发愿相劝各地无量众生生净土
[18] Aspire [To] Encourage Immeasurable Beings Everywhere [To] Reach Pure Land
汝发露地学校、露地莲社之愿，固为省事，然又不如随地随缘之为方便易行也。
You gave rise [to the] aspiration of [using an] outdoor school, [for establishing an] outdoor lotus society, originally for reducing work. However, [this is] also not as good [as teaching at] any place, according [to] conditions, [with] this as skilful means, [which is] easier [for] practice too.
[Note 1: A lotus society functioning at a fixed location, although convenient as a centre, is not better than having it function without any fixed location, at wherever (more) appropriate, whenever (more) appropriate.]
上而清庙明堂，下而水边林下，得其可语之人，即以此事相劝。
[From the] above then, [at] clean temples [and] bright halls, [to the] below then, [at] riversides [and on] forest floors, gaining those persons [who] can [be] spoken [to], immediately with this [Pure Land] practice encouraging one another.
[Note 2: It is better to not be attached to any one place, thus being able to teach and practise at various places, to reach more people with different locations’ affinities. Practice would include support-chanting (助念) for the dying, which is all the more difficult to be done at one fixed place only. Teaching and practice can be done communally as members of a lotus society, or as individuals, if skilful enough.]
文潞公发十万人念佛求生西方之愿，以结莲社。
Wén Lùgōng gave rise [to the] aspiration of [encouraging a] hundred thousand persons [to practise] mindfulness [of] Buddha, [to] seek birth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss], with [them] forming [a] lotus society.
[Note 3: This is certainly a great aspiration. However, the below should be further reflected too.]
吾谓一人以至无量人，俱当令生西方，何限定以十万也？
[As] I say, [if] one person, up to immeasurable persons, together should [be] enabled [to be] born [in the] Western [Pure Land], why restrict [to be] limited with [a] hundred thousand [only]?
[Note 4: The immeasurably greater aspiration to give rise to, arising from the Bodhi Mind (菩提心), is to encourage sentient beings to reach the Pure Land without limit, in this life, and in future manifested lives, after returning from training in Pure Land. Although Great Master Yìnguāng did not exactly manage a lotus society, he certainly did inspire the rise of many lotus societies. In way, his teachings continue to encourage many among the immeasurable, certainly more than a hundred thousand people, to reach Pure Land.]
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》（三编）：复唐大圆书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Táng Dàyuán;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第十八则）：一、赞净土超胜（第十八则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (18th Short Section): 1st [Chapter]: Praise [Of The] Pure Land [Dharma Door Being] Transcendental [And] Supreme (18th Short Section)
[Ref: #18 / 1.18]
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
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