普劝修持七
[7] Seventh Universal Encouragement [Of] Practice
【予为此净土说…】
[I, For This Pure Land (Dharma Door) Speaking…]
予为此净土说，欲劝一切见者闻者，广大其心，以佛之心为心，使人人知之而尽生净土。
I, for this Pure Land [Dharma door] speaking, desire [to] encourage all those [who] see, [and] those [who] hear [this, to have] vastness [and] greatness [of] their minds, with [the] mind [of the] Buddhas as [their] minds, [to] cause everyone [to] know it, then [with] all born [in the] Pure Land.
[Note 1: This vastness and greatness is with expanding or all-encompassing compassion, wisdom and skilful means, to guide more or all towards the swiftest path to Buddhahood.]
当起念云：「此法门人若知之，如己知之，岂不快哉；人若不知，如己不知，岂不痛哉！」
[They] should give rise [to] thought in this way, ‘[Of] this Dharma door, people, if knowing it, like oneself knowing it, how [is this] not joyful? People, if not knowing [it], like oneself not knowing [it], how [is this] not painful?’
[Note 2: It can be said that if one is not yet joyful with the Pure Land Dharma door, one has yet to truly know its great value, with the knowing of which, with empathy, one will surely share it with others, who have yet to know it.]
若止于自修，则是声闻之徒，名为小乘；盖如车乘之小者，仅能自济而已，此佛所谓「断佛种者」也。能广劝人者，名为大乘菩萨；盖如车乘之大者，人我兼济之。
If [they] stop at self-cultivation, then are [they] disciples of Voice-Hearers, named as [those of the] Small Vehicle. Because like those [with] carriages used [being] small, [they are] only able [to] self-cross [over], these [are who the] Buddha so-called [as] ‘those severing Buddha[hood’s] seed’ too. Those able [to] widely encourage people, [are] named as [the] Great Vehicle’s Bodhisattvas. Because like those [with] carriages used [being] great, [they are able to carry] others [and] oneself, simultaneously crossing them [over].
[Note 3: It can be said that those accept the Pure Land Dharma door, are those most assuredly nurturing or ‘reviving’ Buddhahood’s seed.]
谓此获无量福报，所以能至佛地也。十方恒河沙数诸佛皆共赞叹阿弥陀佛功德不可思议，谓不可以心思、不可以言议也。其功德如此，可谓至矣，何所施而不可。
Speaking [of] this [Dharma door] obtains immeasurable blessed rewards, therefore able [to] reach [the] Buddha’s ground too. [The] ten directions’ Ganges’ sands’ number [of] all Buddhas all together highly praise Āmítuófó’s meritorious virtues’ inconceivability, [which is] called [that which] cannot with [the] mind [be] pondered, [which] cannot with words [be] discussed too. [As] his meritorious virtues [are] like these, [that] can [be] called utmost, how can that given [Dharma door] then, not [be too]?
[Note 4: With immeasurable blessed rewards fully utilised in Pure Land for realising immeasurable wisdom, Buddhahood will be swiftly attained.]
故能劝一人修净土，以此善缘消释罪恶可也，增崇福寿可也，庄严往生功德亦可也，追荐亡者亦可也。
Thus able [to] encourage one person [to] cultivate Pure Land [practice], with this good condition clearing up transgressions [and] evils [is] also possible, increasing blessings [and] longevity [is] also possible, adorning rebirth’s meritorious virtues [is] likewise also possible, delivering those deceased [is] likewise also possible.
[Note 5: As the meritorious virtues from encouraging others to reach Pure Land are so abundant, they can have many functions, such as the above.]
然必至诚发心，无不获其功果。
However, [there] must [be] utmost sincerity given rise [in the] mind, [with which it is] without [those] not obtaining its meritorious fruits.
[Note 6: For meritorious virtues to be created in the way above, there must be personal utmost sincere Aspiration to reach Pure Land, while encouraging others to have the same utmost sincere Aspiration too.]
观《房翥传》，可见其略矣。
Looking at ‘Fáng Zhù’s Biography’, it can [be] seen briefly.
[Note 7: See the case of ‘Táng Dynasty’s Fáng Zhù (唐房翥) at https://purelanders.com/2019/07/how-encouraging-others-reach-of-pure-land-supports-our-reach-too.]
