现今是一大患难世道，无论富贵贫贱，老幼男女，均当念南无阿弥陀佛，及念南无观世音菩萨圣号，以作预防灾祸之据。
Now is a [time when] the ways of the world [are with] great suffering [and] difficulties. Regardless [of the] rich [and] honoured, [or the] poor [and] lowly, [the] old [and] young, [or] males [and] females, all should recite [the] sacred names [of] ‘Námó Āmítuófó’ and ‘Námó Guānshìyīn Púsà’, with [them] to depend on [for] preventing disasters.
凡刀兵，水火，瘟蝗，旱涝，土匪，强盗及诸意外之祸，并怨业病，怨家相逢等，若能志诚念佛及观世音，决定能逢凶化吉。
All [facing] wars, waters [and] fires, epidemics, [pandemics, and] locust [attacks], droughts [and] floods, bandits, robbers and all misfortunes of accidents, also [those with] hateful karma’s sicknesses [i.e. karmic obstacles’ sicknesses: 业障病], [with] enemies meeting [and] others, if able [to, with] utmost sincerity recite [the names of the Āmítuó]fó and Guānshìyīn [Púsà, they] definitely [are] able [to, with] encounters [of the] inauspicious, transform [them to be] auspicious.
即定业所致，亦可减轻，不至过于酷烈。
That so-called by ‘fixed’ negative karma caused, also can be reduced and lightened, to not be as excessively intense.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《复周伯遒居士书》
(Reply Letter [To] Layperson Zhōu Bóqiú)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
