信愿念佛，得此巨益
[12] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha [With] Faith [And] Aspiration Attains These Great Benefits
一切法门，皆须依戒定慧之道力，断贪瞋痴之烦惑。若到定慧力深，烦惑净尽，方有了生死分。
All Dharma Doors, must all rely [on the] path’s power of precepts, concentration [and] wisdom, [to] sever [the] afflictions [and] confusions [of] greed, anger [and] ignorance. If arriving [at] concentration [and] wisdom [with] power profound, afflictions [and] confusions [will be] gone completely, then having [a] part [in] liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death.
[Note 1: Precepts, concentration and wisdom (戒定慧) form the Threefold Learning (三学) needed for liberation. Greed, anger and ignorance (贪瞋痴) form the Three Poisons (三毒) that prevent liberation, by giving rise to afflictions and confusions (烦惑).]
傥烦惑断而未尽，任汝有大智慧，有大辩才，有大神通，能知过去未来，要去就去，要来就来，亦不能了。况其下焉者乎？仗自力了生死之难，真难如登天矣！
If afflictions’ [and] confusions’ severance [is] yet [to be] complete, even if you have great wisdom, have great eloquence, have great supernormal [powers, are] able [to] know [the] past [and] future, wanting [to] go then going, wanting [to] come then coming, [you are] also not able [to be] liberated. Moreover, how [can] those below? Relying [on] Self-power’s difficulty of liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, truly [is as] difficult as ascending [the] heavens!
[Note 2: It is extremely difficult to, with Self-power (自力) alone, sever afflictions and confusions completely, to be liberated.]
若依念佛法门，生信发愿，念佛圣号，求生西方。无论出家在家，士农工商，老幼男女，贵贱贤愚，但肯依教修持，皆可仗佛慈力，带业往生。
If relying [on the] Dharma Door [Of] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, giving rise [to] Faith [and] Aspiration, reciting [the] Buddha’s sacred name [Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛)], [to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land], regardless [of those who have] left [the] household [life or] at home, scholars, farmers, artisans [and] merchants, [the] old [and] young, males [and] females, honoured [and] lowly, virtuous [and] foolish, [if] only willing [to] rely [on the] teachings [to] practise, all can rely [on the] Buddha’s loving-kindness’ power, [to] bring [their evil] karma [to be] reborn [there].
[Note 3: When with the Practice of mindfulness of the Buddha’s name with Faith and Aspiration, thus connecting to the Buddha’s great blessings, one’s limited evil karma (恶业), even if much, will be suspended, for rebirth in his Pure Land. Even when brought to Pure Land, only with progress towards Buddhahood there, this remnant evil karma will be disabled forever. Faith, Aspiration and Practice (信愿行), as above, form the Three Provisions (三资粮) for reaching the Pure Land.]
一得往生，则定慧不期得而自得，烦惑不期断而自断。亲炙乎弥陀圣众，游泳乎金地宝池。仗此胜缘，资成道业。俾带业往生者，直登不退，断惑往生者，速证无生。
Once attaining rebirth, then [with] concentration [and] wisdom, not expecting attainment yet [with] self-attainment, [with] afflictions [and] confusions, not expecting severance yet [with] self-severance. Personally taught by Amitā[bha Buddha and his] noble assembly, walking [and] swimming, on gold ground [and in] treasure ponds. [With] reliance [on] these supreme conditions, [for] supporting accomplishment [of the] path’s undertakings, so that those bringing [their evil] karma [to be] reborn, [will] directly ascend [to] non-retrogression, [and] those severing confusions reborn, [will] quickly realise non-birth.
[Note 4: With supreme conditions (胜缘) of the Pure Land, all there will naturally advance without spiritual backsliding, to attain what to be attained (i.e. self-liberation and Buddhahood), and to sever what to be severed (i.e. afflictions and confusions).]
此全仗阿弥陀佛大悲愿力，与当人信愿念佛之力，感应道交，得此巨益。校比专仗自力者，其难易天地悬殊也。
These completely rely [on] Amitā[bha] Buddha’s great compassion [and] vows’ power, and [the] power of those persons’ power of mindfulness [of] Buddha [with] Faith [and] Aspiration, [with] connection [and] response [for] mutual interaction, [to] attain these great benefits. Comparing [with] those [who] focus [on] relying [on] Self-power, their difficulty [and] easiness [is like the] sky [and] ground, far apart.
[Note 5: Once Self-power connects with Amitābha Buddha’s Other-power (他力), there is complete reliance on him to reach his Pure Land, and to receive its benefits there. With only Self-power for self-liberation and Buddhahood, this is the Difficult Practice Path (难行道). With Other-power too, this is the Easy Practice Path (易行道).]
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）：念佛恳辞序；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Preface [For] ‘Sincere Words [On] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第十二则）：一、赞净土超胜（第十二则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (12th Short Section): 1st [Chapter]: Praise [Of The] Pure Land [Dharma Door Being] Transcendental [And] Supreme (12th Short Section)
[Ref: #12 / 1.12]
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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