无常一到，唯靠念佛
[181] Once Impermanence Arrives, Only Depend [On] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha
古语云：「聪明不能敌业，富贵岂免轮回？」
[An] ancient saying says, ‘[As even the] clever [are] not able [to] oppose karma, how [can those with] wealth [and] honour avoid rebirth?’
生死到来，一无所靠，唯阿弥陀佛，能为恃怙。
[When the matter of] birth [and] death comes, without anyone who [can be] depended [on], only Āmítuófó, [is] able [to be the one] for reliance.
惜世人知者甚少，知而真信实念者更少也。
[It is a] pity that [the] world’s people who know [this are] extremely few, [and] those [who] know and [have] true Faith [with] true mindfulness [are] even less.
[Note: Those wise will know that they should focus on mindfulness of Buddha wholeheartedly. Otherwise, they are still not intelligent or clever enough. Not a single cent or trace of worldly honour can be carried over to the next life, while even unripen evil karma can be carried over to be reborn (带业往生) in Pure Land (净土), where it will be disabled for good.]
为何教人念佛者功德无量？
Why Are Those Who Teach Mindfulness Of Buddha With Immeasurable Meritorious Virtues?
为何知念佛者有多善根？
Why Are Those Who Know Mindfulness Of Buddha With Many Good Roots?
通州王铁珊，前清曾作广西藩台。其地土匪甚多，彼设计剿(chāo)灭，所杀无算。
Tōngzhōu’s Wáng Tiěshān, previously [in the] Qīng [Dynasty], once was Guǎngxī’s screen post [official. As] that land’s bandits [were] extremely many, those planned [to be] eliminated, [and] who [were] killed [were] uncountable.
前年得病，合眼即见在黑屋中，其鬼甚众，皆来逼恼，随即惊醒。如是三昼夜，一合眼即见此象。人已困极，奄奄一息。
[The] year before the last, [he] fell sick. [When] closing [his] eyes, [he] immediately saw within [the] dark house, their ghosts, [who were] extremely many, all coming [to] compel [him to have] afflictions, following [which he is] immediately startled awake. Thus [for] three days [and] nights, once closing [the] eyes, [he] immediately saw these images. [With this] person already extremely tired, [he was] gasping for [his] last breath.
其夫人劝令念佛，随念数十声即睡着，因睡一大觉，而精神渐健，病遂痊愈，即长斋念佛。
His wife [then] encouraged [and] enabled [him to be] mindful [of the] Buddha, following reciting [of his name for a] few tens [of times, he] then fell asleep. Due [to this] one great sleep, [his] mind then gradually [became] healthy, [with] sickness then fully healed, [as he] immediately [became a] lifelong veg[etari]an [and practised] mindfulness [of] Buddha.
使此时无人以念佛告之，恐万不能至今日也。故知教人念佛，功德无量。知念佛利益者，皆多生多劫善根所使也。
If [at] this time, without [any] person with mindfulness [of] Buddha, informing of [this practice, it is] feared [that he] absolutely [will] not able [to be alive] to this day. Thus, know [that to] teach people [to be] mindful [of] Buddha, [its] meritorious virtues [are] immeasurable. Those [who] know [the] benefits [of] mindfulness [of] Buddha, all [are with] many lives [in] many kalpas’ good roots, that enable [this to be possible].
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）：复包右武书二；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Second Reply Letter [To] Bāo Yòuwǔ;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百八十一则）：四、论生死事大：甲、警人命无常（第三则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (181st Short Section): 4th [Chapter]: Discussion [On] Births’ [And] Deaths’ Great Matter: First, Warnings [On] Human Life’s Impermanence (3rd Short Section)
[Ref: #181 / 4.1.3]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and note 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
