附佛外道如何传道
[295] How External Paths Attached [To] ‘Buddhism’ Transmit [Their] Paths
今之外道，遍世间皆是。以佛法深妙，人莫能知。彼遂窃取佛法之名，而不知其义，遂以炼丹运气保身之法，认做了生脱死之法。
Nowadays, those external paths, are all everywhere [in the] world. With [the] Buddha’s Dharma [being] profound [and] wonderful, [there are] people not able [to] know [it]. Those thereupon steal [the] names of [the] Buddha’s Dharma, yet not knowing their meanings, thereupon with methods of concocting pills [for ‘immortality’] [and] transferring qì [i.e. vitality] [for] taking care [of the] body, recognised as ‘methods’ of liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death.
[Note 1: 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).]
且彼等既不知生死因何而有，故瞎造谣言，谓炼精化气，炼气化神，炼神还虚，复合一处，为得道。实则完全是识神用事，心性真如实际之理体，绝未梦见。
Moreover, those kinds, since not knowing [the cycle of] birth [and] death [has] what cause [to] then exist, thus blindly create rumours, speak of refining essence [for] transforming qì, refining qì [for] transforming [the] consciousness, [and] refining [the] consciousness [for] returning [to] empty [space], again combining [in] one place, as attaining [the] ‘path’. Actually, [this is] totally [the] consciousness handling matters. [The] principles’ nature of mind-nature’s True Thusness’ reality, [is] absolutely yet [to be in] dreams seen.
尚自诩云：「六祖乱传法，法归在家人，僧家无有法。」此语不但说之于口，而且笔之于书。以假毁真，以邪为正，无知无识之人，遂被彼所惑。
Also self-proclaiming, saying, ‘[As the] “Sixth Patriarch” chaotically transmitted [the] Dharma, [the] Dharma returned [to] householder persons, [with] monastics not having [the] Dharma.’ [With] these words, not only speaking them with [their] mouths, moreover writing them in books. With [the] false destroying [the] true, with [the] evil as [the] right, those persons ignorant [and] without knowledge, [are] thereupon by those confused.
而彼外道能遍传于世者，得力有二种法。
And those external paths [are] able [to be] everywhere transmitted in [the] world. [Those] able [to do so] have two kinds [of] methods.
一则秘传，谓一得明师真传，不修即成。
First then, [is with] secret transmission, saying [that] once attaining [a] wise [and] capable teacher’s true transmission, [with] no cultivation, [one can] immediately [become] accomplished.
故神其说曰：「老鼠听见，老鼠都会成。雀子听见，雀子都会成。」故其传道时，必须在密室中，小声气说，外面尚要派人巡查，恐有盗听者。
Thus mysteriously [with] that saying, ‘[If a] mouse hears [and] sees [it], all mice can accomplish [it. If a] sparrow hears [and] sees [it], all sparrows can accomplish [it].’ Thus, when they transmit [their] paths, [it] must [be] within secret rooms, [with] low voices speaking, [with the] outside also needing [to] dispatch people [for] patrolling, fearing [that there] are those eavesdropping.
二则严示禁令，虽父子夫妇之亲，均不与说，说之必受天谴。
Second then, [is with] strict orders [of] prohibition. Although [with] relatives, those fathers [and] sons, husbands [and] wives, also not with [them] speaking [of it, with] speaking [of] it definitely receiving heavenly wrath.
故于未传道前，先令发咒，后若反道，则受如何之惨报。发咒以后方传道，此后纵有知其非者，以其惧咒神，宁死也不敢出此道外而学佛法。假使外道去秘传而公开，普令大家同闻，亦不令人发咒，则举世之人，有几个肯入彼道者乎？
Thus before, when yet [to] transmit [the] path, first leading [them to] vow, [that] if [they] later contradict [i.e. oppose] [the] path, [they will] then receive whatever [kind] of tragic retribution. Vowing afterwards, then transmitting [the] path. After this, even if having those knowing it [is] wrong, with their fear [of that] vow’s ‘god’, rather [to] die, also not daring [to] exit this path [to it] outside, [to] then learn [the] Buddha’s Dharma. If external paths remove [this] secret transmission and [go] public, [to] universally lead everyone [to] together hear [it], also not leading people [to] vow, then of people throughout the world, how many are [there] willing [to] enter those paths?
[Note 2: Such unreasonable secrecy and unfounded fear are used together to recruit and retain ‘loyal’ followers.]
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》（续编）：与庄慧炬书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Letter For Zhuāng Huìjù;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第两百九十五则）：八、释普通疑惑：论舍利（第四十四则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (295th Short Section): 8th [Chapter]: Explanations [On] Common Doubts [And] Confusions: Discussions [On] Śarīras (44th Short Section)
[Ref: #295 / 8.44]
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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