智者不藐视念佛
[7] Wise Ones Do Not Look Down [On] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha
夫释迦、弥陀，于往劫中，发大誓愿，度脱众生。
Those, [such as] Śākyamuni [Buddha and] Amitābha [Buddha], within past kalpas, gave rise [to] great vows, [to] deliver [and] liberate sentient beings.
一则示生秽土，以秽以苦折伏而发遣。
[With] one then manifesting birth [in this] defiled land, with defilements [and] with suffering subdued, then sending [them] off.
[Note 1: This generally refers to Śākyamuni Buddha, who ‘sends off’ beings to Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land, by teaching them how to reach it. However, Amitābha Buddha has manifestation bodies (化身) in this defiled land to teach and guide beings to his Pure Land too.]
一则安居净土，以净以乐摄受而均陶。
[With] one then peacefully abiding [in] Pure Land, with purity [and] with bliss gathering [and] receiving, then equally training [them].
[Note 2: This generally refers to Amitābha Buddha, whose Reward Body (报身) is in his Pure Land. However, Śākyamuni Buddha has his Reward Body in his (lesser known) Unsurpassable Pure Land (无胜净土), training beings there too.]
[Note 3: The functions of sending off and gathering are reflected in detail in the Parable Of Two Rivers And The White Path: https://purelanders.com/2009/11/10/the-parable-of-the-white-path.]
汝只知愚夫愚妇，亦能念佛，遂至藐视净土。
You only know foolish men [and] foolish women, [who are] also able [to be] mindful [of the] Buddha, thereupon arriving [to] look down [on] Pure Land [practice].
[Note 4: This refers to those without enough knowledge that those who are wise also practise mindfulness of Buddha, such as those below.]
何不观《华严·入法界品》，善财于证齐诸佛之后，普贤菩萨，乃教以发十大愿王，回向往生西方极乐世界，以期圆满佛果，且以此普劝华藏海众乎？
Why not contemplate [that in the] Flower Adornment [Sūtra’s] Entering [Of The] Dharma Realm’s Chapter, [the youth] Good Wealth, for realising [that] equal [with] all Buddhas later, Universal Virtue Bodhisattva, thus taught [him] to give rise [to the] Ten Great Vows’ King, [to] dedicate [for] rebirth [in the] Western [Pure] Land [Of] Ultimate Bliss, in order [to] perfect [and] complete [the] Buddha fruit, moreover with this, universally encouraging [the] Flower Treasury ocean[-wide] assembly [too]?
[Note 5: For the Ten Great Vows’ King, see https://purelanders.com/xingyuan.]
夫华藏海众，无一凡夫、二乘，乃四十一位法身大士，同破无明，同证法性，悉能乘本愿轮，于无佛世界，现身作佛。
Those [in the] Flower Treasury’s ocean-wide assembly, [are] without one ordinary being, [or those of the] Two Vehicles, thus [with the] forty-one positions’ Dharma Body’s Great Beings, similarly [having] broken [from] ignorance, similarly [having] realised Dharma-nature, all able [to] ride [on their] fundamental vows’ wheels, in worlds without Buddhas, appearing [with] bodies [to] become Buddhas.
[Note 6: The forty-one positions’ Dharma Body’s Great Beings (四十一位法身大士) are the highest Bodhisattvas, of the Ten Abodes (十住), Ten Practices (十行), Ten Dedications (十回向), Ten Grounds (十地) and Equal Awakening (等觉), with the last just before Buddhahood.]
又华藏海中，净土无量，而必回向往生西方极乐世界者，可知往生极乐，乃出苦之玄门，成佛之捷径也。
Also, within [the] Flower Treasury’s ocean, [with] Pure Lands immeasurable, yet, [as there] must [be] dedication [for] rebirth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss, [it] can [be] known [that] rebirth [in the Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss, [is] thus [the] profound door of exiting [from] suffering, [the] shortcut of accomplishing Buddhahood too.
[Note 7: This is so as the Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss is the easiest Pure Land to enter, through which all other Pure Lands can be accessed, thus expediting progress to Buddhahood most swiftly. This universal dedication practice is reflected in Universal Virtue Bodhisattva’s Tenth Great Vow: https://purelanders.com/2020/05/31/10-the-tenth-great-vow-universally-dedicating-of-universal-virtues-practices-and-vows-chapter.]
以故自古迄今，所有禅教律丛林，无不朝暮持佛名号，求生西方也。
Therefore, since ancient times until now, all Chán, Teachings’ [and] Vinaya monasteries, [are] without [those] not [in the] morning [and] evening upholding [the] Buddha’s name, seeking birth [in the] Western [Pure Land] too.
[Note 8: This refers to traditional morning and evening chanting practices (早晚课), that are still practised today.]
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）：净土决疑论；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Treatise [On] Pure Land’s Resolution [Of] Doubts;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第七则）：一、赞净土超胜（第七则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (7th Short Section): 1st [Chapter]: Praise [Of The] Pure Land [Dharma Door Being] Transcendental [And] Supreme (7th Short Section)
[Ref: #7 / 1.7]
Namo Amituofo : 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
