诚备信水
Sincerely Prepare Faith’s Water
因遇灾难，
并所恳叨，
一发诚心，
感应道交。
Due to encountering [of] disasters [and] difficulties, complete [with] that [of] earnest pleading, once giving rise [to the] sincere mind [with mindfulness of the Buddha or Bodhisattva, there is] connection [and] response [for] mutual interaction.
如清凉月，
丽彼中天，
影现群水，
一无所偏。
Like [the] pure [and] cool moon, magnificent [and high in] that sky within, [with its] reflections appearing [in] many waters, [it is] without one that [is] partial [to].
若或无信，
莫由相感，
如水昏动，
月影不显。
If perhaps without Faith, [this is] not [with the] cause [to] correspond, like water muddled [and] stirred, [the] moon’s reflection cannot manifest.
咎在于水，
非月不照，
若得澄静，
即现光耀。
[The] mistake [is] in [the] water, not [that the] moon [is] not illuminating, [for] if attaining clear stillness, [it] immediately appears [with] brilliant light.
亦如阳春，
普生诸芽，
遇根枯者，
朽腐更加。
Also like [the] sun [in] spring, [that] universally grows all buds, [if] meeting those [with] roots withered, [they are with] rotting even more.
甘霖普澍，
草木同荣，
唯无根者，
不荷生成。
[Like] dew universally moisturising, grass [and] trees together flourish, [while] only those without roots, [are] not [with] lotuses grown [and] accomplished.
入道之要，
信为第一，
欲蒙慈济，
非信莫得。
[As the] essential of entering [the] path, [is with] Faith being [the] foremost, [if] desiring [to] receive [the] kind aid [of the Buddha and Bodhsattva], without Faith [is it] not attained.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
《观世音菩萨本迹感应颂卷首像赞》
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
(Guānshìyīn Bodhisattva’s Source’s [And] Signs’ Correspondences’ Ode Scroll’s First Image’s Praise)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
