如何不常畏惧担忧？
How To Be Free From Constant Fears And Worries?
又学道之人，凡遇种种不如意事，只可向道上会。
Furthermore, of people learning [the] path, all [who] encounter all kinds [of] matters [that do] not accord [with their] wishes, can only towards [the] path, approach [to] understand [them].
逆来顺受，则纵遇危险等事，当时也不至吓得丧志失措。
[When the] opposing [that] comes [is with] compliance received, then even if encountering dangers [and] other [such] matters, at those times, [you will] also not [be so] scared, until [you] lose [your] purpose [and be] at a loss.
已过，则事过情迁，便如昨梦，何得常存在心，致成怔忡 (zhēngchōng) 之病？
[Of those] already passed, then [with these] matters passed [and] feelings changed, [they are] then like yesterday’s dreams, why should [they be] constantly retained in [your] mind, leading to [the] sickness [of having] palpitations [from] fear?
汝既欲修行，当知一切境缘，悉由宿业所感。又须知至诚念佛，则可转业。
You, since desiring [to] cultivate practice, should know [that] all conditions [of your] circumstances, [are] all due [to your] past karmas, [with] those connected [to. You] also should know, [that with] utmost sincere mindfulness [of Amitā(bha)] Buddha[‘s name: ‘Āmítuófó’ (阿弥陀佛)], then can [this] transform [your evil] karmas [to be good or pure karmas].
吾人不做伤天损德事，怕甚么东西？念佛之人，善神护佑，恶鬼远离，怕甚么东西？
[If] we [do] not do matters [that] distress heaven[ly beings and] decrease [our] virtue, what things [are there to] fear? [Of] people mindful [of the] Buddha, [as] good gods [will] protect [and] bless [us, with] evil ghosts [thus] far departing, what things [are there to] fear?
汝若常怕，则著怕魔，便有无量劫来之怨家，乘汝之怕心，来恐吓汝。令汝丧心病狂，用报宿怨。
You, if constantly fearful, [are] then ‘possessed’ [by] fear’s demon, then having enemies [i.e. karmic creditors (冤亲债主)] of immeasurable kalpas, riding [on] your fearful mind, coming [to] terrify you. Causing you [to] lose [your] mind [to become] sick [with] madness, [they might] use [this as] revenge [for their] past grievances.
且勿谓我尚念佛，恐彼不至如此。不知汝全体正念，归于怕中。
Moreover, [do] not say, ‘I [am] still mindful [of the] Buddha, [but] fear that [he does] not arrive in this way [to protect me].’ Not knowing [that] your entire Right Mindfulness, [then] returned to [that with] fear within.
其气分与佛相隔，与魔相通。非佛不灵，由汝已失正念，故致念佛不得全分利益耳。祈见光字，痛洗先心。…
Your vital power [is] with [the] Buddha separated [from] each other, [and] with [the] demonic connected [to] each other [instead. It is] not [that the] Buddha [is] not efficacious, [but] due [to] you [having] already lost Right Mindfulness, thus leading [to your] mindfulness [of] Buddha not attaining [its] complete benefits only. [I] implore [you to, upon] seeing [Yìn]guāng’s words, completely purify [your] former mind [with misunderstanding]…
即使宿业现前，怕之岂能消灭？惟其不怕，故正念存而举措得当，真神定而邪鬼莫侵。否则以邪招邪，宿怨咸至。
Even if past karmas manifest [in the] present, [with] fear of [them], how can [this be] able [to] eliminate [them]? Only [with] you not [being] afraid, thus [with] Right Mindfulness retained, then [is this] conduct appropriate. [With your] true spirit concentrated, then [will] evil ghosts not approach. Otherwise, with evil beckoning evil, past enemies [might] all arrive.
遇事无主，举措全失。可不哀哉？今为汝计，宜放开怀抱，一切事可以计虑，不可以担忧。只怕躬 (gōng) 行有玷 (diàn)，不怕祸患鬼神。…
Encountering matters without control, [with] conduct completely lost, how [is this] not sorrowful? Now, for you planning, [you] should open [your] mind [to] embrace [them. As] all matters can [be] planned [and] considered [for, you] can with [them] not [have] worries. Only [be] ‘afraid’ [of your] personal practices having flaws, [be] not afraid [of] disasters, ghosts [and] gods…
如何不畏病苦与灾祸？
How To Be Unafraid Of Sicknesses And Disasters?
当此危险世道，宜放开心胸眼界，努力修持净业。
In these [times, with the] dangerous ways [of the] world [due to natural and man-made disasters, you] should open [your] mind [and] field of vision, [to] strive [in] practising upholding [of] pure karma, [by sincere mindfulness of ‘Āmítuófó’].
所有吉凶祸福，悉不计虑，随缘应变。
[Of] all [the] auspicious [and] inauspicious, disasters [and] blessings, [that are] all not planned [and] considered [for], accord [with] conditions [and] adapt to changes.
