业力大小，皆可仗佛力，往生净土
[186] [With] Karmic Power Great [Or] Little, All Can Rely [On The] Buddha’s Power, [For] Rebirth [In His] Pure Land
吾人在生死轮回中久经长劫，所造恶业，无量无边。若仗自己修持之力，欲得灭尽烦恼惑业，以了生脱死，其难愈于登天。
[As] we [have been] reborn within [the cycle of] birth [and] death [for a] long time, passing long kalpas, [our] those created evil karmas, [are] immeasurable [and] boundless. If relying [on the] power of one’s practice [only], desiring [to] attain eradication [and] exhaustion [of] afflictions, confusions [and evil] karmas, for liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, its difficulty [is] even more [than that of] ascending [to a] heaven.
[Note 1: From Universal Virtue Bodhisattva’s Practices And Vows’ Chapter《普贤菩萨行愿品》, as taught by Universal Virtue Bodhisattva (普贤菩萨), ‘I, in past beginningless kalpas within, due to greed, anger and ignorance, gave rise to body, speech and mind, to create all evil karmas, immeasurable and boundless. If these evil karmas have that of substantial forms, exhausting empty space’s realms, they are not able to contain and receive them.’ (于过去无始劫中，由贪瞋痴，发身口意，作诸恶业，无量无边。若此恶业有体相者，尽虚空界不能容受。)]
若能信佛所说之净土法门，以真信切愿，念阿弥陀佛名号，求生西方，无论业力大，业力小，皆可仗佛慈力，往生西方。
If able [to] believe that [which Śākyamuni] Buddha spoke of [the] Pure Land Dharma Door, with true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, mindful [of] Amitā[bha] Buddha’s name [Āmítuófó], [to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (西方极乐世界)], regardless [of one’s] karmic power [being] great, [or] karmic power [being] little, all can rely [on the] Buddha’s loving-kindness’ power, [to be] reborn [in his] Western [Pure Land].
譬如一颗沙子，入水即沉。纵有数千万斤石，装于大火轮船中，即可不沉，而运于他处，以随意使用也。石喻众生之业力深重，大火轮喻弥陀之慈力广大。
For example, one grain [of] sand, [when] entering water immediately sinks. Even if [there] are numerous rocks [of] ten million jīns [each], loaded within [a] great fire[-powered] steamship, [they] immediately can [be made to] not sink, and [be] transported to another place, with [them] according [to] wishes [for] use. [The] rocks [are an] analogy [for] sentient beings’ karmic power, [that is] deep [and] heavy, [and the] great fire[-powered] steamship [is an] analogy [for] Āmítuófó’s loving-kindness’ power’s vastness [and] greatness.
[Note 2: As one jīn (or catty) is half a kilogram, ten million catties is five million kilograms (or five thousand tonnes). The grain of sand by itself, only with limited Self-power (自力), lacks the power to float and be transported to the destination wanted. The ship, offering great Other-power (他力), has the power of flotation and transport.]
若不念佛，仗自己修持之力，欲了生死，须到业尽情空地位方可。否则纵令烦恼惑业断得只有一丝毫，亦不能了。喻如极小之沙子，亦必沉于水中，决不能自己出于水外。
If not mindful [of the] Buddha, relying [on] one’s power of practice [only], desiring [to be] liberated [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, [one] needs [to] reach [the] position [of evil] karmas’ exhaustion [with realisation of] passions’ emptiness. Then can [this be done]. Otherwise, even if enabling afflictions, confusions [and evil] karmas [to be] severed until [there] is only one slightest bit [left, one is] also not able [to be] liberated. [As an] analogy, like [an] extremely small [grain] of sand, [it will] also definitely sink within [the] water, definitely not able [to, by] oneself exit from [the] water [to the] outside.
阁下但生信心，念佛求生西方，不可再起别种念头。
Your excellency [must] only give rise [to the] faithful mind, [to be] mindful [of the] Buddha [to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land, and] must not again give rise [to] other kinds [of] thoughts.
