不念佛即念九界
[4] Not [Being] Mindful [Of The] Buddha Is [To Be] Mindful [Of The] Nine Realms
念佛法门，其来尚矣。
[Of the] Dharma Door [Of] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, it [has] come [to us from] long ago.
以吾人一念心性，犹如虚空，常恒不变。虽常不变，而复念念随缘。
With our one thought’s mind-nature, [it is] just like empty space, constantly eternal [and] unchanging. Although constant [and] unchanging, yet repeatedly [from] thought [to] thought, according [with] conditions.
不随佛界之缘，便随九界之缘。
[If] not according [with] conditions of [the] Buddhas’ realm, then according [with] conditions of [the] nine realms.
[Note 1: The nine dharma realms (九法界) are listed at Note 1 of https://purelanders.com/2022/03/19/1-the-one-vehicles-unsurpassable-great-teaching.]
不随三乘之缘，便随六道之缘。
[If] not according [with] conditions of [the] Three Vehicles, then according [with] conditions of [the] six paths.
[Note 2: The Three Vehicles (三乘) are listed at Note 8 of https://purelanders.com/2022/03/19/1-the-one-vehicles-unsurpassable-great-teaching. The six paths (六道) are listed at Note 3 of https://purelanders.com/2022/03/30/great-master-yinguangs-brief-explanation-of-the-praises-of-the-six-thus-buddhas.]
不随人天之缘，便随三途之缘。
[If] not according [with] conditions of human [and] heavenly [beings], then according [with] conditions of [the] three realms.
[Note 3: The three realms (三途) are listed at Note 3 of https://purelanders.com/2022/03/30/great-master-yinguangs-brief-explanation-of-the-praises-of-the-six-thus-buddhas.]
由其缘之染净不同，致其报之苦乐迥异。
Due [to] their conditions of defilements [and] purity not [being the] same, leading to their retribution [and reward] of suffering [and] joy [being] totally different.
虽于本体了无改变，而其相用固已天渊悬殊矣。
Although with [the] original essence completely without change, yet its [different] forms [and] functions [are] certainly already [like the] wide gap [between the] sky [and a deep] abyss.
譬如虚空，日照则明，云屯则暗。虽虚空之本体，不因云日而为增减，而有显现障蔽之相，固不可以同年而语也。
For example, like [the] empty sky, [with the] sun illuminating then bright, [with] clouds gathering then dark. Although [with the] original essence of empty space, not because [of] clouds [and the] sun, then with increase [and] decrease, yet having [many] forms of appearance [and] obstruction, [that] certainly cannot [be in the] same year then spoken.
如来以是义故，普令众生缘念于佛。故曰：「若众生心，忆佛念佛，现前当来，必定见佛，去佛不远。」
[The] Thus Come [One], with this meaning thus, universally enable sentient beings [to have the] condition [to be] mindful of Buddha. Thus saying, ‘If sentient beings’ minds, recollect [Amitābha] Buddha, [or are] mindful [of the] Buddha[‘s name: “Āmítuófó” (阿弥陀佛)], manifesting [in the] present [or in the] future, [they] will definitely see [the] Buddha, [with the] Buddha not far away.’
[Note 4: The above quote is from the ‘Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha’《大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》at https://purelanders.com/yuantong.]
又曰：「诸佛如来，是法界身，入一切众生心想中。是故汝等心想佛时，此心即是三十二相，八十随形好。是心作佛，是心是佛。诸佛正遍知海，从心想生。」
Also saying, ‘All Buddha Thus Come [Ones], are [the] Dharma Realm’s Body, [who] enter all sentient beings’ minds’ thoughts within. Therefore, when you [and] others [have] minds [with] thoughts [of the] Buddha, this mind is the same as [his] thirty-two forms, [and] eighty appearance-following excellences. [It] is [the] mind [that] becomes Buddha, [and it] is [the] mind [that] is Buddha. All Buddhas’ right all-knowing ocean, from [the] mind’s thought arises.’
[Note 5: The above quote is from the ‘Contemplation Sūtra’《观经》at https://purelanders.com/guanjing.]
夫随佛界之缘，则「是心作佛，是心是佛」矣。
Those according [with] conditions of [the] Buddha’s realm, [are] then [with, ‘It] is [the] mind [that] becomes Buddha, [and it] is [the] mind [that] is Buddha.’
