《佛说阿弥陀经要解》之跋
[63] Postscript Of The Essential Explanation Of The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitābha Buddha
蕅益大师跋
Great Master Ǒuyì’s Postscript
经云：「末法亿亿人修行，罕一得道，唯依念佛得度。」
[The Great Collection (Mahāsaṃnipāta)] Sūtra《大集经》says, ‘[In the] Dharma-Ending [Age, when a] koṭi [of a] koṭi [of] people cultivate practices, rarely [will] one attain [the] path; only relying on mindfulness [of] Buddha attains deliverance.
[Note 1:
1 koṭi = 10 million
1 koṭi of 1 koṭi = 10 million × 10 million = 100 million
Probability of 1 out of 100 million = 1 ÷ 100 million × 100% = 0.000001%]
呜呼！今正是其时矣！
Alas! Right now is that period!
舍此不思议法门，其何能淑？
[If] abandoning this inconceivable [Pure Land] Dharma Door, how [will there be] those able [to become] pure?
旭出家时，宗乘自负，藐视教典，妄谓持名，曲为中下。
When [Zhì]xù [智旭] left [the] household [life, with the] principal [i.e. Chán] vehicle, [being] conceited, [I] looked down on [the] teachings [in the] sūtras, [and] falsely spoke [on] upholding [Āmítuófó’s] name, wrongly assuming [it to be] for [those of] middle [and] low [roots only].
[Note 2: The Pure Land Dharma Door (净土法门) is for beings of all roots, including those of high roots (上根), such as the many Great Bodhisattvas present in this sūtra’s assembly.]
后因大病，发意西归。
Later, due [to] great sickness [at the age of 28, I] gave rise [to the] intention [to] return [to the] West[ern Pure Land].
[Note 3: This was when he realised that his Self-powered (自力) meditation skills were inadequate in the face of great pain and suffering, what more potentially so when dying later, if without Pure Land practice.
Even those not from Pure Land can speak of return to it, as to seek rebirth there represents the Aspiration, to return to the purity of their Buddha-nature.]
复研《妙宗》、《圆中》二钞，及云栖《疏钞》等书，始知念佛三昧，实无上宝王，方肯死心执持名号，万牛莫挽也。
Repeatedly studying [the] Wonderful Principal, [the] Perfect Middle, [these] two collected writings, and [Most Venerable] Yúnqī’s [i.e. 云栖和尚] Sub-Commentary’s Collected Writings [and] other books, only then knowing [that the] Samādhi [From] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, truly [is the] unsurpassable Treasure King [Samādhi] [i.e. 宝王三昧], then [was I] willing [to] wholeheartedly [and] firmly uphold [Āmítuófó’s] name, [with] ten thousand bulls not [able to] pull [me] back.
[Note 4: Wonderful Principal《妙宗》is short for the Contemplation Sūtra’s Commentary’s Wonderful Principal Collected Writings《观经疏妙宗钞》by Sòng Dynasty’s (宋代) Tiāntái Tradition’s (天台宗) Great Master Fǎzhì (法智大师).
Perfect Middle《圆中》is short for the Amitābha Sūtra’s Brief Explanation On The Perfect Middle Path’s Collected Writings《阿弥陀经略解圆中钞》by Míng Dynasty’s (明代) Tiāntái Tradition’s Great Master Chuándēng (传灯大师).
Commentary’s Collected Writings《疏钞》is short for the Amitābha Sūtra’s Sub-Commentary’s Collected Writings《阿弥陀经疏钞》by Míng Dynasty’s Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch (净土宗八祖) Great Master Liánchí (莲池大师).]
吾友去病，久事净业，欲令此经大旨，辞不繁而炳著，请余为述要解。
My friend, Eliminating Sickness [i.e. Layperson Hán Cháojí (韩朝集居士)], [who] long practised pure karmas, desired [to] enable this sūtra’s main points, [to be with] words not complicated, yet clearly manifested, invited me for stating [this] Essential Explanation.
余欲普与法界有情同生极乐，理不可却。
[As] I desire [to], universally with [the] Dharma Realm’s sentient beings, together [be] born [in the Land Of] Ultimate Bliss, [this in] principle could not [be] declined.
举笔于丁亥九月二十有七，脱稿于十月初五，凡九日告成。
Raising [the] brush on Dīnghài’s [i.e. 1647 C.E.] ninth month’s twenty-seventh [day], completing [the] manuscript on [the] tenth month’s fifth [day], altogether [in] nine days [was this] accomplished.
所愿一句一字，咸作资粮；一见一闻，同阶不退。
That wished [for, is that each] one line [and each] one word, [will] all become provisions; [with them] once seen [and] once heard, together ascending [to] non-retrogression.
信疑皆植道种，赞谤等归解脱。
[May those with] Faith [and] doubts all plant [the] path’s seed, [those who] praise [and] slander equally ‘return’ [to the Pure Land for] liberation.
仰唯诸佛菩萨摄受证明，同学友人随喜加被。
Looking up only to all Buddhas [and] Bodhisattvas, [to] gather, receive [and] confirm [this, with those] together learning [and] friends, rejoicing [in their] blessings.
西有道人蕅益智旭阁笔故跋，时年四十有九。
[By] West Is, practitioner Ǒuyì Zhìxù, putting down [the] brush thus [with this] Postscript, when aged forty-nine.
[Note 5: ‘West Is‘ (西有) is the Master’s self-given name, that reminds all of the ‘two “is“‘ (二有) in the opening of the sūtra’s Preface Section (序分) — ‘From here, in the western direction, passing a hundred thousand koṭis of Buddha lands, is a world named “Ultimate Bliss”. [In] that land, is a Buddha named “Amitā(bha/yus)”, now presently speaking the Dharma.’「从是西方，过十万亿佛土，有世界名曰极乐。其土有佛，号阿弥陀，今现在说法。」]
– 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:
上文: 如何欢喜信受阿弥陀经？
Previous Section: How To Joyfully And Faithfully Accept The Amitābha Sūtra?
https://purelanders.com/2019/08/26/how-to-rejoice-in-faithfully-accept-the-amitabha-sutra
《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
