世人以病为苦，而先德云：「病者，众生之良药。」
[The] world’s people [are] with sickness as suffering. Yet, former virtuous [ones] say, ‘That [of] sickness, [is] good medicine of sentient beings.’
夫药与病反，奈何以病为药？
Is it not [that] medicine and sickness [are] opposites? How [can it be] with sickness as medicine?
盖有形之身，不能无病，此理势所必然。
Because having bodies of forms, not able [to be] without sickness, this principle [of] developing [this] tendency [to be sick, is] that which [is] certain.
而无病之时，嬉怡放逸，谁觉之者？
Yet when without sickness, [being] ‘happy’ [and] heedless, who [are] those aware of [this]?
唯病苦逼身，始知四大非实，人命无常，则悔悟之一机，而修进之一助也。
Only [when there is] sickness’ suffering bothering [the] body, then knowing [the] four great [elements are] not true [i.e. as they are not unchanging], [that] human life [is] impermanent, then [with] remorse [and] awakening, of [this] one thought, and [with it], cultivating diligently, of [this becoming] a support.
予出家至今，大病垂死者三，而每病发悔悟，增修进，由是信良药之语，其真至言哉！
I, [as from] leaving [the] household [life] until now, [having] great sickness [and] dying thrice, then [with] every sickness, gave rise [to] remorse [and] awakening, [to] increase cultivation diligently, due [to] this, believe this saying of good medicine, [that] these [are] true [and] sincere words!
净土宗八祖莲池大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí
《竹窗随笔》
(Essays [By The] Bamboo Window)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
