntái Tradition’s Actual Founder (天台宗实际创始者), also named the Eastern Land’s Minor Śākyamuni Buddha (东土小释迦). Great Master Yǒngmíng is the Pure Land Tradition’s Sixth Patriarch (净土宗六祖) and the Dharma Eye Tradition’s Third Patriarch (法眼宗三祖师), who is also recognised as Āmítuófó’s manifestation. All of them taught and practised the Pure Land Dharma Door.]
[Note 3:
Eight Traditions (八宗):
(1) Precepts Tradition (律宗)
(2) Three Treatises’ Tradition (三论宗)
(3) Tiāntái Tradition (天台宗)
(4) Dharma Form Tradition (法相宗)
(5) Flower Adornment Tradition (华严宗)
(6) Mantra Tradition (真言宗)
(7) Chán Tradition (禅宗)
(8) Pure Land Tradition (净土宗).]
其余世智辩聪，通儒禅客，尽思度量，愈推愈远，又不若愚夫妇老实念佛者，为能潜通佛智，暗合道妙也。
Those others [with] worldly knowledge [and] intelligence [in] debating, proficient [in] Confucianism [and] Chán guests, exhausting contemplating, inferring [and] gauging, the more [they] push, the more far [away they get from it, they are] also not as good as those foolish men [and] women earnestly mindful [of the] Buddha, [who] are able [to] covertly connect [to the] Buddha’s wisdom, [and] secretly agree with [the] path’s wonders.
「我见是利，故说此言」，分明以佛眼佛音，印定此事，岂敢违抗，不善顺入也哉？
‘[As] I see these benefits, therefore [do I] speak these words.’ With clear understanding [of the] Buddha’s eyes [and the] Buddha’s voice, definitively confirming these matters, how [can we] dare [to] disobey, [to] not well comply [and] enter [this]?
二正宗分竟。
[The] second Main Principles’ Section [is] complete.
– 净土宗九祖蕅益大师
《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
相关教理
Related Teachings:
下文: 诸佛如何劝信阿弥陀佛
Next Section: How All Buddhas Encourage Faith In Amitā Buddha
莫极顽冥
Be Not Extremely Stupid, Dull And Ignorant
https://purelanders.com/2019/09/05/do-not-be-extremely-stubborn-ignorant
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》全英译
Complete English Translation Of The Essential Explanation Of The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitābha Buddha
https://purelanders.com/yaojie
《禅净四料简》
Brief On Chán And Pure Land’s Four Categories
https://purelanders.com/2009/12/15/brief-on-four-categories
