如何减少淫欲
How To Reduce Lust
若见女人老者作吾母想，长者作吾姊想，幼者作吾妹想。无论何等女人，皆作此想。久之则见他女人与见己母姊妹无异矣。
If seeing women, [of] those old, have [them as] my mother thought, [of] those elder, have [them as] my elder sisters thought, [and of] those younger, have [them as] my younger sisters thought. Regardless [of] what kind [of] women, [for] all have these thoughts. Gradually over time, then seeing other women [to be] with seeing my mother, elder sisters [and] younger sisters, without differences.
又见女人以其美而起邪念，常想此人肚皮里尽是屎尿。只一张薄皮包著，似乎好看。若把此皮去了，则无一点好看。女人如是，自己也如是。
Also, [if] seeing women, with their beauty then, giving rise [to] evil thoughts, often think [of] these persons’ belly skins inside, [to] be completely [with] faeces [and] urine. [With] only one piece [of] thin skin wrapping, [then] seemingly good-looking. If with this skin peeled away, then without one bit good-looking. Women [are] thus, [and] myself [is] also thus.
未见时作此想，当见时此想现前。久之则邪念自消。
When yet [to] see [them] having this thought, when seeing [them], this thought [will] manifest [in the] present. Gradually over time, then [will] evil thoughts [be] self-eliminated.
若娶妻亦作此想，不致贪色早夭。[女人也应当对男人作同想。]
If marrying, [for your] wife likewise having this thought, [then will you] not likely, [due to] greed [for] sex, [have] early death. [Women should also have same thoughts about men.]
净土宗十三祖印光大师
《复吕智明居士书》
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
(Reply Letter [To] Layperson Lǚ Zhìmíng)
Namo Amituofo : Translation and note by Shen Shi’an
