附录修行净土法门后序
Appendix [On] Cultivation [Of The] Practice [Of The] Pure Land Dharma Door’s Afterword
娑婆，苦境也，欲脱众苦，必修西方。
[This] Sahā [World, is] suffering’s realm. If desiring [to be] liberated [from] all suffering, [there] must [be] cultivation [to be born in the] Western [Pure Land].
西方，乐国也，欲生极乐，必信佛言。
[The] Western [Pure Land, is a] blissful land. If desiring [to be] born [in this Land Of] Ultimate Bliss, [there] must [be] Faith [in the] Buddha’s words.
譬如有人，行于旷野，暮夜昏黑，群贼在后，执持利器，竞来逼逐。
For example, [there] is [a] person, walking in [the] open wilderness. [In the] late night’s dim darkness, [are] hordes [of] robbers behind, holding firmly [to] sharp weapons, contending [to] come, compelling [and] chasing.
四顾彷徨，逃避无所。
Looking around [in the] four [directions, it is] without [a] place [to] escape [to].
呼天叫地，谁来救恤？
Crying [to the] heavens [and] yelling [to the] earth, who [can] come [to] save [and] give relief?
忽遇老父，而告之言:「此去不远，有长者居，福德威势，盗贼不侵。
Suddenly meeting [an] old man, [who] then tells him [these] words, ‘[From] this [place], not far [away, there] is [an] elder’s residence, [with] blessed virtues, majesty [and] power, [that] robbers cannot invade.
楼阁真实，快乐自在。
[With] towering pavilions real, [with] happiness [and] ease.
烟雾所障，汝不能睹。
[By] smoke [and] mist obstructed, you not able [to] see [it].
汝但决往，吾不汝诳。」
You [should] however [be] determined [to] go towards [it, as] I [will] not [have] you deceived.’
其人闻语，欢喜踊跃，策步高骧，不复回顾，注目一心，更无他想。
[When] this person hears [these] words, [with] joy [and] enthusiasm, [he] advances [with] steps highly raised, not again looking back, gazing [ahead] wholeheartedly, also without other thoughts.
俄顷之间，至长者所。
In a moment between, reaching [the] elder’s place.
群贼苦恼，杳绝踪迹。
[The] hordes [of] robbers, suffering [and] afflictions, disappear absolutely [without a] trace.
种种快乐，无异所闻。
[With] all kinds [of] happiness, [it is] without difference [from] that heard.
弥陀摄受众生，长者居也，安可不往？
[With A]mitā[bha Buddha’s] gathering [and] receiving [of] sentient beings, [to where the] elder resides, how can [one] not [go] towards [it]?
释迦指导群迷，老父言也，安可不信？
[With] Śākyamuni [Buddha’s] direction [and] guidance [of] lost sentient beings, [of the] old man’s words, how can [they] not [be] believed?
世之人，于西方之说，懵不能知，比比皆是。
[On] people of [this] world, of speak of [the] Western [Pure Land, those] ignorant [and] not able [to] know [this, are] able to be found everywhere.
知矣而不信，信矣而不修，修不能力者，十亦常八九焉！
Knowing yet not believing, believing yet not cultivating, [with] those cultivating not able [to] exert [to do their best, of] ten also often [having] eight [or] nine!
我今重覆设此譬喻，其不知者，可以解会。
I [am] now repeating [this, to] establish this parable, [for] those persons not knowing [this, so that they] can understand what taught.
而不信不修不力者，亦可加勉矣。
And [for] those not believing, not cultivating [and] not exerting [to do their best, this] can also [be for giving them] additional encouragement.
夫修西方而决愿往生者，岂有他哉，善尽其力，如遇老父于避贼之时而已矣？
[For] those cultivating [to be reborn in the] Western [Pure Land], and those [with] determined Aspiration [to be] reborn [there], how can there be others, [who] well exhaust their efforts, like [the] old man met, at [the] moment for avoiding robbers then?
[Notes:
(1) The dangerous wilderness and robbers represent the world we are in with all kinds of physical threats.
(2) The old man represents Śākyamuni Buddha.
(3) The elder represents Amitābha Buddha.
(4) The elder’s residence represents Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land.
(5) The smoke and mist represent our spiritual obstacles that obstruct us from discerning a clear and definite path to liberation.
(6) Gazing ahead wholeheartedly represents sincere Practice of mindfulness of Buddha.
(7) Since it is not easy to suddenly meet the ‘old man’ or ‘elder’ when about to depart without having some prior connection with previous Practice, there should be heeding of the ‘old man’s advice now, to learn to be sincerely mindful of the ‘elder’s name (Āmítuófó) to reach his ‘residence’ in good time.
(8) This parable is as if a simplified version of the ‘Parable Of Two Rivers And The White Path’ below.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关譬喻
Related Parable:
完整譬喻：二河白道喻
Complete Parable: The Parable Of Two Rivers And The White Path
https://purelanders.com/2009/11/10/the-parable-of-the-white-path
相关经典
Related Sūtras:
中国净土宗十三祖印光大师校订之《净土五经》
‘The Pure Land Tradition’s Five Sūtras’ As Checked By The Chinese Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
https://purelanders.com/wujing
