信愿念佛必生西
[With] Faith [And] Aspiration Mindful [Of] Buddha [Is] Definite Birth [In The] Western [Pure Land]
问:念佛自知不得力,欲加课非但无力,且无时间,如长此以往,恐生西少把握,而此志又决计欲生,究用何法,能万分可靠?
Question: [Of] mindfulness [of] Buddha, [with] myself knowing [my practice is] not competent, [I] desire [to have] additional chanting, [but] not only [am] without strength, moreover without time. Like this [for] long, [as] in the past, [I] fear [that my] birth [in the] Western [Pure Land is with] little certainty. Yet [with] this Aspiration also determined, planning [and] desiring [for] birth, ultimately [with] use [of] what method, [is it] able [to be with] ten thousand parts [i.e. extremely] reliable?
答:【如净土宗九祖澫益大师所教】:「得生与否,全由信愿之有无。」何得妄说闲谈,不以古人所说者为指南。
Answer: [As taught by the Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì], ‘Attaining birth [in Āmítuófó’s Pure Land] or not, completely depends [on] Faith [and] Aspiration [being] present [or] absent.’ How can [there be such] nonsensical speak [and] idle talk, [that is] not with that [which] ancients ones speak [of] for guidance?
净土宗十三祖印光大师
《答俞大锡居士问》
Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
(Reply [To] Question [Of] Layperson Yú Dàxī)
【九祖下句言:「品位高下,全由持名之深浅。」故亦须有行,而具三资粮,而力与时间之多少由行者之因缘。】
[The 9th Patriarch’s next line says, ‘The grade (of birth) being high or low, completely depends on (the Practice of) upholding (mindfulness of Āmítuófó’s name) being deep or shallow.’ Thus, there also must be Practice, to then be complete with the Three Provisions, yet with the amount of strength and time exerted depending on the practitioner’s conditions.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an