果能如是，寿未尽则速得痊愈。以专一志诚念佛功德，便能灭除宿世恶业，犹如杲日既出，霜雪即化。
If able [to do] thus, [when your] lifespan, [if] yet [to] exhaust, then [will you] quickly attain complete healing. With focused sincere [and] wholehearted mindfulness [of] Buddha’s meritorious virtues, then able [to] eliminate past lives’ evil karmas, similar to [the] morning sun [once] already out, [having] frost [and] snow immediately melting.
寿已尽则即能往生，以心无异念，即得与佛感应道交，故蒙佛慈接引往生也。
If [your] lifespan [is] already exhausting, then [will you be] able [to be] reborn [in the Pure Land]. With [your] mind without different thoughts, immediately attaining connection [and] response [for] mutual interaction with [the] Buddha, thus receiving [the] Buddha’s kind reception [and] guidance, [to be] reborn [there].
阁下若信此话得及，则生也得大利益，死也得大利益。
Your excellency, if [with] Faith [in] these words in time, then [will you, if to] live, also attain great benefits, [and if to] die, also attain great benefits.
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瞋心，乃宿世之习性。今作我已死想，任彼刀割香涂，于我无干。
Anger’s mind [is] thus [from the] habitual nature of past lives. Now having [the] thought [that] ‘I [am] already dead’, [just] let that knife cut, [if there is injury, surgery or autopsy, and that] incense [be] applied, [if being cleaned after death, as these] have nothing to do with me.
所有不顺心之境，作已死想，则便无可起瞋矣。
[For] all situations that [are] not agreeable [with your] wishes, [when] having [the] thought [that] ‘I [am] already dead’, [perhaps being sincerely mindful of the Buddha next], then [will you] not [be] able [to] give rise [to] anger.
此即如来所传之三昧法水，普洗一切众生之结业者，非光自出心裁妄说也。
This then [is] that Thus Come [One’s] transmitted samādhi Dharma water, [which] universally washes [away] those fettering karmas of all sentient beings, not [from Yìn]guāng, personally [coming] up [with] ideas falsely spoken.
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若不念佛求生西方，纵生到至极尊贵之非非想天，天福一尽，仍复轮回六道。
If not mindful [of] Buddha [to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land], even if born [to] reach [the] very respected [highest] Heaven [Of] No [Perception And No] Non-Perception, once heavenly blessings exhaust, [one will] still again [be] reborn [in the] six paths.
若具志诚恳切念佛，纵将堕阿鼻地狱，尚能蒙佛接引，往生西方。
If complete [with] sincere [and] wholehearted mindfulness [of] Buddha, even [if] going to fall [into] Avīci Hell [which is the worst place to be reborn, one is] still able [to] receive [the] Buddha’s receiving [and] guiding, [to be] reborn [in his] Western [Pure Land].
万不可卑劣自居，谓我业重，恐不能生。若作此想念，则决定不能生矣。何也？以心无真信切愿，无由感佛故也。
[You] absolutely must not consider yourself [as spiritually] inferior [and lowly], saying [that ‘As] my [evil] karmas [are] heavy, [I] fear not [being] able [to be] born [there].’ If having this thinking, then definitely [will you] not [be] able [to be] born [there, as this is being without profound Faith and sincere Aspiration, even if being mindful of the Buddha]. Why [is this so]? With [the] mind without true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, unable [to] connect [to the] Buddha thus.
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）：复裘佩卿书二；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Second Reply Letter [To] Qiú Pèiqīng;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百八十六则）：四、论生死事大：乙、教专仗佛力（第二则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (186th Short Section): 4th [Chapter]: Discussion [On] Births’ [And] Deaths’ Great Matter: Second, Teachings [On] Focusing [On] Relying [On The] Buddha’s Power (2nd Short Section)
[Ref: #186 / 4.2.2]
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 Teaching:
How Can Niànfó Prevent The Worst Rebirth To Attain The Best?
https://purelanders.com/2016/03/23/how-can-nianfo-prevent-the-worst-rebirth-to-attain-the-best
