[154] With The Mind Not Purely Singular, Difficult To Attain Benefits 心不纯一难得益 Dedicate All Practices For Reaching Pure Land 回向一切修行于往生净土

心不纯一难得益
[154] [With The] Mind Not Purely Singular, Difficult [To] Attain Benefits
回向一切修行于往生净土
Dedicate All Practices [For] Rebirth [In] Pure Land

善导和尚系弥陀化身，有大神通，有大智慧。其宏阐净土，不尚玄妙，唯在真切平实处教人修持。至于所示专杂二修，其利无穷。

[The Pure Land Tradition’s Second Patriarch Great] Master Shàndǎo [was] connected [to] Amitā[bha Buddha] [i.e. Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛)], [as his] manifestation body, [thus] having great supernormal [powers, and] having great wisdom. His great explanation [of the] Pure Land [teachings, was] yet never mysterious [i.e. abstruse; difficult to understand], only [focusing] on clear [and] sincere, [precise and practical], simple [and] unadorned points, [for] teaching people [to] practise. As for that taught [on] Focused [Cultivation and] Mixed [Cultivation, these] two cultivation [methods], its benefits [are] boundless.

专修谓身业专礼（凡围绕及一切处身不放逸皆是），口业专称（凡诵经咒，能志心回向，亦可名专称），意业专念。如是则往生西方，万不漏一。

Focused Cultivation is to be [with] physical karma focused [on] prostrating [to Āmítuófó] ([while] all circumambulation, and [at] all places [with the] body not [being] heedless], are all [so]), [with] verbal karma focused [on] reciting [Āmítuófó’s name] ([while] all recitation [of] sūtras [and] mantras, [that are] able [to be, with the] sincere mind dedicated [for rebirth in Pure Land], also can [be] named [as] Focused Recitation), [and with] mental karma focused [on] mindfulness [of Āmítuófó]. Thus then [is] rebirth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (西方极乐世界), within] ten thousand [persons], not leaving out one.

[Note 1: Focused Cultivation is to use body, speech and mind (to cultivate these three karmas [三业]) by prostrating to Āmítuófó, reciting his name, and being mindful of his name respectively. However, the three karmas can also be used to practise circumambulation, heedfulness, sūtra-chanting, mantra-chanting etc., as long as they are all sincerely dedicated for reaching Pure Land. Thus practising, all will definitely reach Pure Land.]

杂修谓兼修种种法门，回向往生。以心不纯一，故难得益，则百中希得一二，千中希得三四往生者。

Mixed Cultivation is to also cultivate all kinds [of] Dharma doors, dedicated [for] rebirth [in Pure Land]. With [the] mind not purely singular [or wholehearted in Aspiration for reaching Pure Land], thus [will it be] difficult [to] attain benefits. Then [of] those reborn [there], within [a] hundred, [the] rare [who] attain [it are] one [or] two, [and] within [a] thousand, [the] rare [who] attain [it are] three [or] four.

[Note 2: Mixed Cultivation is to also have various other practices, that are also sincerely dedicated for reaching Pure Land. Both Focused Cultivation and Mixed Cultivation should thus be dedicated sincerely for reaching Pure Land. If this is not done, it will be impossible to reach Pure Land, as there is no clear direction of Aspiration. The following should also be noted:

(i) Having Only Focused Cultivation: Focused Cultivation by itself, with sincere dedication, is already adequate for reaching Pure Land.

(ii) Having Both Focused Cultivation and Mixed Cultivation: As above, ‘Mixed Cultivation is to also have various other practices, that are also sincerely dedicated for reaching Pure Land.’ Thus, Mixed Cultivation can reach Pure Land too, if this is done.

(iii) Having Only Mixed Cultivation: The above does NOT say Mixed Cultivation should not be done for reaching Pure Land. However, it warns that, ‘With the mind not purely singular, thus will it be difficult to attain benefits.’ Thus, to be safe, if there is Mixed Cultivation, it should be to support existing Focused Cultivation, with the same sincere dedication for reaching Pure Land.]

此金口诚言，千古不易之铁案也。

These [are his] golden mouth’s true [and] sincere words, that [for] all eternity [are] unchanging, [with] irrefutable ironclad proof.
_____

二位当以此自利，又当以此普利一切。

[You] both should, with these [teachings] self-benefit, [and] also should with these [teachings] universally benefit all [others].

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）：复永嘉某昆季书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Reply Letter [To A] Certain Yǒngjiā [Layperson [And His] Brother;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百五十四则）：三、示修持方法：戊、评修持各法（第十七则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (154th Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: Fifth, Reviews [On] Practices’ Each Method (17th Short Section)
[Ref: #154 / 3.5.17]

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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