若随众生各界之缘，则「是心作众生，是心是众生」矣。了此而不念佛者，未之有也。
If according [with] conditions of sentient beings’ each realm, [they are] then [with, ‘It] is [the] mind [that] becomes [a] sentient being, [and it] is [the] mind [that] is [a] sentient being.’ Of those understanding this, yet not mindful [of the] Buddha, [there is] yet [to] be [any of them].
念佛一法，乃以如来万德洪名为缘。即此万德洪名，乃如来果地所证之无上觉道。
[This] one Dharma [Door Of] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, [is] thus with [the] Thus Come [One’s] ten thousand virtues’ great name as condition. Then [with] this ten thousand virtues’ great name, [it is] thus [for] that realisation [of the] unsurpassable awakening path, of [the] Thus Come [One’s] fruit’s ground.
由其以果地觉，为因地心，故得因该果海，果彻因源。「如染香人，身有香气。」
Due [to] this, with [the] fruit’s ground’s awakening, as [the] causal ground’s mind, thus attaining [that with the] cause possessing [the] effect’s ocean, [and the] effect pervading [the] cause’s source. ‘Like persons perfumed [by] incense, [whose] bodies have fragrance.’
[Note 6: The above quote is from the ‘Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha’《大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》at https://purelanders.com/yuantong.]
如蜾蠃之祝螟蛉，久则化之。即生作佛，转凡成圣，其功能力用，超过一代时教一切法门之上。
Like [a] wasp that ‘prays’ [over a] green ‘worm’ [and vice versa, over a] ‘long’ [time], then [with the latter] transforming [to] it. [In this] immediate life becoming Buddhas, transforming [the] ordinary [to] accomplish [the] noble, its capability, power [and] function transcend, [to be] above that [of] one lifetime’s teachings’ all Dharma Doors.
以一切法门，皆仗自力，断惑证真，方得了生脱死。念佛法门，自力、佛力，二皆具足。
With all Dharma Doors, all rely [on] Self-power, [to] sever confusions [and] realise [the] true, then attaining liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death. [The] Dharma Door [Of] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, [is with] Self-power, [and] Other-power, [with these] two all complete.
故得已断惑业者，速证法身。具足惑业者，带业往生。其法极其平常，虽愚夫愚妇，亦能得其利益。
Thus, those [who have] already attained severance [of] confusions [and evil] karma, [will] quickly realise [the] Dharma Body. Those complete [with] confusions [and evil] karma, [can] carry [their] karma [to be] reborn [in the Pure Land]. This Dharma [Door is] extremely common. Although [as] foolish men [and] foolish women, [they are] also able [to] attain its benefits.
而复极其玄妙，纵等觉菩萨，不能出其范围。故无一人不堪修，亦无一人不能修。
Yet again, extremely profound [and] wonderful, even if [there are] Equally Awakened Bodhisattvas, [they are] not able [to] exceed [its] scope. Thus without one person [who] cannot cultivate [it], also without one person not able [to] cultivate [it].
下手易而成功高，用力少而得效速。实为如来一代时教中之特别法门，固不可以通途教理而为论判也。
[With] starting [of practice] easy, yet [with] success high, [with] exerting [of] efforts little, yet [with] attaining [of] results fast. Truly as [the] Thus Come [One’s] one lifetime’s teachings within, its Special Dharma Door, [it] definitely cannot [be] with common teachings’ principles, then for discussing [and] classifying [it].
末法众生，福薄慧浅，障厚业深。不修此法，欲仗自力断惑证真，以了生死，则万难万难。
[This] Dharma-Ending [Age’s] sentient beings, [are with] blessings thin [and] wisdom shallow. [If] not cultivating this Dharma [Door], desiring [to] rely [on] Self-power [to] sever confusions [and] realise [the] true, for liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, [this is] then [with] ten thousand difficulties [of] ten thousand difficulties.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师文钞》（正编）：栖真常住长年念佛序；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Preface [For] ‘Qīzhēn [Monastery’s] Long-Term Residents’ Yearlong Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第四则）：一、赞净土超胜（第四则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (1st Short Section): 1st [Chapter]: Praise [Of The] Pure Land [Dharma Door Being] Transcendental [And] Supreme (2nd Short Section)
[Ref: #4 / 1.4]
Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关典籍
Related Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
https://purelanders.com/jinghualu
