【发意念佛，必获果证】
【[Having] Given Rise [To] Thoughts [With] Mindfulness [Of The] Buddha, Definitely Obtaining [The] Fruit [Of] Realisation】
今住兹普仁以来，常得群贤聚首，六时行道，洽我素心。
Now, dwelling here, universally [with] benevolent [ones], with [them] coming, constantly getting many virtuous ones [to] gather, [in the] six periods practising [the] path, [this is] in harmony [with my] original intention.
[Note 1: The six periods (六时) are day’s three periods (昼三时), of (i) first period: 6 pm – 10 pm: early night (初夜), (ii) second period: 10 pm – 2 am: middle of the night (中夜), (iii) third period: 2 am – 6 am: late night (后夜), with night’s three periods (夜三时), of (iv) fourth period: 6 am – 10 am: early morning (晨朝), (v) fifth period: 10 am – 2 pm: middle of the day (日中) and (vi) sixth period: 2 pm – 6 pm: end of the day (日末).]
然每遇一友与会，不敢以俗士目之，私心窃计曰：「莲华国土中，复增一胜侣矣！」
Certainly, every [time] meeting a friend participating [in the lotus] society [i.e. Pure Land practice fellowship], [I do] not dare [to be] with [the person as a] worldly one see [him (or her)]. Personally [in my] mind, privately reckoning [and] saying, ‘[The] Lotus Flower Land within, [has] again increased [with] a good companion!’
昔我释迦本师，悬记此土有六十七亿菩萨往生彼国，此必一数也。
[In the] past, [as] our fundamental teacher Śākya[muni Buddha], predicted [that] this land [will] have sixty-seven koṭis [of] Bodhisattvas reborn [in] that land, this [is] definitely one [of this] number.
[Note 2: In the Immeasurable Life《无量寿经》, ‘The Buddha told Maitreya, “In this world, sixty-seven koṭis of non-retrogressible Bodhisattvas, will be reborn in that land. Each and every one of these Bodhisattvas, already previously made offerings to innumerably many Buddhas, second thus to those of Maitreya. Of all Bodhisattvas with minor practices, and those who cultivated few meritorious virtues, who cannot be counted, all will be reborn.”‘ (佛告弥勒：「于此世界，六十七亿不退菩萨，往生彼国。一一菩萨，已曾供养无数诸佛，次如弥勒者也。诸小行菩萨，及修习少功德者，不可称计，皆当往生。」)
Thus, even if one if not one of the ‘sixty-seven koṭis of non-retrogressible Bodhisattvas’, one might be a ‘Bodhisattva with minor practices’, or more probably, one who has ‘cultivated few meritorious virtues.’]
虽知悠悠退堕者多，然既发意念佛，已入弥陀愿海，如人食少金刚，终竟不消，纵勤惰迟速不同，究竟必生彼国。
Although knowing those [over a] long time regressing [and] falling [are] many, however, since [having] given rise [to] thoughts [with] mindfulness [of the] Buddha, already [having] entered [A]mitā[bha Buddha’s] vows’ ocean, [they are] like people [who have] swallowed [a] little vajra [seed, that] in the end [will] not be digested [to be eliminated]. Even if [they are with] diligence [and] laziness, slowness [and] quickness not [the] same, in the end, [they will] definitely [be] born [in] that land.
既生彼国，究竟必获果证，八相成道，广度众生。
Already born [in] that land, [they will] in the end definitely obtain [the] fruit [of] realisation, [with the] eight forms [of] accomplishing [the] path, [to] widely deliver sentient beings.
[Note 3: Eight forms of accomplishing the path (八相成道): (i) descending from Tuṣita Heaven (降兜率), (ii) entering of womb (入胎), (iii) birth (诞生), (iv) leaving of household life (出家), (v) subduing of Māra (降魔), (vi) accomplishing the path (成道), (vii) turning the Dharma wheel (转法轮), (viii) entering of Parinirvāṇa (入涅槃).]
