无自利，何利他？
[162] Without Self-Benefits, How [To] Benefit Others?
观来书，可谓发大菩提心，以期自他俱利者。然曰：「自利心淡，利他心切。」亦甚有语病。
Looking [at your] incoming letter, [it] can [be] said [that you have] given rise [to the] Great Bodhi Mind, with that hope [of having] self [and] others benefitted. However saying, ‘[With] self-benefits’ mind weak, [and with] benefitting [of] others’ mind sincere.’ [This] also has extremely faulty wording.
[Note 1: Bodhicitta (菩提心) is for both self-benefitting and benefitting of others (自利利他), not for any one side only, as oneself and others are interconnected as one ‘same body’ (同体). When there is self-denial, it is ironically with strong attachment to self, when one has yet to realise non-self (无我), while also having equally dualistic attachment to others.]
不能自利，断不能大利于他，二者当以不分亲疏为是。
[If] not able [to] self-benefit, [one is] absolutely not able [to have] great benefitting of others. [It is with] these two, [that] should not [be] with separation [as] close [or] distant as right.
[Note 2: As an analogy, a person drowning in the suffering ocean of birth and death (生死苦海), far away from the shore of Pure Land (or liberation) cannot rescue another who is also drowning. However, those who know and practise the Dharma Door Of Mindfulness Of Buddha (念佛法门) can rescue themselves with the Buddha’s help, and with faith and compassion, also ‘shout’ to others drowning, to likewise practise mindfulness of Buddha. When we benefit ourselves with reaching of Pure Land for expediting spiritual training there, we can thereafter benefit all others most greatly as Great Bodhisattvas and Buddhas too.]
然利他正一愿而已，自利则必须竭尽心力。则自利一边何可以淡，而妄学大菩萨身分也？
Thus, [for] benefitting [of] others, [this] sincere one aspiration only, [for] self-benefits then, [there] must [be] exhausting [of] utmost mental [and physical] efforts. Then [with] self-benefits [on] one side, how can [this be] weak, yet arrogantly learning [to be with] Great Bodhisattvas’ identity?
[Note 3: The sincere one aspiration to benefit others is one with that of benefitting oneself. When we first benefit ourselves well spiritually, we can then benefit others well spiritually. When we benefit others well, we also benefit ourselves well. It is delusional to romantically imagine that to be a Great Bodhisattva is to directly benefit others only. As the saying goes, ‘Mud Bodhisattvas crossing rivers are with themselves difficult to be protected’ (泥菩萨过江自身难保).]
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）：复胡宅梵书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Hú Zháifàn;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百六十二则）：三、示修持方法：戊、评修持各法（第二十五则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (162nd Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: Fifth, Reviews [On] Practices’ Each Method (25th Short Section)
[Ref: #162 / 3.5.25]
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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