【五】：予见新学后生，才把一句佛顿在心头，闲思妄想越觉腾沸，便谓念佛工夫不能摄心。
[Part 5]: I see new learners [and those] later born [i.e. the younger], just holding [the] one line [of the] Buddha’s [name] immediately on [their] minds, [then with] idle thinking [and] deluded thoughts, [being] more aware [of them] surging [and] rising, then calling [their] mindfulness [of] Buddha’s skill [to] not [be] able [to] gather [their] minds.
[Note 1: Deluded thoughts are also called false thoughts or stray thoughts. Beginner practitioners should not expect instant results of being totally free from them, when they should learn and practise further.]
不知汝无量劫来生死根由，如何能得即断？
Not knowing you, [for] immeasurable kalpas since, [with the] root cause [of the cycle of] birth [and] death, how [is it] able [to] immediately [be] severed?
[Note 2: The root of rebirth is delusion, manifesting as deluded thoughts that express attachment (i.e. greed) and aversion (i.e. hatred). Attachment, aversion and delusion are the Three Poisons, the interconnected causes of suffering and rebirth. With adequate practice of mindfulness of Buddha with the Three Provisions (of Faith, Aspiration and Practice), to let them sufficiently suspend the workings of the Three Poisons, by the end of this life reaching Pure Land, rebirth will then be immediately transcended.]
且万念纷飞之际，正是做工夫时节。
Moreover, [with] ten thousand thoughts, during that time, swirling in the ‘air’, [this is] precisely is [the] time [to] practise.
[Note 3: Exactly since there are many deluded thoughts noticed then, it is when there should be practice to gather the mind.]
旋收旋散，旋散旋收，久后工夫纯熟，自然妄念不起。
Returning [to be] collected [and] returning [to be] scattered, returning [to be] scattered [and] returning [to be] collected, long after, [with] skill purified [and] matured, naturally [will] deluded thoughts not arise.
[Note 4: It is natural to have the mind cyclically alternating between being focused and being scattered, with this lessening with more practice, to be more and more focused]
且汝之能觉妄念重者，亏这句佛耳。
Moreover, you [being] able [to be] aware of those deluded thoughts [being] heavy, [is] fortunately [due to] this line [of the] Buddha[‘s name].
[Note 5: Without practice of mindfulness of Buddha, there would be no awareness of the many deluded thoughts, letting them run on indefinitely all the time.]
如不念佛之时，澜翻潮涌刹那不停者，自己岂能觉乎。
If when not mindful [of] Buddha, [with deluded thoughts] overflowing [and] turning over [like the] tide rising, [even for a] moment not stopping, how [is] oneself able [to be] aware [of this]?
[Note 6: Being aware of deluded thoughts arising when practising mindfulness of Buddha is thus already improvement, and part of the process of practice for progress.]
净土宗八祖莲池大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí
《云栖净土汇语》：警众（八条）
(Collection [Of] Yúnqī’s Pure Land Sayings: Eight Articles [As] Warnings [For The] Masses)
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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[6] Three Methods Of Upholding Mindfulness Of Buddha’s Name
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莲池大师「警众」八条文
Great Master Liánchí’s Eight Articles Of Warnings For The Masses
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