问：心不颠倒，故能预知时至。乃云「死时何苦欲先知」，何耶？
Question: [With the] mind not inverted, thus able [to] in advance know [the] time [of] arrival [of Āmítuófó, to receive and guide for rebirth in Pure Land]. However saying, ‘[on] when dying, why bother [with] desiring [to] first know [it]’, why [is this so]?
答：不贵预知，正欲令其心不颠倒。颇有因欲先知，而愈重其颠倒者。
Answer: Not valuing in advance knowing, precisely [is] desiring [to] enable that mind [to] not [be] inverted. [If there are] those very [much valuing it], because [of] desiring [to] first know [it], then [will they have] more and more heavy [of] that inverted.
[Note: Although advanced knowing seems valuable, it is exactly by not bothering about it, not desiring to in advance know the time of arrival, that the mind is able to not be inverted (with attachment, aversion and delusion [贪嗔痴]), to instead only practise mindfulness of Buddha wholeheartedly (i.e. sincerely), then possibly and naturally knowing the time of arrival. To have much desire to first know it is to be overwhelmed by attachment and delusion, to thus be inverted.]
净土宗九祖蕅益大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì
《灵峰宗论》卷第三之一：答问一 /
Spirit Peak Tradition’s Treatise: First [Part] Of Scroll Three: First Answers [For] Questions /
《蕅益大师净土集》第九：答问：答卓左车《弥陀疏钞》三十二问【第十九】
Great Master Ǒuyì’s Pure Land Collection: 9th [Section]: Answers [For] Questions: Answers [For] Zhuō Zuǒchē’s Thirty-Two Questions [On The] Commentary [On The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of A]mitā[bha Buddha] [#19]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and note by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
至心念佛如何灭除如此多罪而得不退？
[15] How Does Sincere Mindfulness Of Buddha Eradicate So Many Transgressions And Attain Non-Retrogression?
一念猛利过百年悠悠
One Thought Powerful Surpasses Hundred Years’ Leisureliness
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/15/how-does-sincere-mindfulness-of-buddha-eradicate-so-many-transgressions-and-attain-non-retrogression/
《阿弥陀经》为何只言临终佛现？
[18] Why Did The Amitābha Sūtra Speak Of The Buddha Appearing At Life’s End Only?
信愿行成就，往生自无疑
With Faith, Aspiration And Practice Accomplished, Rebirth In Pure Land Is Naturally Without Doubt
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/18-why-did-the-amitabha-sutra-speak-of-the-buddha-appearing-at-lifes-end-only
《大经》与《观经》之十念有分别吗？
[20] Are There Differences Between The Ten Thoughts In The Greater Sūtra And The Contemplation Sūtra?
志心信乐，何等深切！
With The Sincere Mind Of Joyful Faith, How Profound And Clear!
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/22/are-there-differences-between-the-ten-thoughts-in-the-greater-sutra-and-the-contemplation-sutra/
为何也说来世生净土？
[23] Why Speak Of Rebirth In Pure Land In A Future Life Too?
真念佛决无不生净土者
Those With True Mindfulness Of Buddha Are Definitely Without Those Not Born In Pure Land
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/21/why-speak-of-rebirth-in-pure-land-in-a-future-life-too/
如何把定业转成无定业？
[26] How To Transform Definite Negative Karma To Be Not Definite?
千年暗室一灯能破
A Thousand Years’ Darkened Room With One Lamp Is Able To Be Destroyed
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/21/how-to-transform-definite-negative-karma-to-be-not-definite/
