《劝发真信》
Exhortation [To] Give Rise [To] True Faith
净土宗十祖截流（行策）大师著
By Pure Land Tradition’s Tenth Patriarch Great Master Jiéliú (Xíngcè)
【一、开示不发真信之过患】
念佛三昧，其来尚矣。自远祖崛起庐山，肇兴莲社，六时净行，遂成千古芳规。
[First, Teaching (On) Suffering (And) Hardship Of Not Giving Rise (To) Aspiration (And) True Faith]
[Of] Samādhi [From] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, [from] its origin, [it has been] rather [long]. From [the Pure Land Tradition’s First] Patriarch [Great Master] Huìyuǎn [慧远] emerging [in] Mount Lú, [to] give rise [to the White] Lotus Society [白莲社], [in the] six periods [with] Pure [Land] practice, thereupon accomplishing virtuous rules [for] throughout all ages.
虽曰功高易进，乃末世行人罕获灵验，良由信愿不专，未能导其善行，以要归净土故也。
Although saying [Pure Land practice’s] meritorious [virtues are] great [and is] easy [to] enter, however [the Dharma-]Ending Age’s practitioners rarely obtain spiritual efficacy, verily, [this is] due [to] Faith [and] Aspiration not [being] focused, yet [to be] able [to] guide their good practices, for essential returning [to] Pure Land thus.
今既广邀善侣，同修净因，若非谛审发心，那知出苦要道？
Now, since widely inviting good companions, together [to] cultivate pure causes, if not attentively examining [the] mind given rise, how [do we] know [the] essential path [for] exiting suffering?
凡我同人，与斯法会者，须具真实信心。苟无真信，虽念佛、持斋、放生、修福，只是世间善人，报生善处受乐。当受乐时，即造业，既造业已，必堕苦。正眼观之，较他一阐提、旃陀罗辈，仅差一间耳。如是信心，岂为真实？
All [with] me, fellow practitioners, with those [in] this Dharma assembly, must [be] complete [with] true Faith’s mind. If without true Faith, although mindful [of the] Buddha, upholding purification [precepts], liberating animals [and] cultivating blessings, [one is] only [a] worldly good person, [whose] reward [is] birth [in a] good realm [to] receive joy. When receiving joy, immediately creating [evil] karma. Since [with] created karma already, definitely falling [into] suffering. Looking directly [with] contemplating of [this], comparing him [with] Icchantikas, [and those of the] Caṇḍāla class, only differing [by] one gap. [Of] such faith, how [can it] be true?
【二、开示发愿真信之内涵】
所谓真信者，[1] 第一要信得心、佛、众生三无差别。我是未成之佛，弥陀是已成之佛，觉性无二。
[Second, Teaching (On) Meanings Of Giving Rise (To) Aspiration (And) True Faith]
[This] so-called true Faith’s meaning has three aspects. [1] First, there must be Faith that the mind, the Buddha and sentient beings are not two and not different [in essence]. I am [a] yet [to be] accomplished Buddha, [and] Amitā[bha] is [an] already accomplished Buddha, [with] nature [of] awakening [that is] not two.
我虽昏迷倒惑，觉性未曾失。我虽积劫轮转，觉性未曾动。
I although [am] muddle-headed, inverted [and] confused, [my] nature [of] awakening [has] yet [to be] lost. I although [have] accumulated kalpas [of] rebirths, [my] nature [of] awakening [has] yet [to] move.
故曰莫轻未悟，一念回光，便同本得也。
Thus, saying [to] not slight [those] yet [to] awaken, [who with] one thought, [can] return [their] light [within, to] then [have the] same original [nature] attained.
[2] 次要信得我是理性佛、名字佛，弥陀是究竟佛，性虽无二，位乃天渊。
[2] Next, [there] must [be] Faith [that] I am [a] Principle Nature Buddha, [a] Name Buddha, [and] Amitā[bha] is [an] Ultimate Buddha, [with] nature although not two, positions [are] then [like the] sky [and] abyss apart.
若不专念彼佛，求生彼国，必至随业流转，受苦无量。所谓法身流转五道，不名为佛，名为众生矣。
If not [with] focused mindfulness [of] that Buddha, seeking birth [in] that land, [I will] definitely follow karma [to be] reborn, [to] receive suffering immeasurably. [This] so-called Dharma Body [that is] reborn [in the] five paths, [is] not named as [a] Buddha, [but] named as [a] sentient being.
