Translations

[8] With Only This One Thought Of Āmítuófó 只此一念阿弥陀佛 The Manifested Buddha Coming And Welcoming 化佛来迎

化佛来迎
[8] [The] Manifested Buddha Coming [And] Welcoming

《宗镜录》或问曰:「心外无佛,见佛是心。云何教中说有化佛来迎,生诸净土?」

[In the] ‘Record [Of The] Essential Mirror’, [is a] question [that] asked, ‘[As the] mind outside [is] without [the] Buddha, seeing [the] Buddha is [seeing the] mind. Why [do the] teachings within speak [of] having [a] manifested Buddha coming [and] welcoming, [for] birth in all Pure Lands?’

答曰:「法身真佛本无生灭,从真起化,接引迷根,以化即真,真应一际,即不来不去,随应物心。」

To reply, ‘[The] Dharma Body’s true Buddha [is] originally without arising [and] ceasing, from [that] true arising [with the] manifested, [to] receive [and] guide [those with] confusions’ roots, with [the] manifested then true, truly responding [in] one moment, then not coming [and] not going, accordingly responding [to] living beings’ minds.

又,化体即真,说无来去,从真流化,现有往还,即不来相而来、不见相而见也。不来而来,似月之顿呈;不见而见,犹行云之忽现。」

Also, [with the] manifested body then true, [it is] said [to be] without coming [and] going. From [the] true flowing [with the] manifested, appearing [to] have departing [and] returning, [it is] then without coming [of] form then coming, without seeing [of] form then seen too. Without coming yet coming, [it] is like [the] moon that suddenly shows. Without seeing yet seen, just like clouds that suddenly appear.’

问:「如上所说,真体即湛然不动,化相即不来而来,正是心外有他佛来迎,云何证自心是佛?」

Asking, ‘Like [the] above, [of] that said, [the] true body [is] then peaceful [and] unmoving, [with the] manifested form then without coming yet coming, [as this] precisely is [with the] mind outside having “another” Buddha coming [and] welcoming, how [can there be] realisation [that] one’s mind is [the] Buddha?’

答曰:「此乃是如来本愿功德力故,令彼有缘众生专心想念,能令自心见佛来迎,不是诸佛实遣化身而来迎接。但是有缘,时机正合,能令自心见佛来迎,则佛身湛然常寂,无去无来;众生识心托佛本愿力,一念变化,有去有来。

To reply, ‘This then is [with the] Thus Come [One’s] fundamental vows’ meritorious virtues thus, [that] cause those sentient beings [who] have affinity, [and] focus [their] minds’ thoughts, [to be] able [to] cause [their] own minds [to] see [the] Buddha coming [and] welcoming, not [that] all Buddhas truly send manifestation bodies, then coming [and] welcoming [to] guide. [This] only is [with those] having affinity, timing [and] opportunity exactly agreeable, [then] able [to] cause [their] own minds [to] see [the] Buddha coming [and] welcoming. Thus [is the] Buddha’s body peaceful [and] constantly still, without going [and] without coming. [With] sentient beings’ conscious minds relying on [the] Buddha’s fundamental vows’ power, [in] one thought changing [and] manifesting, having going [and] having coming.

如镜面像,似梦施为。镜中之形非内非外,梦中之事不有不无。但是心生,非关佛化。

Like [a] mirror face reflecting, like [in a] dream doing action. Of forms within [a] mirror, [they are] not inside [and] not outside, of matters [in a] dream, [it does] not have [them, and are] not without [them]. Only having [the] mind arising, not involving [the] Buddha’s manifestation.

[只此一念阿弥陀佛]
[With Only This One Thought Of Āmítuófó]

真信修行之士端的是要生西方极乐世界,专意一念持一句阿弥陀佛。

Of those [with] true Faith cultivating practice, [who] really are [those who] want [to be] born [in the] Western [Pure] Land [Of] Ultimate Bliss, [they should] focus [their] minds [in each] one thought [on] upholding [the] one line [of] “Āmítuófó”.

只此一念是我本师,

Only this one thought is my Fundamental Teacher,

只此一念即是化佛,

only this one thought is the same as [the] manifested Buddha,

只此一念是破地狱之猛将,

only this one thought is [the] valiant general who breaks [free from the] hells,

只此一念是斩群邪之宝剑,

only this one thought is [the] treasure sword that severs [from] demonic hordes,

只此一念是开黑暗之明灯,

only this one thought is [the] bright lamp that clears darkness,

只此一念是度苦海之大船,

only this one thought is [the] great ship that delivers [from the] suffering ocean,

只此一念是脱生死之良方,

only this one thought is [the] good medicine that liberates [from the cycle of] birth [and] death,

只此一念是出三界之径路,

only this one thought is [the] direct path that exits [from the] three realms [of desire, form and formlessness],

只此一念是本性弥陀,

only this one thought is original nature’s Āmítuófó [that connects to the actual Āmítuófó],

只此一念达唯心净土。

only this one thought reaches [the] mind-only Pure Land [of Āmítuófó, that is material too].

但只要记得这一句阿弥陀佛在念,莫教失落,

Only needing [to] remember this one line [of] “Āmítuófó” in mindfulness, not causing [it to be] lost,

念念常现前,念念不离心,

[from] thought [to] thought constantly manifesting [in the] present, [from] thought [to] thought not leaving [the] mind,

无事也如是念,有事也如是念,

without matters [occupied] also thus mindful, with matters [occupied] also thus mindful,

安乐也如是念,病苦也如是念,

[with] peace [and] bliss also thus mindful, [with] sickness [and] suffering also thus mindful,

生也如是念,死也如是念,

[when] living also thus mindful, [when] dying also thus mindful,

如是一念分明不昧,又何必问人觅归程乎?

thus [with each] one thought distinct [and] clear, not forgotten, why again ask people [for] seeking [the] homeward journey, [to return to our Buddha-nature in Pure Land]?

可谓行船尽在把梢人,达者同游涅槃路。」

[This] can [be] called sailing [on a] ship, [that] completely depends [on the] person handling [the] rudder, [with] those reaching, together travelling [on] Nirvāṇa’s path.’

净土宗六祖永明大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 6th Patriarch Great Master Yǒngmíng
《庐山莲宗宝鉴》:念佛往生正诀卷第八:化佛来迎
Lúshān’s Lotus Tradition’s Treasure Mirror: Eighth Scroll [On] Right Tips [On] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha [For] Rebirth: [The] Manifested Buddha Coming [And] Welcoming
优昙普度大师编
[By] Great Master Yōután Pǔdù Compiled

Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an

Please be mindful of your speech, Amituofo!

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