助人生西，成就自己
[196] Supporting Others’ Birth [In The] Western [Pure Land Will] Accomplish Oneself
能成就他人往生，待至自己临终，必大有成就自己往生者，切勿以不关己而忽之。
[As if] able [to] accomplish other persons’ rebirth [in Pure Land], waiting until oneself approaches [life’s] end, [one will] definitely have great accomplishment [of] one’s rebirth, [you] must not [be] with [them] not concerning oneself then neglecting them.
[Note 1: To guide others be reborn in Pure Land now is to guide oneself be reborn there later, as the principles for rebirth will be learnt, and the practice will be actualised.]
平常当与家中眷属，说其临终助念之利益，与预先洗澡换衣，并对之哭泣之祸害。
[In] ordinary times, [there] should [be] with family members within [the] family, speaking [of] those benefits of support-chanting [when] approaching [life’s] end, with [the] harms of advanced bathing, changing [of] clothes, and facing them [with] crying.
[Note 2: Support-chanting is able to guide the encourage the dying and deceased to also chant the Buddha’s name (Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛), so as to reach his Pure Land. Bathing and changing the dying will disturb them physically as there will be great pain leading to aversion due to magnified sensitivity. Crying before the dying and deceased will disturb them mentally as there will be great attachment. Having great aversion and attachment will make it difficult to be mindful of the Buddha peacefully, towards greater peace by connecting to him.]
当请一本《饬终津梁》，令其详知。迨至父母，或余眷属，临欲命终。家中眷属，同为念佛，令彼心存正念，随佛往生。
[There] should [be] requesting [of] a copy [of] Bridge [With] Admonitions [For The] End, enabling it [to be] detailedly known. Until reaching [when your] fathers [and] mothers, or other family members, [when] approaching, almost [at] life’s end, family members within [your] families, [should] together for [them] recite [the] Buddha[‘s name (Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛), to] enable their minds [to] retain Right Mindfulness, [to] follow [the] Buddha [to be] reborn.
[Note 3: For a more concise guide that still contain the essentials, study the Three Great Essentials When Approaching Death《临终三大要》: https://purelanders.com/now, as written by the Great Master.]
并请社友为其助念，此时一发千钧，关系甚大。当将丧祭种种虚华之费，移于此时用之，并将哀毁尽孝之诚，移于为亲念佛。
Also, invite [the] society’s friends for [offering] them support-chanting, [as at] this time, [it is with] one thousand jūns (i.e. fifteen thousand kilograms) [hanging by a] single hair, [their] influence [is] extremely great. [There] should [be] using [the] funeral’s all kinds of vain [and] extravagant expenses, shifted to this moment using them, also using ‘sincerity’ of mourning [that] harms [health to] be ‘filial’, shifted to [be] for relatives reciting [the] Buddha[‘s name].
[Note 4: As much is at stake when dying, due to the nature of the future life pivoting upon the point before rebirth, support-chanting (of those ideally experienced) should be sought if available. Instead of spending much money on mostly pointless post-death matters, it is better to spend more time and efforts on offering guidance and support-chanting sincerely. Although it is natural to grieve, this can be done later, as focus on offering guidance and support-chanting is more pressing then. Even if mourning ‘sincerely’ with ‘filiality’, not only does this not help the deceased, it harms oneself and the dying or deceased, by disturbing, instead of offering peace and focus on mindfulness of the Buddha. True filial piety should be expressed by guiding and supporting reaching of Pure Land, where there will be no more suffering; only bliss.]
须令眷属悉听社友指导，切不可狃于习俗，以误大事。
[There] must [be] enabling [of] family members [to] all listen [to the] society’s friends’ guidance, [and there] must not [be those] bound [by] customs, with [this] bungling [the] great matter [of reaching Pure Land].
[Note 5: Family members’ support-chanting is primary as they usually have the most sincerity, while others’ is secondary. Family members’ support-chanting is thus able to more strongly motivate the dying and deceased to chant sincerely too. If the support-chanting society’s principles and practices are sound, according with the Dharma (如法) in the Three Great Essentials When Approaching Death, its good-knowing friends’ (善知识) advice should be followed, instead of any conflicting worldly customs, that might create obstacles for reaching 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》（续编）：汲浜镇助念社缘起；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Jíbāng Town’s Support-Chanting Society’s Conditions [Of] Arising;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百九十六则）：四、论生死事大：丙、示临终切要（第六则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (196th Short Section): 4th [Chapter]: Discussion [On] Births’ [And] Deaths’ Great Matter: Third, Guidance [On] When Approaching [Life’s] End’s Definite Essentials : (6th Short Section)
[Ref: #196 / 4.3.6]
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