[3] 次要信得我虽障深业重，久居苦域，是弥陀心内之众生；弥陀虽万德庄严，远在十万亿刹之外，是我心内之佛。
[3] Next, [there] must [be] Faith [that] I although [have] obstacles deep [and negative] karma heavy, [and] long dwelt [in] suffering’s land, am [a] sentient being [in] Amitā[bha Buddha’s] mind within. Amitā[bha Buddha] although [has] ten thousand meritorious virtues’ majesty, [as] far away [as] one hundred thousand koṭis [of] lands, [he] is [the] Buddha [in] my mind within.
既是心性无二，自然感应道交。我之苦切必能感，佛之慈悲必能应，如磁石吸铁，无可疑者。
Since [our] mind-nature [is] not two, naturally [will there be] connection [and] response [for] mutual interaction. My this pressing sincerity [is] definitely able [to] connect, [and the] Buddha’s loving-kindness [and] compassion [are] definitely able [to] respond, like [a] magnet attracting iron, without that [to] doubt.
所谓佛念众生，如母忆子。子若忆母，如母忆时，母子历生不相违远。若众生心，忆佛念佛，现前当来必定见佛，去佛不远也。
[This is] so-called [the] Buddha [being] mindful [of] sentient beings, [is] like [a] Mother recollecting [her] child. [The] child if recollecting [the] Mother, like when [the] Mother recollects, [the] Mother [and] child, passing through life, [will] not [be] far apart [from] each other. If sentient beings’ minds recollect [the] Buddha, [are] mindful [of the] Buddha, now [or in the] future, [they will] definitely see [the] Buddha, [with the] Buddha not far [away].
【三、开示发真信之利益】
具如上真信者，虽一毫之善，一尘之福，皆可回向西方，庄严净土。
[Three, Teaching (On) Benefits Of Giving Rise (To) Aspiration (And) True Faith]
Completely according [to the] above, those [with] true Faith, although [with] one fine hair of good, [or] one dust [mote] of blessings, all can [be] dedicated [to be reborn in the] West, [to] adorn Pure Land.
何况持斋秉戒，放生布施，读诵大乘，供养三宝，种种善行，岂不足充净土资粮？
Moreover, [with] upholding [of] purification [and] holding [of] precepts, liberating animals [and] giving, studying [and] reciting [the] Great Vehicle’s [sūtras], making [of] offerings [to the] Triple Gem, [and] all kinds [of] good practices, how [can these be] not enough [to] fulfil [as] Pure Land’s provisions?
唯其信处不真，遂乃沦于有漏。故今修行，别无要术，但于二六时中，加此三种真信，则一切行履，无烦改辙矣。
Only [when] these Faith’s aspects [are] not true, thereupon then sinking to [be] with outflows. [From] ancient [times until] now, [for] cultivation, [there is] no other essential method, [than to] only, [in the] two six periods within, [be] added [with these] three kinds [of] true Faith. Then [with] all practices carried out, without [need to] bother [about] changing track.
倘欲舍此度门，别商玄妙工夫，则诸方宗匠如林，刹竿相望，正可随处问津，不须投足兹社。
If desiring [to] relinquish this deliverance door, moreover [to] discuss mysterious skills, then [with] all directions’ highly esteemed [ones, many] like [trees in a] forest, [with] poles flying banners looking [at] one another, [they] can decide [to] everywhere make inquiries, not needing [to] tread [with their] feet [into] this society.
若果名心永尽，素愿攸同，时节因缘，幸常集会。依稀莲漏，仿佛篮舆，今古如斯，遗风未泯。庶他生为亲近之津梁，即此世为助发之资具，愿交勉焉！
If [seeking] honour’s [mind has] forever ended, [with the] simple Aspiration long-term [and the] same, [with this] time’s cause [and] condition, [I] hope [you can] often [come to] gather [at our] assemblies. Relying [on a] past lotus [water-]dripping [clock like that created by Great Master Huìyuǎn for gauging practice times], similarly [riding] basket sedan chairs [like Jìn Dynasty’s Táo Yuānmíng [陶渊明], to come to Mount Lú to visit Great Master Huìyuǎn, with] now [and] ancient [times both] like this, [with] surviving traditions yet [to be] destroyed. [With] numerous other [past] lives as [a] bridge [to] be close, immediately [in] this life as [a] provided tool [to] support giving rise [to Aspiration], may [we] mutually encourage [one another]!
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
相关语录
Related Quotes:
觉性无二
With Nature Of Awakening Not Two
https://purelanders.com/2020/06/04/with-nature-of-awakening-not-two
相互共念
Mindfulness Of Each Other Together
https://purelanders.com/2020/06/04/mindfulness-of-each-other-together
