净土法门，用力少而成功易
[The] Pure Land Dharma Door, [Is With] Exerting [Of] Efforts Little, Yet [With] Success Easy
净土法门，契理契机，用力少而成功易，如风帆扬于顺水，以仗佛力故也。
[The] Pure Land Dharma Door, accords [with] principles [and] accords [with all spiritual] capacities, [with] exerting [of] efforts little, yet [with] success easy, like [having the] wind [in the] sails hoisted in smooth water, [this is] with relying [on the] Buddha’s power thus.
其他各宗，用力多而成功难，如蚁子上于高山，全凭自力故也。
Each other [Buddhist] tradition, [is with] exerting [of] efforts much, yet [with] success difficult, like [an] ant’s ascending of [a] high mountain, [this is with] completely relying [on] Self-power thus.
等觉菩萨，欲圆满佛果，尚须求生西方。
Equal Awakening Bodhisattvas, desiring [to] perfect [the] Buddha fruit, still must seek birth [in the] Western [Pure Land].
何况我等凡夫，业根深重，不致力于此，是捨易而求难，惑之甚矣。
Furthermore, [of] myself [and] other ordinary beings, [with evil] karmic roots deep [and] heavy, [if] not devoting efforts on this, is [to] abandon [the] easy, yet seeking [the] difficult, [with] confusions that [are] extreme.
且今世杀人之具，日新月异，若飞机大炮，毒气死光等，山河不能阻，坚物不克御，我等血肉之躯，何能当此？
Moreover, nowadays, [with the] instruments of killing people, daily [with that] new [and] monthly [with that] different, like planes [and] big cannons, poisonous gases, death rays [and] others, [that] mountains [and] rivers [are] not able [to] obstruct, [that] hard objects cannot restrain [and] resist, of [the] bodies of myself [and] others [with] blood [and] flesh, how [are they] able [to] match these?
无常一到，万事皆休
[With] Impermanence Once Arriving, Ten Thousand Matters All [Have To] Stop
而人生朝露，无常一到，万事皆休。
And [this] human life, [is like] morning dew, [with] impermanence once arriving, [its] ten thousand matters all [have to] stop.
是以欲求离苦得乐者，当及时努力念佛，求佛加被，临终往生。
Those, [if] are with [the] desire [to] seek departure [from] suffering, [and to] attain bliss, should promptly strive hard [to] recite [the] Buddha[‘s name] [i.e. Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛], [to] seek [the] Buddha’s blessings, [when] approaching [life’s] end, [with] rebirth [in his Pure Land].
一登彼土，永不退转，华开见佛，得证无生，方不辜负得闻此法而信受也。
Once ascending that land, forever not retrogressing, [with the lotus] flower blossoming, [and] seeing [the] Buddha, [for] attaining realisation [of] non-birth, then [is this] not letting down [having] attained listened [to] this Dharma, then [having] faithfully accepted [it].
唯愿大众精进行持，是所至祷。
Only wishing [the] great assembly [to be] diligent [in] practice, [this] is that [which I with] utmost sincerity request.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《上海护国息灾法会法语》
(Shànghǎi Dharma Assembly [For] Protection [Of The] Country [And] Cessation [Of] Disasters’ Dharma Words)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