故今于甫入会时，即以未来诸佛相期待，非为虚妄也。
Thus, now, when in [the] beginning entering [the] society, then [being] with [the] future’s many Buddhas looking forward [to this with] one another, [this] is not illusory.
但不识众友自待何如？苟能如衲所期待以自期待，则凡现前善友，皆吾莲蕊连枝矣。
However, not recognising how all friends personally treat [this]. If able [to be] like [this] monk, [with] that looking forward, with [it] personally looking forward [too], then [are] all present good friends, all my lotus flower bud’s connected branches [i.e. brothers].
然吾观今之富贵利达者，或贪粗敝声色，不知苦本；或着蜗角勋名，不悟虚幻；或复爱殖货利，会计经营。现在碌碌一生，将来随业流转。
Thus, I see those now, that those [with] wealth, honour [and] prestige, [are] perhaps [with] greed [for] coarse [and] shabby sounds [and] forms, not knowing [this is] suffering’s root, perhaps attached [to a] snail’s horn [of] honour [and] fame, not awakening [to their] illusoriness, perhaps repeatedly [with] attachment growing [for] goods [and] gain, accounting [and] managing. Now busying [for] all of [this] one life, [in the] future according [with] karma [to be] reborn.
彼佛刹中，依正庄严，无量胜妙乐事，不闻不知，从生至死，未曾发一念向往之心。反不如穷愚困厄之夫，多能念佛，从冥入明，转生胜处也。故今敬劝诸友，既各标名莲社，便是火宅优昙。
Within that Buddha Land, [are] circumstantial [and] direct [rewards] majestic, [with] immeasurable supremely wonderful [and] blissful matters, not hearing [and] not knowing [about them], from birth until death, not yet giving rise [to] one thought of [the] mind yearning [for it. They are] instead not as good as those poor [and] foolish, suffering from disasters, [with] many able [to be] mindful [of the] Buddha, from darkness entering brightness, [to be] reborn [in the] supreme abode. Thus, now reverently encouraging all friends, since [with] each [having] signed [your] name [in this] lotus society, [you] then are [the] burning house’s udumbara [flowers].
【真实愿之忻厌心】
【True Aspiration’s Mind Of Joy [And] Revulsion】
必也具真实愿，发忻厌心，
[There] must be [the] completely true Aspiration, [to] give rise [to the] mind [of] joyful [seeking of birth in the Land Of Ultimate Bliss (欣求极乐) and] revulsed [renunciation of the Sahā World (厌离娑婆)],
视三界如牢狱，
seeing [the] three realms [of desire, form and formlessness] [to be] like prisons,
视家园如桎梏，
seeing homelands [to be] like shackles,
视声色如鸩毒，
seeing music [and beautiful] forms [to be] like wine laced [with] poison,
视名利如缰锁，
seeing fame [and] benefits [to be] like reins [and] chains,
视数十年穷通际遇如同昨梦，
seeing [the] several decades [of] poverty [and] prestige, ups [and] downs, [to be] like yesterday’s dream,
视娑婆一期报命如在逆旅，信宿舍离，惟以归家为务。
seeing [this] Sahā [World’s] one lifetime’s retributive life [to be] like [in an] inn, staying over [for] two nights [then] departing, only with returning home as [the] mission
如意亦得，不如意亦得，舍得寸阴，一心念佛。
[With those] according [to] wishes satisfied, not according [to] wishes also satisfied, [be] willing [to] part [in a] very short period [of] time, [with] wholehearted mindfulness [of the] Buddha[‘s name: Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛)].
果能如是，若不生净土者，诸佛皆成诳语矣，愿共勉之！
If really able [to do] thus, if [there are] those not born [in his] Pure Land, all Buddhas [would have] all accomplished deceitful speech. May [we] encourage one another [with] this!
净土宗十祖行策大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 10th Patriarch Great Master Xíngcè
《净土警语》：又申劝
Pure Land Admonitions: Further Extension [Of] Encouragement
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
