Translations

[5] The Fifth Principle: Clearly Differentiate From Forged ‘Sūtras’, With Mindfulness Of Buddha Being The Best 第五条原则:明辨伪经,念佛最善

第五条原则:明辨伪经,念佛最善
[5] [The] Fifth Principle: Clearly Differentiate [From] Forged ‘Sūtras’, [With] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha [Being The] Best

念佛之人,不可效愚人做还寿生、寄库等佛事。以还寿生不出佛经,系后人伪造。

Of persons mindful [of the] Buddha, [they] must not imitate foolish persons [by] doing returning [of] lifespan’s living [debts], sending [of] treasuries [and] other [false] ‘Buddhist’ practices [for the deceased]. With returning [of] lifespan’s living [debts], not coming from Buddhist sūtras, [they are] connected [to] later generations’ people, [who] forged [these teachings].

寄库是愿死后做鬼,预先置办做鬼的用度。既有愿做鬼的心,便难往生。

[Doing] sending [of] treasuries is wishing [to], after death, become ghosts, in advance buying [that for] becoming ghosts, [its] ‘expenses’. Since having [the] mind [with the] wish [to] become ghosts, [they are] then difficult [to be] reborn [in Pure Land].

如其未作,则勿作。如其已作,当禀明于佛:「弟子某,唯求往生,前所作寄库之冥资,通以赈济孤魂」,方可不为往生之障。

If these [are] yet [to be] done, thus do not do [them]. If these [were] already done, [there] should [be] reporting [to] explain to [the] Buddha, ‘Disciple [so-and-so], only seek [to be] reborn [in Pure Land, with] that before done, of [the] netherworld’s money [for] sending [of] treasuries, all for relieving [and] aiding lonely spirits’, [if they can be helped], then can [that done] not [be] as obstacles [for] rebirth [in Pure Land].

凡《寿生》、《血盆》、《太阳》、《太阴》、《眼光》、《灶王》、《胎骨》、《分珠》、《妙沙》等经,皆是妄人伪造,切不可念。

All [such as] Lifespan’s Living [Debts], Blood Basin, Great Yáng, Great Yīn, Eyes’ Light, Stove King, Skeletal Bones, Dividing [Of] Beads, Wonderful Sands [and] other [so-called] ‘sūtras’, all were [by] ignorant [and] presumptuous persons forged, [and] must not [be] recited.

愚人不知念大乘经(即《阿弥陀经》、《无量寿经》、《观无量寿佛经》、《心经》、《金刚》、《药师》、《法华》、《楞严》、《华严》、《普贤行愿品》等经),偏信此种瞎造之伪经,必须要还寿生、破地狱、破血湖方可安心。有明理人,为说是伪,亦不肯信。

Foolish persons [do] not know [about] reciting [the] Great Vehicle’s sūtras ([which] are [the] Amitā[bha] Sūtra, Immeasurable Life Sūtra, Sūtra [On] Contemplation [Of] Immeasurable Life Buddha, Heart Sūtra, Vajra [Sūtra], Medicine Master [Sūtra, Wonderful] Dharma [Lotus] Flower [Sūtra], Śūraṅgama [Sūtra], Flower Adornment [Sūtra], Universal Virtue [Bodhisattva’s] Practices [And] Vows’ Chapter [and] other sūtras), one-sidedly believing [in] these kinds [of] blindly created forged scriptures, [thinking there] must [be] returning [of] lifespan’s living [debts], breaking [of] hell, [and] breaking [of] blood lake, then able [to have] peace [of] mind. [When] people [who] understand reason, for [them] say [these] are forged, [they are] also not willing [to] believe [thus].

须知做佛事,唯念佛功德最大。当以还寿生、破地狱、破血湖之钱,请有正念之僧念佛,则利益大矣。

[It] must [be] known [that when] doing Buddhist practices [for the deceased], only recitation [of the] Buddha’s [name has] meritorious virtues [that are the] greatest. [There] should [be], with [the] money for returning [of] lifespan’s living [debts], breaking [of] hell, [and] breaking [of] blood lake, [used for] inviting monastics [who] have right mindfulness [to] recite [the] Buddha’s [name], thus [having] benefits [that are] great.

净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng

《一函遍复》
(One Letter [As A] Common Reply)

Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an

上分
Previous Part:

第四条原则:专修净业,自得心开
The Fourth Principle: With Focused Cultivation Of Pure Karma, By Oneself Attaining Mind’s Awakening

https://purelanders.com/2021/10/11/4-the-fourth-principle

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Next Part:

第六条原则:慈心不杀,戒荤茹素
The Sixth Principle: With The Mind Of Loving-Kindness To Not Kill, Abstain From Meat [And] Eat As Veg(etari)ans

https://purelanders.com/2021/10/12/6-the-sixth-principle

全文
Complete Text:

《一函遍复》
One Letter As A Common Reply

https://purelanders.com/yihan

Please be mindful of your speech, Amituofo!

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