纵大祸临头，亦当想及同罹此祸之人，不知有几千万亿。
Even [if a] great disaster [is about] to befall, [you] also should think [about] reaching people who [will] similarly suffer from this disaster, not knowing how [many] thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of millions [of them there] are.
于无可如何中，尚有阿弥陀佛观世音菩萨，可以恃怙，有何可畏？
[If] without [any methods, not knowing] what [to do, as you] still have Amitā[bha] Buddha [and] Contemplator [Of The] World’s Sounds Bodhisattva, [who] can [be] relied [on for protection in this life and the next, you] have what [to] fear?
以念佛念观世音，作为无畏之据，放开心量，勿预恐吓。
With mindfulness [of the] Buddha [or] Contemplator [Of The] World’s Sounds [Bodhisattva], as reliance [for] that fearlessness, open [your] mind, [and] do not in advance [be] terrified.
[Note 1: With sincere mindfulness full of Faith (信), there will be no mindfulness of pain or fear.]
则病自痊愈，身自安乐矣。
Then, [with blessings that dilute your evil karmas (恶业), your] sickness [will] naturally [and] completely heal, [with your] body naturally [having] peace [and] bliss, [here and/or in Pure Land].
若不知此义，则是未遇危境，自己先陷于危中，虽佛菩萨亦莫能救。
If not knowing this [teaching’s] meaning, [this] then is [to], yet [to] encounter dangerous situations, [with] oneself first falling into dangers [that do not exist, or could be avoided]. Although [with the] Buddha [and] Bodhisattva, [they] also [will] not [be] able [to] save [you, due to your mindfulness of fear instead of (one of) them faithfully].
所以君子「素患难，行乎患难」，故能「无入而不自得焉」。
Therefore, noble persons [are ‘as] usual [when with] misfortune [and] difficulties, practising within misfortune [and] difficulties’, thus able [to be ‘with] nowhere entered, then not personally contented there.’
[Note 2: The quoted is from the Doctrine Of The Mean《中庸》, (as retranslated here).]
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《复同影居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Layperson Tóngyǐng
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
全文：九月接汝兄书，言汝有病,心志不定。或急于求医,若不暇待者，或医来开方不肯服药。或并请二医等，直同小孩子性情一样。如此求医治病，适足添病,何可愈病。以心念烦燥，是自己添病。杂药乱投,是令医生添病。汝发心要出家修行。了生死大事。即此富贵骄态,一毫不能去，出家有病,当致急死。汝有此种骄性,尚能甘受澹薄，视此身若附赘乎。
又学道之人，凡遇种种不如意事，只可向道上会。逆来顺受,则纵遇危险等事，当时也不至吓得丧志失措。已过,则事过情迁，便如昨梦，何得常存在心，致成怔忡之病。汝既欲修行，当知一切境缘，悉由宿业所感。又须知至诚念佛，则可转业。吾人不做伤天损德事，怕甚么东西。念佛之人，善神护佑，恶鬼远离，怕甚么东西。汝若常怕,则著怕魔，便有无量劫来之怨家，乘汝之怕心，来恐吓汝。令汝丧心病狂，用报宿怨。且勿谓我尚念佛，恐彼不至如此。不知汝全体正念，归于怕中。其气分与佛相隔，与魔相通。非佛不灵，由汝已失正念，故致念佛不得全分利益耳。祈见光字，痛洗先心。当思我兄一夫一妻，有何可虑。即使宿业现前，怕之岂能消灭。惟其不怕，故正念存而举措得当，真神定而邪鬼莫侵。否则以邪招邪,宿怨咸至。遇事无主，举措全失。可不哀哉。今为汝计，宜放开怀抱，一切事可以计虑，不可以担忧。只怕躬行有玷，不怕祸患鬼神。
汝若在家好修行，则与汝兄及汝妻等，互相辅助以修净业。如其不然，则当往上海寄居于佛教净业社。日常得闻讲说，兼日常随众念佛。现在净业社移于简家南园，有十二三亩田地基,是一最大道场。明年谛法师在彼讲涅槃经疏。彼处房屋多，不比爱文义路之促逼。汝若去，每月贴若干饭食钱，定可如愿。过几月回家看一回，与汝兄谈家事，与汝妻叙契阔。不几日又去，实为第一希有之办道方法。光谓汝能如此，比出家利益，胜无量倍。但当把小孩子及市井之无知之见识丢开。则无边利益，即可亲得矣。
当此危险世道，宜放开心胸眼界，努力修持净业。所有吉凶祸福，悉不计虑，随缘应变。纵大祸临头，亦当想及同罹此祸之人，不知有几千万亿。于无可如何中，尚有阿弥陀佛观世音菩萨，可以恃怙，有何可畏。以念佛念观世音，作为无畏之据，放开心量，勿预恐吓。则病自痊愈，身自安乐矣。若不知此义，则是未遇危境，自己先陷于危中，虽佛菩萨亦莫能救。所以君子素患难行乎患难，故能无入而不自得焉。
