《龙舒净土文》
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text
第一卷：净土起信九篇
[1] First Scroll: Nine Essays [On] Arising [Of] Faith [In] Pure Land
予遍览藏经及诸传记，取其意而为《净土文》，无一字无所本，幸勿以人微而忽其说。欲人人共晓，故其言直而不文。予龙舒人也，世传净土文者不一，故以郡号别之。
[As] I, [having] completely read [the] treasury [of] sūtras and all biographical records, [have] obtained their meanings, then for [composing this] ‘Pure Land Text’, [it is] without one word [that is] without that [with] basis, hoping [that there will] not [be those] with [my] person [being] insignificant then neglecting that said. Desiring everyone [to] together know [the Pure Land teachings], thus [are] its words direct and not refined. [As] I [am a] Lóngshū person, [and as in the] world circulating, that [named as a] ‘Pure Land Text’ [is] not one [but many], thus with [the] prefecture’s name differentiating it.
净土起信一
First [Essay For] Arising [Of] Faith [In] Pure Land
净土修持益于生前身后，兼世间出世间法
[1] Pure Land Practice Benefits While Living [And] After Dying, [With] Both Worldly [And] World-Transcending Dharma
【生前身后利益】
[Benefits While Living (And) After Dying]
净土之说，多见于日用之间，而其余功乃见于身后。不知者，止以为身后之事而已，殊不知其大有益于生前也。何则？
Speaking of Pure Land [practice], many [merits can be] seen among [those with it] in everyday [life], and their other merits [are] only seen after dying. Those not knowing, stop [at] assuming [it is] for [the] matter of after dying only, actually not knowing it has great benefits for while living too. Why thus?
佛之所以训人者，无非善。与儒教之所以训人何以异哉？唯其名有不同耳。
Of that [the] Buddha teach people, [it is] without [that] not good. With that of Confucian teachings [for] teaching people, how [can they be] with differences? [It is] only [with] their names having [those] not [the] same only.
【生前利益之一】
[First Benefit While Living]
故其以净土为心，则见于日用之间者，意之所念，口之所言，身之所为，无适而非善。
Thus, [of] those with [reaching] Pure Land as Aspiration, then seen among those [with its practice] in everyday [life, with their] minds, of that thought, [with their] mouths, of that spoken, [and with their] bodies, of that done, [they are] without [that] not suitable [and] not good.
善则为君子，为大贤。现世则人敬之，神佑之，福禄可增，寿命可永。由是言之，则从佛之言，而以净土为心者，孰谓无益于生前乎？
[Those] good [are] then as noble persons, as great virtuous [ones. In this] present life then [with] humans respecting them, [with] gods blessing them, blessings [and] good fortune can increase, [and] lifespans can [be] lengthened. Due [to] this speaking, then [of] those following words of [the] Buddha, and with [reaching] Pure Land as Aspiration, who says [they are] without benefits while living?
【生前利益之二】
[Second Benefit While Living]
其次，为业缘所夺，而不能专志于此，苟有志焉者，亦恶缘可以自此而省，善缘可以自此而增。恶缘省而不已，终必至于绝其恶；善缘增而不已，终必至于纯乎善。
Next, [of] those by karmic conditions seized, then not able [to have] focused Aspiration for this, if those [who] have Aspiration are there [offering guidance (开示) and support-chanting (助念)], likewise can evil conditions, naturally [with] this then reduce, [and] good conditions can naturally [with] this then increase. [With] evil conditions reduced yet not ended, [in the] end definitely reaching cutting [of] that evil, [and with] good conditions increasing yet not ended, [in the] end definitely reaching purity of [that] good.
恶既绝矣，善既纯矣，非为君子而何？非为大贤而何？由是言之，则从佛之言，而以净土为心者，孰谓无益于生前乎？
[With] evil since cut, [and with] good since pure, [if] not as noble persons, then who [are they]? [If] not as great virtuous [ones], then who [are they]? Due [to] this speaking, then [of] those following words of [the] Buddha, and with [reaching] Pure Land as Aspiration, who says [they are] without benefits while living?
【生前利益之三】
[Third Benefit While Living]
又其次，不知礼义之所在，不知刑罚之所畏，惟气力之为尚，惟势力之为趋。苟知以净土为心，则亦必知省己而自咎，所为虽不能皆合于礼义，亦必近于礼义矣；虽不能尽超乎刑罚，亦必远于刑罚矣。
Also, next, [there are those] not knowing [the] whereabouts of propriety [and] righteousness, not knowing fear of that [with] punishment, only [with] strength as [that] valuable, [and] only [by] power as hastened. If knowing [to be] with [reaching] Pure Land as Aspiration, then likewise definitely knowing [to] self-reflect and self-chastise, therefore although not able [to] all unite [with] propriety [and] righteousness, [they] likewise [will] definitely [be] near to propriety [and] righteousness. Although not able [to] completely transcend punishment, [they] likewise [will] definitely [be] far from punishment.
渐可以脱小人之域，而终为君子之归。庸人稍知佛理者，世必目为善人，此其效也。由是言之，则从佛之言，而以净土为心者，孰谓无益于生前乎？
[They] can gradually depart [from] regions of small persons [i.e. those of little virtue], and [in the] end, with return of noble persons. [If] mediocre persons [are] those [who] slightly know [the] Buddha’s principles, [the] world [will] definitely see [them] as good persons, [with] this [as] their effect. Due [to] this speaking, then [of] those following words of [the] Buddha, and with [reaching] Pure Land as Aspiration, who says [they are] without benefits while living?
【世出世法】
[Worldly (And) World-Transcending Dharma]
或曰：「从孔子之言，而以儒教为心，岂不益于生前？何必净土哉？」
Perhaps saying, ‘Following words of Kǒngzǐ [i.e. Confucius], then with [practice of the] Confucian teachings as aspiration, how can [this] not benefit while living? Why must [there be practice of the] Pure Land [teachings]?’
曰：「此世间法耳，非出世间法。世间法，则不出于轮回；出世间法，则直脱轮回之外。净土既益于生前，又益于身后者，以其兼世间、出世间法故也。」
[I] say, ‘This [is] worldly Dharma only, not world-transcending Dharma. Worldly Dharma, then [does] not [have] exit of rebirth. World-transcending Dharma, then directly departs [to] outside of rebirth. Pure Land [practice], since [with] benefitting of [us] while living, also [with] benefitting of [us] after dying, [they are] with these simultaneously worldly [and] world-transcending Dharma thus.’
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
相关文章
Related Articles:
上篇
Previous Essay:
寄语与人
Sending These Words To The World’s People
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/30/sending-these-words-to-the-worlds-people
下篇
Next Essay:
修者不难，不妨一切俗事
[2] That Cultivation Is Not Difficult And Does Not Obstruct All Mundane Matters
用力甚少，收功不可尽言
Using Energy Extremely Little Yet Receiving Merits That Cannot Be Completely Spoken
https://purelanders.com/2021/10/05/2-that-cultivation-is-not-difficult-and-does-not-obstruct-all-mundane-matters
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
