至人延年说
[4] Utmost Person’s Extension [Of] Life’s Instructions
予尝闻至人云：「人生衣食财禄，阴司皆有定数。若俭约不贪，则可延寿；奢侈过求，受尽则终。」
I once heard [an] utmost person say, ‘[Of] human life’s clothing [and] food, wealth [and] official salary, [the] netherworld [for] all have fixed quantities. If [with] thriftiness [and] frugality not greedy, then can [one] extend lifespan. [If with] extravagant seeking, receiving then ends.’
譬如人有钱一千，日用一百，则可十日；日用五十，可二十日。
For example, like [a] person [who] has one thousand qiáns, daily using one hundred, then can [they be used for] ten days. [If] daily using fifty, [then] can [they be used for] twenty days.
若恣纵贪侈，立见败亡，则若一千之数，一日用尽，可不畏哉！
If without restraint indulging [with] greed extravagant, immediately seeing [him] defeated [and] dispersed. Then if [with the] number of one thousand, [in] one day using [them] completely, how can [this] not [be] feared?
[原眉批：一饮一啄虽前定，惟惜福者可以增福。]
[Original headnotes: (Each) one drink (and) one peck, although previously fixed, (it is) only (with) those cherishing blessings (who) can increase (their [existing]) blessings.]
《易》称：「天地之数，五十有五，所以成变化，而行鬼神」，是天地之大、变化之妙、鬼神之奥，犹不逃于数，况于人乎？
‘[The Book Of] Changes’ Appended Words’ Upper Record’《周易系辞上传》says, ‘[The (representative)] number of [the] heavens [and] earth [is] fifty-five, therefore [with it] accomplishing transformations, then [with the] actions [of] ghosts [and] gods.’ [With] this greatness of [the] heavens [and] earth, wonders of transformations, [and] mysteriousness of ghosts [and] gods, still not escaping from [this] number, moreover for humans?
或谓人有廉俭而命促、贪侈而寿长者，何也？廉俭而命促者，当生之数少也，若更贪侈，则愈促矣；贪侈而寿长者，当生之数多也，若更廉俭，则愈长矣。
Perhaps speaking [of] persons [who] have honesty [and] thriftiness, yet [with] lifespans hastened, [and] those [with] greed [and] extravagance, yet [with] lifespans long, why [are they so]? Those [with] honesty [and] thriftiness, yet [with] lifespans hastened, [are with] this life’s number [of years] few. If [with] even more greed [and] extravagance, then [are they] more hastened. Those [with] greed [and] extravagance, yet [with] lifespans long, [are with] this life’s number [of years] many. If [with] even more honesty [and] thriftiness, then [are they] more long.
[原眉批：百忧劳心，百味悦口，一餐之间，害及百命，此皆自促其天年也。]
[Original headnotes: (With a) hundred worries wearying (the) mind, (and a) hundred flavours pleasing (the) mouth, within one meal, (with) harm reaching (a) hundred lives, all these hasten natural (lifespan’s) years.]
且天地于人无私，何谓当生之数有多少乎？此皆前世所为耳。故曰：「要知前世因，今生受者是。」
Moreover, [as the] heavens [and] earth, to people, [are] without selfishness, how [can they] say this life’s number [of years] has how many? These [are] all [from] past lives, those done only. Thus saying, ‘[If] wanting [to] know past lives’ causes, those [in] this life received are [from them].’
唯现世多为吉善则增福寿，故曰：「神之听之，介尔景福。」
Only [in this] present life [with] much doing [of the] auspicious [and] good, then increases blessings [and] lifespans, thus saying, ‘[With] those gods those helped, thus [with] great blessings.’
现世多为罪恶则减福寿，故曰：「多行不义必自毙。」
[In this] present life [with] much doing [of] transgressive evils, then decreases blessings [and] lifespans, thus saying, ‘[With] many actions not righteous, definitely [will there be] self-destruction.’
且修净土者，固不在福寿之多。然损福寿之事则是薄德耳，岂可不戒哉？增福寿之事则是厚德耳，岂可不勉哉？
Moreover, those cultivating [the] Pure Land [path], certainly do not care [about] blessings [and] lifespans, [with] those [being] more [or less]. However, [if with] practices that damage blessings [and] lifespans, then is [there] thin virtue only, how can [they] not [be] abstained [from]? [If with] practices that increase blessings [and] lifespans, then is [there] thick virtue only, how can [they] not [be] encouraged?
宋‧王日休
Sòng [Dynasty’s] Wáng Rìxiū
《龙舒净土文》
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
第九卷：助修上品十六篇
Ninth Scroll: Sixteen Essays [On] Supportive Cultivation [For] High Grade
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
《龙舒净土文》
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text
https://purelanders.com/longshu
