以念佛药治妄念病
With [The] Medicine [Of] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha Cure [The] Sickness [Of] False Thoughts
答张百户广湉
Reply [To] Zhāng Bǎihù [And] Guǎngtián
妄念是病，念佛是药。
[Having] false thoughts is [the] sickness, [and] mindfulness [of] Buddha is [the] medicine.
久病非片剂所能疗，积妄非暂念所能除，其理一也。
[Just as] chronic sicknesses [are] not [by] tablets those able [to be] cured, [and] accumulated false [thoughts are] not [by] temporary mindfulness those able [to be] eliminated, their principles [are] one.
莫管他妄念纷飞，只贵在念佛精切。
Not bothering [about] other false thoughts fluttering about, [that] only precious is mindfulness [of] Buddha [being] focused [and] sincere.
字字分明，句句接续，极力执持，方有趋向。
[With] word [by] word [of Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) name] distinct [and] clear, [and] line [by] line continuous, [with] utmost efforts firmly upholding, then having inclination [towards Pure Land].
分此谓真积力久，而一旦豁然。
[With] parts [of] these called seriously accumulated efforts [for] long, then suddenly one day [having a] flash of understanding.
喻如磨杵作针，链铁作钢者，定不诬也。
For example, like [that] sharpening [of] batons [to] be needles, [and] refining [of] iron [to] become strong, [this] definitely cannot [be] false.
入道多门，惟此一门最为捷径。不可忽，不可忽。
[For] entering [the] path [are] many [Dharma] doors, [but] only this one door is [the] most [swift] shortcut. [It] cannot [be] neglected, cannot [be] neglected.
净土宗八祖莲池大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí
《云栖净土彚语》
(Yúnqī’s Collected Pure Land Sayings)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
