勸修四料简
Diligent Cultivation’s Fourfold Explanations
【1】
作福不念佛，
福尽还沉沦。
Creating blessings [but] not mindful [of] Buddha, [when] blessings end, still sunken [in suffering’s ocean].
【2】
念佛不作福，
入道多苦辛。
Mindful [of] Buddha [but] not creating blessings, entering [the] path [with] much suffering [and] hardship.
【3】
无福不念佛，
地狱鬼畜群。
Without blessings [and] not mindful [of] Buddha, [with] hell[-beings, hungry] ghosts [and] animals grouping.
【4】
念佛兼作福，
后证两足尊。
Mindful [of] Buddha [and] simultaneously creating blessings, later realising [as] two-footed honoured ones [i.e. Buddhas].
净土宗八祖莲池大师
《云栖净土汇语》
Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí
(Yúnqī’s Collected Pure Land Sayings)
莲池大师:「今持名[念佛]，乃善中之善，福中之福。」
Great Master Liánchí: ‘Now upholding the name [of Āmítuófó], is the good within good, and blessing within blessings.’
[Note: According to Āmítuófó’s 18th vow, the Three Provisions (三资粮) form the core criteria to reach his Pure Land. Niànfó (念佛) is the direct way to increase good roots (善根) and blessed virtues (福德) (i.e. blessings and meritorious virtues; merits). This is while there are many other practices that also increase good roots and blessed virtues, to support birth there, with higher grades.
As in the last line in purple, also taught by the Great Master, Niànfó definitely creates much blessings. Thus, ‘not creating blessings’ mentioned in Line [2] refers to not also doing so, in ways beyond Niànfó, to create even more blessings, such as by doing good to help others. It is of course best to do both – to have diligent Niànfó and helping of others.]
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https://purelanders.com/2018/10/19/clear-proof-of-upholding-name-as-much-good-roots-blessed-virtues
禅净四料简
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https://purelanders.com/2009/12/15/brief-on-four-categories
