Translations

[321] The Pure Land Tradition’s Ten Essentials’ Amitābha Sūtra’s Essential Explanation Is As The Foremost《净土十要》之《弥陀要解》为第一

《净土十要》之《弥陀要解》为第一
[321] [The] Pure Land [Tradition’s] Ten Essentials’ Amitābha Sūtra’s Essential Explanation [Is] As [The] Foremost

《净土十要》,乃蕅益大师以金刚眼,于阐扬净土诸书中,选其契理契机,至极无加者。

[The] Pure Land [Tradition’s] Ten Essentials, [are] thus [by] Great Master Ǒuyì, with vajra eyes, for expounding [and] propagating all [the] Pure Land texts within, chosen [with] them [being able to] accord [with] principles [and] accord [with all spiritual] capacities, [to the] utmost extreme, without that [to be] added.

[Note 1: The Pure Land Tradition’s Ten Essentials can be seen at https://purelanders.com/shiyao. ‘With vajra eyes’ refers to using sharp and accurate spiritual vision.]

第一《弥陀要解》,乃大师自注。

[The] first [is the] Amitābha Sūtra’s Essential Explanation, also [by the] Great Master personally annotated.

[Note 2: The Essential Explanation On The Amitābha Sūtra As Spoken By The Buddha《佛说阿弥陀经要解》can be seen at https://purelanders.com/yaojie.]

文渊深而易知,理圆顿而唯心。妙无以加,宜常研阅。

[With] text profound yet easy [to] know, [with] principles complete [and] sudden yet mind-only. Wonderful with nothing [more to] add, [it is] suitable [to be] often studied [and] read.

[Note 3: The explanation truly contains the essentials to know, written in a style that is relatively not so difficult to understand.]

至于后之九种,莫不理圆词妙,深契时机。

As for [the] nine kinds [of texts listed] after it, none [are] not [with] principles complete [and] words wonderful, profoundly agreeable [with this] period’s capacities.

[Note 4: This period is the Five Defilements’ (五浊) Evil Period (恶世), within the Dharma-Ending Age (末法时期).]

虽未必一一全能了然,然一经翻阅,如服仙丹。

Although not necessarily [with] one by one completely able [to be] understood clearly, however once flipping [to] read [them, this is] like eating [an] immortality pill.

[Note 5: Even if not having profound understanding of these texts, creating an affinity with some of their principles creates indestructible connection, for attaining immeasurable life via reaching Amitābha Buddha’s (阿弥陀佛) Pure Land (净土), sooner or later.]

久之久之,即凡质而成仙体矣。

[Over a] long time, thus [will those with] ordinary qualities then accomplish immortality’s essence.

[Note 6: Upon reaching the Pure Land, having attained immeasurable life, it is as if having attained immortality, by transcending the cycle of births and deaths.]

(此是譬喻法门之妙,不可错会,谓令成仙。)

([As] this is [an] analogy [for the] wonders [of the] Dharma Door, [it] must not [be] wrongly understood, saying [it] enables accomplishment [as] immortals.)

[Note 7: This should not be misunderstood as attaining of immortality on earth or in a heaven, which is impossible.]

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):与徐福贤书;
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Letter For Xú Fúxián;
印光大师文钞菁华录(第三百二十一则):十、标应读典籍(第六则)
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (321st Short Section): 10th [Chapter]: Indication [Of] Canonical Texts [That] Should [Be] Studied (6th Short Section)
[Ref: #321 / 10.6]

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

相关教理
Related Teachings:

《净土十要》
The Pure Land Tradition’s Ten Essentials
https://purelanders.com/shiyao

《佛说阿弥陀经要解》
The Essential Explanation On The Amitābha Sūtra As Spoken By The Buddha
https://purelanders.com/yaojie

Please be mindful of your speech, Amituofo!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.