三界无安，极乐最乐
[170] [The] Three Realms [Are] Without Peace, [While The Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss Has [The] Most Bliss
人生世间，具足八苦。
Human life [in this] world, [is] complete [with the] eight sufferings.
[Note 1: The Eight Sufferings (八苦) are the Physical Sufferings (身苦) of (i) birth (生), (ii) ageing (老), (iii) sickness (病) and (iv) death (死), and the Mental Sufferings (心苦) of (v) separation from the beloved (爱别离), (vi) meeting the hated (怨憎会), (vii) not attaining the sought (求不得) and (viii) blazing of the Five Aggregates (五蕴炽盛) (of forms [色], feelings [受], perceptions [想], mental formations [行] and consciousness [识]).]
纵生天上，难免五衰。
Even if born [in the] heavens above, [it is] difficult [to] avoid [the] five decaying [forms].
[Note 2: The five decaying forms (五衰相) are (i) with flowers on the head withering (头上华萎), (ii) armpits beneath sweating (腋下汗出), (iii) standing and sitting not stable (起坐不定) (due to uneasiness), (iv) energy weakening (气力衰微), while all these heavenly beings are without their family members (免其眷属) (who stay away due to fear), (v) with mostly being restless (多诸掉举).]
唯西方极乐世界，「无有众苦，但受诸乐」。
Only [those in the] Western [Pure] Land [Of] Ultimate Bliss, [are] ‘without all [kinds of] suffering, [and] only receive all [kinds of] bliss.’
经云：「三界无安，犹如火宅。众苦充满，甚可怖畏。」
[The Lotus] Sūtra says, ‘[The] three realms [are] without peace, similar to [a] burning house. [With] all [kinds of] suffering filled fully, [that are] extremely terrifying.’
[Note 3: The three realms (三界) are the (i) desire realm (欲界), (ii) form realm (色界) and (iii) formless realm (无色界).]
人命无常，速如电光。大限到来，各不相顾。一切有为法，如梦幻泡影。
Human life’s impermanence, [is] quick like lightning. [When the] great limit arrives, each [can]not look after one another. All conditioned dharmas, [are] like dreams, illusions, bubbles [and] shadows.
于此犹不惺悟，力修净业，则与木石无情，同一生长于天地之间矣。有血性汉子，岂肯生作走肉行尸，死与草木同腐。
Relying on this, still not awakening, [to] diligently cultivate pure karmas, then with trees [and] rocks, [the] non-sentient [the] same, [for this] one life born [and] growing in between [the] heavens [and] earth [only. If there] are staunch [and] upright fellows, how can [they be] willing [to, when] living become walking flesh [and] walking corpses, [and when] dead, with grasses [and] trees together rot?
高推圣境，自处凡愚。遇大警策而不愤发，闻圣贤佛祖之道而不肯行。是天负人耶，抑人负天耶？
[With the] highly recommended noble realm, [yet] personally dwelling [as the] ordinary [and] ignorant. Encountering great admonitions, yet not roused to vigorous action, hearing [the] path of [the] noble [and] virtuous, [the] Buddhas [and] Patriarchs, yet not willing [to] practise [it]. Is [this the] heavens betraying humans, or humans betraying [the] heavens?
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》（正编）：复林介生书二；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Second Reply Letter [To] Lín Jièshēng;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百七十则）：三、示修持方法：己、勉行人努力（第一则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (170th Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: Sixth, Encouragement Of Practitioners To Strive Diligently (1st Short Section)
[Ref: #170 / 3.6.1]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关典籍
Related Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
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