盲聋喑痖者亦能往生净土
[37] Those Blind, Deaf [And] Mute [Are] Also Able [To Be] Reborn [In] Pure Land
凡有心者皆堪作佛，何得谓盲聋喑痖不得往生？佛说八难中有盲聋喑痖，谓其难以入道而已。
[As] all those [who] have [the] intention all can become Buddhas, how can [there be] saying [that those] blind, deaf [and] mute cannot [be] reborn [in the Pure Land (净土)]? [The] Buddha spoke [that of the] eight difficulties within, [there] are [those] blind, deaf [and] mute, saying they [are] difficult to enter [the] path, that is all.
[Note 1: The Eight Difficulties (八难) are from not seeing a Buddha (见佛) to hear the Right Dharma (正法), which are the (i) difficulty of being in the hell path (在地狱难), (ii) difficulty of being in the hungry ghost path (在饿鬼难), (iii) difficulty of being in the animal path (在畜生难), (iv) difficulty of being in a long-life heaven (在长寿天难), (v) difficulty of being in border land’s Uttarakuru (在边地之郁单越难), (vi) difficulty of being blind, deaf and/or mute (盲聋喑哑难), (vii) difficulty of having worldly knowledge and intelligence to debate (世智辩聪难), and the (viii) difficulty of being born before a Buddha or after a Buddha (生在佛前佛后难). These difficulties arise from evil karmas, from breaking the precepts.]
果能专精念佛，虽聋子不能听经及善知识开示，瞎子不能看经，究有何碍？喑者无声，痖者不会说话，但能心中默念，亦可现生亲得念佛三昧，临终直登九品。
If able [to have] focused diligence [of] mindfulness [of the] Buddha[‘s name] [i.e. Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛)], although [the] deaf [are] not able [to] listen [to] sūtras and good-knowing friends’ teachings, [and the] blind [are] not able [to] read sūtras, [these] have what obstacles? Those dumb voiceless, [and] those mute [who] cannot speak, [if] only able [to], within [their] minds, [have] silent mindfulness, also can [in this] present life personally attain [the] Samādhi [Of] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, [when] approaching [life’s] end, ascend [the] nine grades.
何可云此等人不得往生？此等人不认真念佛，则不得往生，非此等人虽念佛亦不得往生也。至于残废缺手缺脚者，与此盲聋喑哑者同。
How can [there be] saying [that] these kinds [of] persons cannot [be] reborn [in the Pure Land]? These kinds [of] persons [who are not] earnestly mindful [of the] Buddha, then cannot [be] reborn, not [that] these kinds [of] persons, although mindful [of the] Buddha, also cannot [be] reborn [there]. As for those disabled, lacking hands [and] lacking hands, [they are] with these those blind, deaf [and] mute [the] same.
此之说话，盖是误会《往生论》偈之所致也。偈云：「大乘善根界，等无讥嫌名，女人及根缺，二乘种不生。」
Those [with] this speaking, is because [of] misunderstanding [a] Rebirth Treatise’s verse, by that caused. [The] verse says, ‘[In this] Great Vehicle’s roots’ realm, [is] equality, without [the] contemptuous’ names, women and [those with] roots lacking, [and those of the] Two Vehicles’ seeds [are] not born [there].’
乃是说：「西方极乐世界，是大乘善根人所生之世界，绝无有可以讥毁，可以厌嫌之名字耳。」
[This] actually says, ‘[As the] Western [Pure] Land [Of] Ultimate Bliss [西方极乐世界)], is [the] Great Vehicle’s good roots’ persons’ that born world, [it] absolutely [does] not have [the] names of those [who] can [be] slandered, [who] can [be] detested.’
[Note 2: The Small Vehicle (小乘) focuses on teachings and practices for self-deliverance (自度). The Great Vehicle (大乘) focuses on teachings and practices for self-deliverance and deliverance of others (自度度他).]
下即列出讥嫌之名数种，即女人，六根不具足之人，及声闻缘觉之二乘人，故曰：「女人及根缺，二乘种不生。」乃谓：「西方无有女人，与六根不完足人及小乘人。」
Below immediately lists [the] names [of] several kinds of [those] contemptuous, then [being] women, persons [of] six roots not complete, and [the] Two Vehicles’ persons of Voice-Hearers [and Those By] Conditions Awakened, thus saying, ‘women and [those with] roots lacking, [and those of the] Two Vehicles’ seeds [are] not born [there].’ Thus saying, ‘[The] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss does] not have women, with six roots’ incomplete persons and [the] Small Vehicle’s persons.’
[Note 3: Six Roots (六根):
(1) Eye Root (眼根)
(2) Ear Root (耳根)
(3) Nose Root (鼻根)
(4) Tongue Root (舌根)
(5) Body Root (身根)
(6) Mind Root (意根)]
[Note 4: Two Vehicles (二乘): Those aspiring for self-liberation as (i) Voice-Hearers (声闻) or Arhats (阿罗汉), by learning (and practising) the path through Buddhas and/or their recorded teachings, and (ii) Those By Conditions Awakened (缘觉) or Pratyekabuddhas (辟支佛), by awakening to the path through observing their minds and nature. The Two Vehicles are also form the Small Vehicle (小乘) as their goal is self-liberation, focused on delivering oneself.]
（西方虽有小乘人名字，然皆属发大乘心者，绝无不发大心之声闻缘觉人耳。）非谓此世界之修行者。无智慧人认做此等人不得生西方，其错大矣。
([The] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss], although has [the] Small Vehicle’s persons’ names, however, all belong [to] those [who have] given rise [to the] Great Vehicle’s mind, absolutely without Voice-Hearers [and Those By] Awakened persons, those [who have] not given rise [to the] great mind only.) [This does] not speak of practitioners [in] this world. People without wisdom think [that] these kinds [of] persons cannot attain birth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss]. This mistake [is] great.
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）：复宗灵法师书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Three Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Dharma Master Zōnglíng;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第三十七则）：二、诫信愿真切：乙、劝祛疑生信（第十三则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (37th Short Section): 2nd [Chapter]: Admonishment [For] Faith [And] Aspiration [To Be] True [And] Sincere: Second, Exhortation [To] Dispel Doubts [And] Give Rise [To] Faith (13th Short Section)
[Ref: #37 / 2.2.13]
Namo Amituofo : Translation 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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