净土起信六
Sixth [Essay For] Arising [Of] Faith [In] Pure Land
为何求生净土不做仙？
[6] Why Seek Birth [In] Pure Land [And] Not Be ‘Immortals’?
佛眼见无量劫事，故自古及今，无所不见。又戒人妄语，必不自妄语以诳人。又戒人有我，必不自有我以夸人。故其言诚可师法。
[As the] Buddha’s eyes see immeasurable kalpas’ matters, thus since ancient [times], reaching now, [he is] without that not seen. Also admonishing people [with] false speech, definitely not personally with false speech deceiving people. Also admonishing people having self[‘s view], definitely not personally with having self[‘s view] boasting [to] people. Thus, his words truly can [be] learnt [and] followed.
按《楞严经》云：「有十种仙，皆寿千万载，数尽复入轮回。」为不曾了得真性故，与六道众生同名七趣，是皆轮回中人也。世人学仙者，万不得一，纵使得之，亦不免轮回，为著于形神而不能舍去也。且形神者，乃真性中所现之妄想，非为真实。
According to [the] Śūraṅgama Sūtra, [it] says, ‘[There] are ten kinds [of] “immortals” [i.e. those with apparently ‘limitless’ yet actually limited lifespans], all [with] lifespans [of a] thousand [of] ten thousand years, [after their] numbers end, again entering rebirth.’ With not having understood [and] attained true nature thus, with [the] six paths’ sentient beings together, named [as the] seventh realms, [they] are all people within rebirth too. [Of] those people [of the] world learning [to be] ‘immortals’, [of] ten thousand, [there is] not one attaining [so]. Even if attaining it, likewise not avoiding rebirth, with attachment to [their] forms [and] consciousnesses, then not able [to be] abandoned too. Moreover, those forms [and] consciousnesses, [are] then [from] true nature within, those appearing as false thoughts, not as [that] true.
故寒山诗云：「饶汝得仙人，恰似守尸鬼。」非若佛家之生死自如，而无所拘也。
Thus [does] Hánshān’s Poetry [Collection]《寒山诗集》say, ‘Although you [have] attained [to be an] “immortal” person, [you are] just like [a] corpse-guarding ghost.’ [This is] not like Buddhism’s freedom [from] birth [and] death, then without that constrained.
近自数百年来，得仙者唯钟离、吕公。而学钟离、吕公者，岂止千万？
Recently, since [the last] several hundreds [of] years, [of] those attaining [as] ‘immortals’, [there are] only [Hàn] Zhōnglí (汉钟离) [and] Lǚgōng [i.e. Lǚ Dòngbīn (吕洞宾)]. Yet, [of] those learning [to be like] Zhōnglí [and] Lǚgōng, [there are] not merely [a] thousand [of] ten thousand.
自予亲知间，数亦不少，终皆死亡，埋于下土，是平生空费心力，终无所益也。欲求长生，莫如净土。生净土者，寿数无量，其为长生也大矣。
Among my personal relatives [and] friends, [their] numbers [are] likewise not few, [in the] end, [after] death, all buried in [the] earth below, [they] were throughout life, [with] emptily wasted mental effort, [in the] end without those benefitting too. Desiring [to] seek long life, [there is] none like [in] Pure Land. [As] those born [in] Pure Land, [are with] lifespans’ number [of years] immeasurable, they [are] of long lives also great.
不知修此法门，而学神仙，是舍目前之美玉，而求不可必得之碔砆，岂不惑哉！
Not knowing cultivation [of] this Dharma Door, then learning [to be] godly ‘immortals’, is [to] abandon [the] present beautiful jade, yet seeking [that] jade-like stone [which] cannot definitely [be] attained. How [is this] not confused?
或云：「净土乃闭眼后事，有何证验？」
[A] question says, ‘[As reaching] Pure Land [is] thus after closing eyes’ matter, [it] has what [for] verification?
答云：「《净土传》备载感应，岂无证验哉！况神仙者，有所得，则甚秘而不传，以谓泄天机而有罪。佛法门唯恐传之不广，直欲度尽众生而后已。是其慈悲广大不易测量，非神仙之可比也。」
[An] answer says, ‘[As] Pure Land Biographies [are] complete [with] records [of] connections [with] responses, how can [it be] without verification? Moreover, those [records of] godly “immortals”, having that attained, [are] then extremely secretive and not spread, with [doing so] called divulging [of] heavenly secrets, then having transgressions. [The] Buddha’s Dharma Doors only fear [having] spreading [that] is not extensive, directly desiring [to] completely deliver sentient beings, then ending. [This] is his loving-kindness [and] compassion, [with] extensiveness [and] greatness [that is] not easy [to] measure, not [that which those] of godly “immortals” can compare.’
宋‧王日休
《龙舒净土文》
第一卷：净土起信九篇
Sòng [Dynasty’s] Wáng Rìxiū
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
First Scroll: Nine Essays [On] Arising [Of] Faith [In] Pure Land
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
上篇
Previous Essay:
高谈玄妙拨无净土之失
[5] Mistakes Of Impractically Speaking Of The Profoundly Wonderful While Denying There Is Pure Land
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/28/5-mistakes-of-impractically-speaking-of-the-profoundly-wonderful-while-denying-there-is-pure-land/
下篇
Next Essay:
致不信因果，不信净土者
[7] For Those Not Believing Cause And Effect, Not Believing In Pure Land
https://purelanders.com/2021/10/01/7-for-those-not-believing-cause-and-effect-not-believing-in-pure-land/
九篇
Nine Essays:
《龙舒净土文》
第一卷：净土起信九篇（等）
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
[1] First Scroll: Nine Essays On Arising Of Faith In Pure Land, etc.
https://purelanders.com/longshu1
