苦为成佛之本
[298] Suffering As [The] Root Of Accomplishing Buddhahood
诸佛以八苦为师，成无上道，是苦为成佛之本。
All Buddhas [are] with [the] eight sufferings as [their] teachers, [for] accomplishing [the] unsurpassable path. [This] is [with] suffering as [the] root of accomplishing Buddhahood.
[Note: 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]).]
又佛令弟子，最初即修不净观，观之久久，即可断惑证真，成阿罗汉，则不净又为清净之本。
Also, [the] Buddha led [his] disciples, [to] first then cultivate impurity’s contemplation. [With] contemplation [of] it [for a] long time, then could [they] sever confusions [and] realise [the] truth, [to] accomplish Arhathood. Then [can the] impure, also be [the] root of purity.
北俱卢洲之人，了无有苦，故不能入道。
[As] people of [the] Northern Kuru Continent [i.e. Uttarakuru], completely [do] not have suffering, thus [are they] not able [to] enter [the] path.
南阎浮提苦事甚多，故入佛道以了生死者，莫能穷数。
[As this] Southern Jambu [Continent] [i.e. Jambudvīpa], [is with] sufferings’ matters extremely many, thus [are] those entering [the] Buddha path for liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, not able [to be] completely counted.
使世间绝无生老病死、刀兵水火等苦，则人各醉生梦死于逸乐中，谁肯发出世心，以求了生死乎？
If [the] world [is] absolutely without birth, ageing, sickness [and] death, wars, floods [and] fires, [and other] kinds [of] suffering, then [will] people each [be] drunk [when] living [and] dreaming [when] dying, within leisurely pleasures. Who [will be] willing [to] give rise [to the] world-transcending mind, for seeking liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death?
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）：复袁福球书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Yuán Fúqiú;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第两百九十八则）：八、释普通疑惑：论舍利（第四十七则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (298th Short Section): 8th [Chapter]: Explanations [On] Common Doubts [And] Confusions: Discussions [On] Śarīras (47th Short Section)
[Ref: #298 / 8.47]
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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