「行起解绝」，方有实益
[272] [From] ‘Practice Giving Rise [To] Understanding Severed’, Then Having True Benefits
佛法诸宗修持，必到「行起解绝」，方有实益。
[The] Buddha’s Dharma’s all traditions’ practices, must arrive [at] ‘practice giving rise [to] understanding severed’, then having true benefits.
[Note 1: This is from the saying, ‘From understanding giving rise to practice, from practice giving rise to understanding severed.’ (由解起行，行起解绝). It is first from having theoretical understanding that we give rise to practical practice, while it is later from having this practice reaching its utmost (极), that theoretical understanding is ended, as replaced by actual practical understanding.]
愚谓「起」之一字，义当作「极」。唯其用力之「极」，故致能所双忘，一心彻露。
[I] humbly say [that] ‘giving rise’ [i.e. qǐ], this one word, [should be with its] meaning regarded as ‘utmost’. Only [with] that exerting of efforts ‘utmost’, thus leading [to that] able [to transform (能) (i.e. subject: 主体) and] that [transformable (所) (i.e. object: 客体)] both forgotten, [is the] one mind completely revealed.
[Note 2: For it to be ‘utmost’ (极), the practice (行) of mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) should also be practised thus, with as much wholeheartedness (一心) as possible, thus closing and dissolving the gap between the subject (能), who is the one being mindful, and the object (所), who is the one being mindful of.]
「行」若未「极」，虽能观念，则有能有所，全是凡情用事，全是知见分别，全是知解，何能得其真实利益？
[With] ‘practice’, if yet [to be] ‘utmost’, although able [to] recollect [and be] mindful, then having [that] able [to transform and] having that [transformable, this] is entirely [with] ordinary passions [i.e. feelings and desires] handling matters, is entirely [with] knowing [and] seeing differentiating, is entirely [with] knowledge [then] ‘understanding’. How [is this] able [to] attain its true benefits?
唯其用力及「极」，则能所情见消灭，本有真心发现。
Only [with] that exerting [of] efforts reaching [the] ‘utmost’, then [with that] able [to transform and] that [transformable, their] passions [and] views eliminated, [does the] originally possessed true mind arise [and] appear.
故古有「死木头人」，后来道风，辉映古今，其利益皆在「极」之一字耳。
Thus, [the] ancients have ‘dead wooden persons’, [whose] later paths’ styles, [have] splendour shining [from] ancient [to] modern [times]. Their benefits [are] all in ‘utmost’, this one word only.
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）：复范古农书一；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): First Reply Letter [To] Fàn Gǔnóng;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第两百七十二则）：八、释普通疑惑：论悟证（第二十一则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (272nd Short Section): 8th Chapter: Explanations [On] Common Doubts [And] Confusions: Discussion [On] Awakening [And] Realisation (21st Short Section)
[Ref: #272 / 8.21]
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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