况劝一人以上，至五人、十人乎？又况使其受劝者转以相劝、递相继续而不已乎？如是则西方之说可遍天下，苦海众生可尽生净土矣。
Moreover, [if] encouraging one person and above, until five persons, [to] ten persons? Also, moreover, if those [who] receive encouragement, in turn with [it], encourage one another, [and] pass [it], one after another, continually [and] endlessly? Thus then, speak of [the] Western [Pure Land] can pervade [the] world. [With this, the] suffering ocean’s sentient beings can [be] all born [in the] Pure Land.
[Note 8: If more and more are encouraged to reach Pure Land, who in turn encourage more and more to do so too, there will be immeasurable meritorious virtues created. The swiftest way to guide all beings to depart from the suffering of rebirth, and to attain the bliss of Buddhahood, is by encouraging them to reach Pure Land.]
劝人善道，名为法施。此净土法门，为法施之大者。遂超出轮回，非其他法施之比，故其福报不可穷尽。
Encouraging people [to walk the] good path, [is] named as [giving a] Dharma gift. This Pure Land Dharma door, as [a] Dharma gift, is that greatest. [With the] following [of which], transcending [to] exit rebirth, [as] no other Dharma gift [is with] it comparable, thus [are] its blessed rewards [those that] cannot [have a] completed end.
[Note 9: As the Buddha taught, Dharma-giving is the unsurpassable giving (法施为无上施). This is while Pure Land Dharma-giving is the most unsurpassable of all kinds of Dharma teachings that can be given, as with the reaching of Pure Land, there will be immediate attainment of liberation, and swiftest attainment of the ability to guide all others to liberation too.]
故大慈菩萨《劝修西方偈》云：
「能劝二人修，
「比自己精进。
「劝至十余人，
「福德已无量。
Thus [did] Great Loving-Kindness [i.e. Dàcí] Bodhisattva [in the] ‘Verse [For] Encouragement [Of] Cultivation [To Reach The] Western [Pure Land]’ say,
‘[If] able [to] encourage two persons [to] cultivate,
[this is] more [than being] personally diligent.
Encouraging until ten [or] more persons,
[the] blessed virtues [are] already immeasurable.
[Note 10: If one encourages another person to cultivate diligently to reach Pure Land, one must also be motivated to cultivate diligently. Thus, together with oneself, there will be two persons encouraged to cultivate diligently, which is more than just oneself being diligent.]
「如劝百与千，
「名为真菩萨。
「又能过万数，
「即是阿弥陀。」
If encouraging [a] hundred and thousand [people,
one is] named as [a] true Bodhisattva.
Also able [to] surpass ten thousand [in] number,
then is [this like] Āmítuófó [阿弥陀佛: Amitā(bha) Buddha].’
[Note 11: If one encourages many to reach Pure Land, one is functioning like a Bodhisattva. If encouraging more than ten thousand, one is functioning somewhat like a ‘manifestation’ of Āmítuófó, to greatly assist his efforts of gathering sentient beings to enter his Pure Land.]
观此则知西方之说者，岂可不广大其心，而使人人共知此道，以积无量福报乎？
Contemplating this, then knowing [that of] those [who] speak of [the] Western [Pure Land], how can [they] not [be with] vastness [and] greatness [of] their minds, then causing everyone [to] together know this path, with [it] accumulating immeasurable blessed rewards?
[Note 12: As those who encourage many to reach Pure Land must have much compassion, wisdom and skilful means, to guide many towards the swiftest path to Buddhahood, they will surely accumulate immeasurable meritorious virtues. Their encouragement of many also enables them to accumulate immeasurable meritorious virtues, and to encourage more to do the same.]
宋‧王日休
《龙舒净土文》
第三卷：普劝修持九篇
Sòng [Dynasty’s] Wáng Rìxiū
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
Third Scroll: Nine Essays [On] Universal Encouragement [Of] Practice
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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上篇
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普劝修持六：【下品下生者…】
[6] Sixth Universal Encouragement Of Practice: [Those Of The Low Grade’s Low Birth…]
https://purelanders.com/2021/12/22/6-sixth-universal-encouragement/
下篇
Next Essay:
普劝修持八：【且若人苦饥者与之一食…】
[8] Eighth Universal Encouragement Of Practice: [Moreover, If A Person For One Suffering From Hunger, Gives Him One Meal…]
https://purelanders.com/2021/12/22/8-eighth-universal-encouragement-of-practice/
九篇
Nine Essays:
《龙舒净土文》
第三卷：普劝修持九篇
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
[3] Third Scroll: Nine Essays On Universal Encouragement Of Practice
https://purelanders.com/longshu3
