若鸟亦可往生净土，何况人？
[177] If Birds Also Can [Be] Reborn [In] Pure Land, What More Humans?
云南张拙仙次女出嫁时，婿家送双鹅行奠雁礼，彼即放生于华亭山云栖寺，已三年矣。
When Yúnnán’s Zhāng Zhuōxiān’s second daughter [was] getting married, [his] son-in-law’s family sent [a] pair [of] geese [for] practising [the] ritual [of] paying respects [with] wild geese, [with] those then liberated at Mount Huátíng’s Yúnqī Monastery. [This has] already [been] three years.
[Note 1: Using geese for paying respects is an ancient Chinese custom, that is not necessary for Buddhists to do.]
彼二鹅每于晨昏上殿做课诵时，站殿外延颈观佛。
Those two geese, when on every morning [and in the] evening, [would] ascend [to the] hall [for] conducting liturgical recitation, [to] stand outside [the] hall, [and] extend [their] necks [to] view [the] Buddha[‘s image].
[Note 2: This expresses their great reverence to the Buddha and his teachings. To reverently gaze at the Buddha’s image is a form of mindfulness of Buddha (观像念佛) too.]
今年四月，雄者先亡，人不介意。
[In] this year’s fourth month, that male [goose] first died, [with] people not minding [so].
[Note 3: As the goose departed while practising the above daily, there should be a good rebirth, if not the best rebirth in the Buddha’s Pure Land.]
后雌者不食数日，彼来观佛，维那开示，令求往生，不可恋世。
Later, that female [goose did] not eat [for] several days, [and when] that [goose] came [to] view [the] Buddha, [the] Karmadāna [offered] guidance, [to] enable [her to] seek rebirth [in Pure Land, and told her that she] must not [be] attached [to this] world.
[Note 4: This is offering of guidance when approaching life’s end (临终开示), on the right attitude and practice to have, so as to reach the Buddha’s Pure Land.]
遂为念佛数十声。
Thereupon for [her] reciting [the] Buddha[‘s name] [i.e. Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛] several tens [of] times.
[Note 5: This is offering of support-chanting when approaching life’s end (临终助念). Even though the goose could not recite the Buddha’s name verbally, she could still have the true Practice (实行) of listening to it with profound Faith (深信) and sincere Aspiration (切愿), thus connecting to the Buddha, to be received and guided (接引) to his Pure Land. Such listening with the Three Provisions (三资粮) is mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) too.]
鹅绕三匝，两翅一拍即死。
[The] goose circumambulated three rounds, [and with her] two wings once flapping, immediately died.
[Note 6: This is with circumambulation of Buddha having mindfulness of Buddha (绕佛念佛). The ease and speed of her departure expresses the great depth of her Three Provisions.]
拙仙因作《双白鹅往生记》。
Zhuōxiān because [of this] wrote ‘Record [Of A] Pair [Of] White Geese’s Rebirths’.
噫，异哉！一切众生，皆有佛性，皆堪作佛，鹅尚如是，可以人而不如鸟乎？
Wow, [how] extraordinary! [As] all sentient beings, all have Buddha-nature, all can become Buddhas. [With the] geese still like this, [how] can [we] as humans, yet [be] not as good as [these] birds?
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）：复周伯遒书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Zhōu Bóqiú;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百七十七则）：三、示修持方法：己、勉行人努力（第八则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (177th Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: Sixth, Encouragement Of Practitioners To Strive Diligently (8th Short Section)
[Ref: #177 / 3.6.8]
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
https://purelanders.com/jinghualu
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https://purelanders.com/2020/06/04/how-amituofo-manifested-to-guide-to-his-pure-land-with-twelve-skilful-means-as-a-parrot
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https://purelanders.com/2024/11/21/37-from-babaers-mouth-grew-a-lotus-flower
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https://purelanders.com/2025/02/13/118-how-our-bird-sprouty-hopped-onto-amituofos-palm
