普劝修持八
[8] Eighth Universal Encouragement [Of] Practice
【且若人苦饥者与之一食…】
[Moreover, If (A) Person (For One) Suffering (From) Hunger, Gives Him One Meal…]
且若人苦饥者与之一食，苦寒者与之一衣，已为大惠。况彼沉沦六道，无有出期，我指示以此法门，使直脱轮回，受无穷无极之寿乐，其惠岂可穷尽哉！
Moreover, if [a] person [for one] suffering [from] hunger, gives him one meal, [for one] suffering [from] cold, gives him one [piece of] clothing, [this] already is great kindness. Moreover [for] those sunken [in the] six paths, without having [an] exit date, [if] I point out with this Dharma door, [to] cause [them to be] directly liberated [from] rebirth, [to] receive endless [and] boundless life [and] bliss, how can this kindness [have a] complete end?
《金刚经》云：「若人以恒河沙等身布施，如是无量百千万亿劫，不如有人闻此经典，信心不逆，其福胜彼。」
[The] Vajra Sūtra says, ‘If [a] person with [the] Ganges River’s sands’ equal [number of] bodies give, thus [for] immeasurable thousand million koṭis [of] kalpas, [this is] not equal [to] [i.e. not as good as] having [a] person hearing this sūtra, [with the] faithful mind not going against [it, as] these blessings surpass [the] other.’
盖以身布施者，不免受世间福报，有时而尽；若信此经典，则有悟真性之渐，其为福则无时而尽，所以胜于彼也。
Because those with [their] bodies giving, cannot avoid receiving [of] worldly blessed rewards, having times [when they] then exhaust. If believing this sūtra, then having gradual awakening of true nature, [with] this as blessings, thus without times [when they] then exhaust, therefore [with] surpassing of the other.
以予观之，岂唯信《金刚经》者如此，若劝人以净土，其福报亦然。何则？
With my contemplation of [this], how [can there] only [be] those believing [the] Vajra Sūtra [who are] like this? If encouraging people [to be] with Pure Land [practice], these blessed rewards [are] likewise thus. Why thus?
净土更无轮回，已不退转，直至成佛而后已。生于彼者，虽未成佛，乃成佛之阶梯。
[The] Pure Land [is] further without rebirth, already [with] non-retrogression, directly until accomplishing [of] Buddhahood. Those born in that [land], although yet [to] accomplish Buddhahood, [are] thus [on the] ladder of accomplishing Buddhahood.
是劝一人修净土，乃成就一众生作佛也。凡作佛者，必度无量之众生。彼所度之众生，皆由我而始。
This encouragement [of] one person [to] cultivate Pure Land [practice, is] then [to] accomplish one sentient being [to] become [a] Buddha too. All those [who] become Buddhas, [will] definitely deliver immeasurable sentient beings [too].
则其福报，岂不胜于以恒河沙等身布施无量百千万亿劫乎？
Their delivering of those sentient beings, all from me, then began. Then, [of] these blessed rewards, how [can they] not surpass [those] with [the] Ganges’ River’s sands’ equal [number of] bodies giving [for] immeasurable thousand million koṭis [of] kalpas?
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 by Shen Shi’an
相关文章
Related Articles:
上篇
Previous Essay:
普劝修持七：【予为此净土说…】
[7] Seventh Universal Encouragement Of Practice: [I, For This Pure Land Dharma Door Speaking…]
https://purelanders.com/2021/12/22/7-seventh-universal-encouragement-of-practice/
下篇
Next Essay:
普劝修持九：【凡受师友之训诲…】
[9] Ninth Universal Encouragement Of Practice: [All Who Received The Instructions Of Teachers And Friends…]
https://purelanders.com/2021/12/22/9-ninth-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
