Translations

[294] Differences Of Buddhist And Taoist Teachings 佛教与道教之别

窃以释、道本源,原无二致。其末流支派,实有天殊。

With due respect, regarding Buddhism [and] Taoism’s original source, [it is] originally without two returned [to. However], their ending streams [i.e. later degenerate stages] [and] branches [i.e. branching sects], truly have differences [far apart, like the] sky [and the earth].

佛教教人,最初先修四念处观。观身不净,观受是苦,观心无常,观法无我。

[The] Buddha’s teachings teach people, [to] start [by] first cultivating [the] Four Mindfulness Foundations’ contemplations. Contemplate [the] body [to be] impure, contemplate feelings [to] be suffering, contemplate [the] mind [to be] impermanent, [and] contemplate dharmas [to be] without self.

既知身、受、心、法,全属幻妄,苦、空、无常、无我、不净,则真如妙性,自可显现矣。

Already knowing [that the] body, feelings, mind [and] dharmas, entirely belong [to the] illusory [and] false, suffering, emptiness, impermanence, selflessness [and] impurity, then True Thusness’ wonderful nature, naturally can appear.

道教约原初正传,亦不以炼丹运气,唯求长生为事。后世凡依道教而修者,无一不以此为正宗也。

[The] Taoist teachings, [if] restricted [to their] original beginning’s orthodox teachings, also [were] not with concocting [of] pills [and] transferring [of] qì [i.e. vitality], only [with] seeking [of] long life as practice. Those later generations [who] all rely on [the] Taoist teachings [to] then cultivate, [are] without one not regarding this as [their] orthodox tradition.

佛教大无不包,细无不举。不但身心性命之道,发挥罄尽无余。即小而世谛中孝弟忠信、礼义廉耻等,亦毫善弗遗。

[The] Buddha’s teachings [are] great without [that] not contained, [and] fine without [that] not raised. Not only [is it the] path of [the] body [and] mind’s life, brought out [and] exhausted entirely, without [that] remaining, even [the] smaller and worldly truths within, [on] filial piety, brotherly fraternity, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, righteousness, integrity, shamefulness [and] others, [are] also [with the] slightest good not omitted.

唯于炼丹运气等,绝无一字言及,而且深以为戒。

Only with concocting [of] pills, transferring [of] qì [and] others, absolutely without one word speaking of [them], moreover seriously with [them] as [those] warned against.

以一则令人知身心为幻妄,一则令人保身心为真实耳。此所谓心,乃指随缘生灭之心,非本有真心也。

[This is] with one [i.e. Buddhism], then leading people [to] know [their] bodies [and] minds, as [those] illusory [and] false, [and] one [i.e. Taoisim], then leading people [to] take care [of their] bodies [and] minds, as [those] true only. This so-called mind, thus refers [to the] mind that accords [with] conditions [to] arise [and] cease, not [the] originally possessed true mind.

炼丹一法,非无利益,但可延年益寿,极而至于成仙升天。若曰了生脱死,乃属梦话。

Concocting [of] pills, [this] one method, [is] not without benefits, but only can lengthen years [to] benefit lifespan, [with the] utmost then going so far as to become [an] ‘immortal’ [i.e. just with a longer life] [and] ascend [to the] heavens [i.e. with an even longer but still limited life]. If speaking [of] liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, [this] thus belongs [to] dream talk.

[Note: The Buddhist path to be true ‘immortals’ with immeasurable life (无量寿) is to be reborn in Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) Pure Land (净土).]

Namo Amituofo : Translation and note 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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