了生死，不在多
[35] Liberation [From The Cycle Of] Birth [And] Death, [Does] Not Care [About] Much
彻祖、省祖之少著作，亦各人之心愿耳。其道德之优劣，固不以著作之多少为定。
Of [the Pure Land Tradition’s 12th] Patriarch [Great Master] Chè[wù and [the 11th] Patriarch [Great Master] Xǐng[‘ān having] few writings, [these are] likewise of [their] personal wishes only. [That] good [and] bad of [their] path’s virtues, certainly [is] not with many [or] few writings, [by this] to be determined.
古今有法身示现，但少数言句，无所著作者多多也。何得在此处生疑？
[As from] ancient [to] modern [times, the] Dharma Body [has been] manifesting, however [with] few words [and] lines, without that [of] writings [being] very many. Why must [there] be, in this aspect, giving rise [to] doubt?
[177] 要了生死，做到哪一点就足够了？
[177] [If] Wanting Liberation [From The Cycle Of] Birth [And] Death, Accomplishing Which One Point Will [Be] Enough?
须知吾人欲了生死，实不在多，只一真信切愿，念佛求生西方足矣。
[It] should [be] known [that if] we desire [to be] liberated [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, [this] truly [does] not [depend] on much, only [needing] singular true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, [to be] mindful [of] Buddha [to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界) is] enough.
[Note 1: This is so as once born in the Pure Land, as one will not backslide to rebirth, while being bound for Buddhahood as swiftly as possible, one is already as if ‘liberated’.]
纵饶读尽大藏，亦不过为成就此事而已。
Even if [with] abundant study [that] exhausts [the] Great Treasury [Of Sūtras, it is] also no more than [to] accomplish this matter only.
[Note 2: The ultimate collective purpose of all teachings in the Buddhist scriptures is to point towards the path to Buddhahood, which is complete liberation with full enlightenment.]
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》（三编）：复唯佛居士书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Layperson Wéifó;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第三十五则）：二、诫信愿真切：乙、劝祛疑生信（第十一则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (35th Short Section): 2nd [Chapter]: Admonishment [For] Faith [And] Aspiration [To Be] True [And] Sincere: Second, Exhortation [To] Dispel Doubts [And] Give Rise [To] Faith (11th Short Section)
[Ref: #35 / 2.2.11]
是则多亦归少，少亦归多。
[This] is then [with] much likewise returning [to] less, [and with] less likewise returning [to] much.
[Note 3: Much theoretical learning eventually leads to less here, in terms of having the one Main Practice (正行) of mindfulness of Buddha for definitive progress. It is sufficient as it leads to Buddhahood, which is in turn much, as all to be learnt will be realised fully then.]
多少同为成就此事而已。
[That] much [or] less [are] for accomplishing this matter, [and] nothing more.
[Note 4: Even if learning much, it should still lead to focused practice, to reach Pure Land, for progress towards Buddhahood. Thus, that less includes the essence of that much. In this sense, learning less should not be disparaged, as long as the Main Practice is embraced. Learning more should not lead to loss of focus, or the essence of that much will be lost. (Buddhahood accomplished will naturally lead to deliverance of all beings.)]
则多不为多，少不为少矣。
Then [is that] much not as [that] much, [and that] less not as [that] less.
[Note 5: With true learning and practice, that much leads to that less, which makes that much as if not that much, just as that less leads to that much, which makes that less as if not that less.]
《复唯佛居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Layperson Wéifó
净土宗十三祖印光大师著
Written [By] Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师答念佛600问》
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Answers [For] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’s 600 Questions
传印法师鉴定
Evaluated [By] Dharma Master Chuányìn
Námó Āmítuófó : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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作大丈夫，众生之大导师
[36] Become A Person Of Great Character, A Great Guiding Teacher Of All Sentient Beings
https://purelanders.com/2024/06/19/36-become-a-person-of-great-character-a-great-guiding-teacher-of-all-sentient-beings
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不依净土证果皆狂妄
[34] Those Not Relying On Pure Land To Realise Fruits Are All Arrogant
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完整典籍
Complete Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
https://purelanders.com/jinghualu
