若不能静，则动中静
[164] If Not Able [To Be] Still, Then Within [The] Moving Stilling
玉峰法师行持虽好，见理多偏。即如《念佛四大要诀》，其意亦非不善，而措词立论，直与古德相反。
Dharma Master Yùfēng’s practices, although good, [have] views [and] principles [with] many biasnesses. Even if [his] ‘Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’s Four Great Secrets Of Success’, its meanings, [are] also not not good, yet [its] wording [and] propositions, [are] directly with [the] ancient virtuous [ones’] contradicting one another.
「不除妄想，不求一心」，全体背谬。经教人「一心」，彼教人「不求」。夫「不除妄想」，能「一心」乎？
[On] ‘not eliminate false thoughts, not seek wholeheartedness’, [this is] entirely absurd. [The] sūtras teach people [to have] ‘wholeheartedness’, [yet] he taught people [to] ‘not seek’ [it. If] those [do] ‘not eliminate false thoughts’, [how are they] able [to have] ‘wholeheartedness’?
取法乎上，仅得其中，岂可因不得而不取法乎？若以不得而令人不取法，是令人取法乎下矣！
Obtaining [the] Dharma in [that] above, only [then] attaining that within, How can [there be], because [of] not attaining [that], then not obtaining [the] Dharma? If with not attaining [that], then leading people [to] not obtain [the] Dharma, this leads people [to] obtain [the] Dharma in [that] below!
[Note 1: There should be striving ‘upwards’, towards ‘wholeheartedness without being scattered’ (一心不乱) (by false thoughts) (妄想), as taught by Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛) in Amitābha Sūtra《阿弥陀经》, even if, and especially if it is not attained yet. This is so as the very point of Pure Land practice in this life is to become as wholehearted as possible, for connecting to Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛), to reach his Pure Land (净土).
That said, it is wholeheartedness in terms of utmost sincerity (至诚心), that is more important than that in terms of single-mindedness of concentration (定). This is so as with such sincerity, the mind will connect to Āmítuófó’s blessings to be further gathered, thus ‘without being scattered’ by all other thoughts. This is the true concentration or samādhi (三摩地) that arises from mindfulness of Buddha (念佛).]
大势至云：「都摄六根，净念相继。」
Great Power Arrived [Bodhisattva] [大势至菩萨] said, ‘Gather[ing] all six roots, [with] pure mindfulness [in] continuous succession.’
[Note 2: See ‘The Great Buddha Crown’s Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section On Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha’ 《大佛顶首楞严经大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》for the complete teachings: https://purelanders.com/yuantong]
彼极力教人散心念，不赞扬摄心念。念佛虽一切无碍，然欲亲证三昧，能静固好，不能静，亦无妨即动而静。
[However], he [i.e. Dharma Master Yùfēng’s] did [his] utmost [to] teach people [to be with the] scattered mind recite [the Buddha’s name] [i.e. Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛)], [and did] not praise gathering [of the] mind [to] recite. Mindfulness [of] Buddha, although [is with] all without obstacles, however, desiring [to] personally realise samādhi, [if] able [to be] ‘still’, [this] certainly [is] good. Not able [to be] ‘still’, [is] also harmless, then moving yet ‘still[ing]’.
彼直以静为邪，谓大违执持名号忆佛念佛之旨。其过何可胜言？
He [was] directly with [being] ‘still’ as evil, saying [this] greatly violates [the] purpose of firmly upholding [the Buddha’s] name, [to] recollect [the] Buddha [and be] mindful [of the] Buddha. [On] its faults, how can [they be] completely spoken?
且念佛一法，圆该一代一切法门。而「静」之一字，尚隔其外，岂可谓为净宗真善知识？
Moreover, mindfulness [of] Buddha, [this] one Dharma [Door], completely brings together [the Buddha’s] one whole lifetime’s all Dharma Doors. Yet, of ‘still’, [this] one word, still separated [from] it outside, how can [he be] called as [the] Pure [Land] Tradition’s true good-knowing friend?
祈二次再版，删去此《四大要诀》。庶初机不致受病，而通人无由见诮也。
[I] implore [that the] second reprint, [be] deleted [of] these ‘Four Great Secrets Of Success’. Hopefully, beginners [are] not likely to receive [this] sickness, and people [with] wide knowledge [are] without reason [to] see [and] ridicule [this].
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）：复丁福保书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Dīng Fúbǎo;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百六十四则）：三、示修持方法：戊、评修持各法（第二十七则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (164th Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: Fifth, Reviews [On] Practices’ Each Method (27th Short Section)
[Ref: #164 / 3.5.27]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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修身口意，智断烦情
[165] Cultivate Body, Speech And Mind, For Wisdom To Sever Afflictions And Passions
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修净土者应多读《净土五经》
[163] Those Cultivating The Pure Land Path Should Study The Pure Land Tradition’s Five Sūtras More
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完整典籍
Complete Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
https://purelanders.com/jinghualu
