净土起信二
Second [Essay For] Arising [Of] Faith [In] Pure Land
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
净土之说,有理有迹。论其理,则见于日用之间而未尝离,前篇所言是也;论其迹,则见于早晨一茶之顷,而不必终日泥,十念法门是也。
Speaking of Pure Land [practice, it] has [that in] principle, [and] has [that with] manifestation. Discussing [on] that principle, then seen among [those with it] in everyday use, and not yet once departing [from it, in the] earlier essay, that said is [thus]. Discussing [on] that manifestation, then seen in [the] short time of [drinking] early morning’s one [cup of] tea, then not needing [to be with] all day mired. [With the] Ten Recitations’ Dharma Door, [it] is [thus].
[Note: The above method is suggested for beginners, for initiating practice. (See Related Article) For those more advanced, there should be more focused practice over longer durations in everyday life, so as to further cultivate the Three Provisions (of Faith, Aspiration and Practice) (信愿行三资粮), meritorious virtues (功德) and wisdom (智慧) for one and all.]
盖修持法门有九品,人人皆可以修。虽罪恶之人,佛亦不弃。回心向善,则为善矣。故此十念法门,人皆可以通行。
Because [the] practice’s Dharma Door has nine grades, everyone can all cultivate [it]. Although [there are] people of transgressions [and] evil, [the] Buddha likewise [will] not abandon [them]. Returning [their] minds towards good, then [are they] as [those] good. Thus, [of] this Ten Recitations’ Dharma Door, people can all go through [it].
譬如久为暗室,一灯照之,则为明矣。故虽杀牛屠马之人,放下屠刀,亦可以修。
For example, [that] long as [a] dark room, [with] one lamp illuminating it, [is] then as bright. Thus, although of persons killing cows [and] slaughtering horses, [if they] put down [their] butcher knives, [they] likewise can cultivate.
所以修者不难,亦不妨一切俗事,故在官不妨职业,在士不妨修读,在商贾不妨贩卖,在农人不妨耕种,在公门不妨事上,在僧徒不妨参禅。凡一切所为,皆不相妨。
Therefore, that cultivation [is] not difficult, also not obstructing all mundane matters. Thus, [for those who] are officials not obstructing [their] duties, [for those who] are scholars not obstructing [their] studies, [for those who] are merchants not obstructing [their] selling, [for those who] are farmers not obstructing [their] tilling [and] planting, [for those who] are government officials not obstructing serving [of their] superiors, [for those who] are masters [and] students not obstructing [their] Chán contemplating. [For] all that done, all [will] not obstruct one another.
故曰其修持工夫,见于早晨一茶之顷耳,遂可以为万万劫不坏之资。人何为而不修乎?
Thus saying its cultivation’s efforts, [can be] seen in [the] short time of [drinking] early morning’s one [cup of] tea only, [which] thereupon can [be] as provisions of ten thousand [of] ten thousand kalpas, [that are] not destructible. Why [are] people yet not cultivating [it]?
今有贩物者,一钱而得两钱之息,则必自喜,以为得息之多矣;行路者,一日而及两日之程,亦必自喜,以为及程之多矣。是于外物小有所得而知其喜也。
Now, [there] are those selling objects, [with] one coin then attaining [the] interest of two coins, [who] then will [be] personally joyful, with [this] as attaining of much interest. Those travelling [on the] road, [in] one day then reaching progress of two days, likewise will [be] personally joyful, with [this] as reaching of much progress. [These] are of external things, having those small gains, yet knowing such joy.
或两钱而得一钱之价,必忧之,以为丧本;两日而及一日之程,亦必忧之,以为费日。是于外物小有所失而知其忧也。
Perhaps [with] two coins then attaining [the] value of one coin, [they] will [be] sad then, with [this] as losing capital. [Those in] two days then reaching progress of one day, likewise will [be] sad then, with [this] as wasting [one] day. [These] are of external things, having those small losses, yet knowing such sadness.
何于吾身之光阴有限,则汩没以过,其失大矣,而不以为忧?于净土之因缘难遇,幸而知之,其得大矣,而不以为喜?是徒见小得小失而知忧喜,及得失之大者,则不能知。何不思之甚也?
Why [are we with] our bodies’ time having limits, then [to be] buried because of passing, [with] this loss [being] great, yet not with [this] sad? Of [the] Pure Land [practice’s] cause [and] conditions, [which are] difficult [to] meet, [with those] fortunate then knowing them, [with] this gain [being] great, yet not with [this] as joy? [This] is only [with] seeing small gains [and] small losses then sad [and] joyful, and of great gains [and] losses, then not able [to] know [them]. Why not [have] contemplation of why [this is so]?
况不费时刻,用力甚少,而收功有不可尽言者,人何为而不修乎?此时不修,可痛惜哉!可痛惜哉!
Moreover, not spending [much] time, [and] using energy extremely little, yet receiving merits, having those [which] cannot [be] completely spoken, why [are] people yet not cultivating [it]? [In] this moment not cultivating, how painful [and] regrettable, how painful [and] regrettable!
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 Article:
十念记数法与晨朝十念法
The Method Of Ten Recitations With Counting & The Method Of Early Morning’s Ten Recitations
https://purelanders.com/2019/08/31/the-method-of-ten-recitations-with-counting-n-the-method-of-early-mornings-ten-recitations
上篇
Previous Essay:
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
https://purelanders.com/2021/10/05/1-the-pure-land-practice-benefits-while-living-and-after-dying
下篇
Next Essay:
佛所言不可目前不见而不信
[3] That The Buddha Said Cannot Be Presently Not Seen Then Not Believed
https://purelanders.com/2021/10/04/3-that-the-buddha-said-cannot-be-presently-not-seen-then-not-believed
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
