以孝心真诚助念，必得大功效利益
With [The] Filial Mind’s True Sincerity Support-Chanting, Definitely Attains Great Efficacious Benefits
佛法真利益，唯恭敬至诚者，能得其全。其余则随其诚之大小，而各有大小益耳。
[The] Buddha’s Dharma [is with] true benefits, only [with] those [having] reverence [and] utmost sincerity, [who are] able [to] attain them completely. [The] others [are] thus according [to] their greatness [or] smallness of sincerity, then [with] each having great [or] small benefits only.
若只铺张虚华，以图悦人耳目，则或又有亵渎之罪。
If only [having] extravagant, vain [and] flowery [‘rites’], with [these] seeking [to] please [other] persons’ ears [and] eyes, then perhaps also having [the] transgression of slighting [the Dharma].
汝欲超荐父母，实为孝心，又何须问其有功效否？此问，足见汝之信心不真切。
[As] your desire [to have] transcendental deliverance [of your] father [and] mother, [is] truly as [the] filial mind, why [is there] need [to] also ask [if] it has efficacy or not? [With] this asking, [is] enough [to] see [that] your faithful mind [is] not truly sincere.
至诚恳切念佛，念至其极，则能了生脱死，超凡入圣，以至究竟成佛。
[With] utmost sincerity [and] earnestness mindful [of the] Buddha, [with] mindfulness reaching its utmost, then able [to be] liberated [from] birth [and] death, [to] transcend [the] ordinary [and] enter [the] noble, down to ultimately accomplishing Buddhahood.
何况汝以孝心，为已过去之父母念，能不有功效乎？但恐汝心不大真诚，则汝父母所得之益，亦不大超胜耳。
Not to mention [that] you [are] with [the] filial mind, for [your] already passed [away] father [and] mother, [how is this] able [to] not have efficacy? Only fearing [that] your mind [is] without great [and] true sincerity, then [are] those attained benefits of your father [and] mother, likewise also not transcendental [and] supreme.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
《复陈重为居士书》
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
(Reply Letter [To] Layperson Chén Zhòngwèi)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
