当兢兢自守，凡有不好的念头一起，即便生大惭愧，犹如裸露于稠人广众之中，惭愧欲死。
[You] should cautiously guard [your]self, [such that when] having all thoughts [that are] not good once arising, immediately then give rise [to] great shame[ful repentance], similar [to being nakedly] exposed [before] many people, in [a] large crowd within, [so] shame[ful, that there is] desire [to rather] die.
如此久久，则坏念头自然不起矣。
In this way, over a long time, thus [will] bad thoughts naturally not arise.
意业一净，身口亦随之而净。
[With the] mind’s karma once pure, body [and] speech likewise, according [to] it, [will] then [be] pure.
三业清净，念佛名号，其功德便广大莫名矣。
[With the] three karmas pure, [then] mindful [of the] Buddha’s name, its meritorious virtues [are] then [so] extensive, [that they] cannot [be] named.
然三业未净，尤当志诚念佛，以求其清净。
However, [with the] three karmas yet [to be] pure, [you] should especially, [with] single-minded sincerity, [be] mindful [of] Buddha, with seeking [of] it [to be] pure.
切不可错会，谓三业不净，念佛无功德也。
[You] must not wrongly understand, [and] say [that with the] three karmas not pure, mindfulness [of] Buddha [is] without meritorious virtues.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
(复陈凤梧居士书)
(Reply Letter [To] Layperson Chén Fèngwú)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
