切记偈
Verses That Must Be Remembered
今世已忘前世事，
何望来世记今世？
所学忘尽如未学，
何不生西记诸世？
In this present life, already having forgotten past lives’ matters, why expect, in your future life, to remember this present life? With that learnt forgotten completely then, like those yet to learn, why not be born in the Western Pure Land, to remember all lives?
即是不记而轮回，
生生世世苦海湿。
若欲快登涅槃岸，
信愿念佛必实施。
It is exactly due to not remembering, then reborn, life after life in suffering’s ocean soaking wet. If desiring to swiftly ascend Nirvāṇa’s shore, with Faith and Aspiration being mindful of the Buddha, this must be truly practised.
弥陀净愿已成就，
生西皆得宿命通。
记诸世事已学法，
最速续学证圆通。
With Āmítuófó’s Pure Land and great vows already accomplished, those born in his Western Pure Land will all attain past lives’ knowledge. Remembering all lives’ matters, and the Dharma already learnt, to most quickly continue learning, to realise perfect penetration.
