劝僧
[5] Encouragement [For] Monastics
僧家当自念云：「我为出家人，了达生死乃本分事。不能如此，遂汩没俗尘，一日大限到来，有何倚赖？」
Monastics should personally think, saying, ‘[For] me, as [a] person [who has] departed [from the] household [life], attaining liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death [is] thus [a] matter [of] one’s responsibility. Not able [to practise] like this, thereupon submerged [and] drowning [in] worldly dusts, one day, [when the] great limit arrives, what [can there] be to rely on?’
平日虽有善业，不免逐轮回去。善业报尽，又复坠堕。
[In] ordinary days, although having good karmas, unavoidably, one by one [will] go [to be] reborn. [When] good karmas’ rewards exhaust, again [will there be] falling.
[原眉批：既已出家，即当持戒念佛，自度度人。若复空过一生，则辜负亲恩，虚受信施，纵不坠堕，能无愧乎？]
[Original headnotes: Since already departed (from the) household (life), immediately should (there be) upholding (of the) precepts (with) mindfulness (of) Buddha, (to) self-deliver (and) deliver others. If again emptily passing (this) one life, then letting down relatives’ kindness, (with) false receiving (of) devotees’ generosity, even (if) not falling, (how is one) able (to be) without shame?]
不如早修净土，直脱轮回，面见阿弥陀佛，方是出家事毕。
It would be better to sooner cultivate [the] Pure Land [path, to] directly liberate [from] rebirth, [to] face [and] see Āmítuófó. Then is departure [from the] household [life’s] practice complete.
如永明寿禅师、长芦赜禅师、万年一禅师皆修此道，又转以化人，使更相劝化，岂可不效彼乎？
Like Chán Master Yǒngmíng Shòu, Chán Master Zhǎnglú Zé [and] Chán Master Wànnián Yī, [they] all cultivated this path, again conveying, with [it] transforming people, causing even more [to] encourage [and] transform one another, how can [there] not [be] emulating [of] those?
凡受人一钱之施、一食之供，皆当为说净土，以报其德。
[Of] all receiving [other] persons’ giving of one qián, [and] offering of one meal, all should for [them] speak [the] Pure Land [path], with [this for] repaying their virtue.
纵彼不信，亦使知之，耳根渐熟，久而自信。若或便信，其利益大矣。
Even those [who do] not believe, [will] also [be] caused [to] know it. [With their] ear root gradually matured, gradually then, naturally believing. If perhaps then believing, their benefits [will be] great.
常如此化人，现世则为人所敬，己之善缘愈见纯熟，又能精心观想，不久必见佛之真身。
Constantly like this transforming people, [in this] present life, then by people those respected. [With the] good conditions of oneself [and] more views skilful, also able [to, with the] utmost careful mind contemplate, not long [after] definitely seeing [the] true body of [the] Buddha.
[Note: However, it is difficult to visualise the Buddha, while wholehearted mindfulness of his name (一心念佛) will lead to sight of him in good time.]
此报身尽后，必上品上生，为不退转地菩萨矣。
After this retribution body ends, [there will] definitely [be the] High Grade’s High Birth, as non-retrogression ground’s Bodhisattvas.
古语云：「此身不向今生度，更向何生度此身？」当常念此意，不可懈怠。
[An] ancient saying says, ‘[With] this body not towards this life delivered, then towards which life delivering this body?’ [There] should constantly [be] mindfulness [of] this meaning, [and there] must not [be] laziness.
宋‧王日休
Sòng [Dynasty’s] Wáng Rìxiū
《龙舒净土文》
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
第六卷：特为劝谕三十七篇
Sixth Scroll: Thirty-Seven Essays Specially [For] Encouragement [And] Instruction
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
