身口意之善行
Good Practices Of The Body, Speech [And] Mind
今时念佛至心,即意业善行也。
[i] Now in this moment mindful of Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) with the sincere mind, is immediately mental karma’s good practice.
称佛名号,即语业善行也。
[ii] Reciting Āmítuófó’s name, is immediately verbal karma’s good practice.
合掌礼拜,即身业善行也。
[iii] With joined palms prostrating [to Āmítuófó], is immediately physical karma’s good practice.
由此三业善行,能灭八十亿劫生死重罪。
Due to these three karmas’ good practices, they are able to eliminate eighty koṭis of kalpas’ heavy transgressions of births and deaths.
[Note 1: According to Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛) in the Contemplation Sūtra《观经》, ‘Reciting the Buddha’s name thus, in thought to thought within, eliminating 80 koṭis’ kalpas’ transgressions of births and deaths.’ (称佛名故,于念念中,除八十亿劫生死之罪。) (One koṭi is 10 million, and one kalpa is a world cycle of about 1.3 trillion years.)
However, according to the Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì (净土宗九祖蕅益大师) in Essential Explanation Of The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitā(bha) Buddha《佛说阿弥陀经要解》, ‘It should be known that accumulated transgressions, if having physical form, exhausting empty space’s realms, they will not be able to contain or receive them. Although for 100 years’ days and nights reciting Āmítuófó’s name 10,000 times, with each and every recitation eliminating 80 koṭis’ kalpas’ births and deaths’ transgressions, however, those eliminated transgressions are like dirt in one’s fingernails, while yet to be eliminated transgressions are like the great Earth’s dirt. Only reciting to reach wholeheartedness without being scattered, is thus like a strong person breaking out of an enclosure and escaping, not again by the three armies (from the left, middle and right) able to be subdued.’ (当知积罪假使有体相者,尽虚空界不能容受,虽百年昼夜弥陀十万,一一声灭八十亿劫生死,然所灭罪如爪上土,未灭罪如大地土。唯念至一心不乱,则如健人突围而出,非复三军能制耳。) Thus, it is wise to practise mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) as sincerely as we can, and as much as we can.]
[Note 2: For simplifying wholehearted practice, focusing on one of the practices in the moment will do as it is more difficult and strenuous to have two or three practices concurrently, although it is ideal to occupy all three karmas at the same time.
[i] Recitation in the mind is easiest.
[ii] Recitation aloud is next.
[iii] Prostration (with recitation in the mind or aloud) is the ‘hardest.’
[ii] includes the essence of [i], and
[iii] includes the essence of [i] and/or [ii].
[i] is thus the essential practice to master, as without it, there is no mindfulness of Buddha at all. This alone is also the final practice that those very weak (e.g. when sick and dying) can do.]
行愿相扶,即得往生。
With Practice (行) and [Faithful] Aspiration (信愿) supporting each other, there will immediately (or promptly) be attainment of rebirth [in Āmítuófó’s Pure Land].
[Note 3: Pivoting upon utmost sincere Aspiration, as powered by Faith, and as expressed by Practice of mindfulness of Buddha, there will be immediate birth in Pure Land.
While there can also be sincere Aspiration during practice in everyday life, it is usually not utmost in nature in the moment, with the motivation to reach Pure Land immediately, thus with this not occurring immediately.]
怀感大师
Great Master Huáigan
(净土宗二祖善导大师弟子)
[Pure Land Tradition’s Second Patriarch Great Master Shàndao’s Disciple]
《释净土群疑论》
(Treatise Of Explanations On Various Pure Land Doubts)