求子生子，与养子之道
[305] [The] Path Of Seeking, Birthing And Nurturing Children
求子之道
[The] Path Of Seeking Children
求子之道，人多背驰。汝欲得身体庞厚，性情贤善，福慧寿三，通皆具足之子，须依我说，方可遂心。
[On the] path of seeking children, people [are with] many [turning their] backs [on it, then] galloping [away] [背道而驰]. [If] you desire [to] gain that child [with a] body big [and] strong, [with] disposition virtuous [and] good, [with] blessings, wisdom [and] longevity, [these] three, all complete, [you] must rely [on what] I say. Then can [there be what] complies [with your] mind.
（求子三要：第一，保身节欲，以培先天。第二，敦伦积德，以立福基。第三，胎幼善教，以免随流。见《续编·礼念观音求子疏》）
(Seeking children [has] three essentials. First, take care [of the] body [and] moderate desires, so as to cultivate [the] innate. Second, have harmonious human relationships [and] accumulate merits, so as to establish blessings’ foundation. Third, [when in the] womb [and] young teach well, so as to avoid following [the] flow [of others]. See ‘Second Compilation’s Prostration [To And] Mindfulness [Of] Contemplator [Of] Sounds [Bodhisattva For] Seeking Children’s Commentary’)
世人无子，多娶妾媵，常服壮阳之药，常行房事，此乃速死之道，非求子之方也。幸而得子，亦如以秕稻种之，或不出，或出亦难成熟。
[The] world’s people without children, [are with] many marrying consorts [and] concubines, often taking medicine that strengthen virility, [and] often having sexual intercourse. This thus [is the] path of quick death, not [the] method of seeking children. [Those] fortunate, then getting children, [are] also like with rice grains not properly grown planting them, perhaps not growing [further], or [with] growing, also difficult [to] become mature.
第一要断房事，或半年，至少或百日，愈久愈好。当与妇说明，彼此均存此念，另屋居住。若无多屋，决须另床。
First, [there] must [be] severing [of] sexual intercourse, perhaps [for] half [a] year, [or] at least perhaps [for a] hundred days, [the] longer [the] better. [There] should [be] with [your] wife explaining [this, with] each other all retaining this thought. [In] another room reside. If without many rooms, [there] definitely must [be using of] another bed.
平时绝不以妻作妻想，当作姊妹想，不敢起一念之邪念。待身养足后，待妇月经净后，须天气清明，日期吉祥，夜一行之，必得受孕。
[In] normal times, absolutely [do] not [be] with [your] wife as [your] wife thought, [there] should [be with her] as [your] elder sister [or] younger sister thought, not daring [to] give rise [to] one thought that [is an] evil thought. Waiting after [your] bodies [are] nourished sufficiently, waiting after [your] wife’s monthly menstruation [is] clean, [there] must [be] weather clear [and] bright, [on a] date auspicious, [on] that night having [sexual intercourse] once, [with this] definitely becoming pregnant.
从此永断房事，直到生子过百日后，或可再行。妇受孕后，行一次房，胞厚一次，胎毒重一次。且或因子宫常开，致易堕胎。此种忌讳，人多不知。纵有知者，亦不肯依。
From this [with] long severing [from] sexual intercourse, directly until giving birth [to your] child, passing [a] hundred days later, [you] can perhaps again have [it]. After [your] wife becomes pregnant, [if] having sexual intercourse one time, [the] womb [will] thicken one time, [and the] womb’s poison [will become] heavier one time. Moreover, perhaps because [the] uterus often opens, causing easy induced abortion [i.e. miscarriage]. [About] this kind [of] taboo, people mostly [do] not know [it]. Even if having those knowing, [they are] also not willing [to] comply with [it].
（切勿谓光乃出家人，论人行房事。不知此事是世间第一生死关节，正宜救济。见《三编·复蔡锡鼎书》）
([There] absolutely [must] not [be] saying [that Yìn]guāng [印光] [is] thus [a] person [who has] left [the] house[hold life], discussing [about] people’s sexual intercourse matters. Not knowing this matter is [the] world’s first critical [point of] birth [and] death, [that] precisely should [have] salvation [and] aid. See ‘Third Compilation’s Reply Letter [To] Cài Xīdǐng’)
故致或不生，或不成，或孱弱短命。
Thus leading [to] perhaps not [giving] birth, perhaps not forming [well], or [becoming] weak [with a] shortened life.
不知自己不善用心，反说命不好，反将行房当常事，日日行之，不死就算大幸。
Not knowing themselves [to be] not good [at being] wholehearted, instead saying [their] lives [are] not good, [or] instead with having sexual intercourse as [a] routine matter, day [after] day having it, [those] not dying are [already] counted [as being] greatly fortunate.
又要心存慈善，利人利物。利人利物，不一定要钱。存好心，说好话，行好事，凡无利益之心之话之事，均不存不说不行。满腔都是太和元气，生机勃勃。
Also, [there] must [be the] mind retaining benevolence [and] kindness, [for] benefitting people [and] benefitting sentient beings. Benefitting people [and] benefitting sentient beings, not definitely must [be with] money. Retain good thoughts, speak good words, [and] do good deeds. [With] all those thoughts, those words [and] those deeds without benefits, all not retained, not spoken [and] not done. Fully [in the] heart, all [should] be [with] great harmony’s vitality, [and] life force’s exuberance.
又须志诚念「南无观世音菩萨」（就依此念），愈多愈好。早晚礼拜念若干，此外行、住、坐、卧都好念，睡到倒好念，也要心存恭敬，宜穿衫裤，不可赤体。
[There] also must [be] sincere [and] wholehearted reciting [of] ‘Námó Guānshìyīn Púsà’ [i.e. Homage to Contemplator Of The World’s Sounds Bodhisattva] (just follow this [to] recite), [with the] more [the] better. [In the] morning [and at] night prostrating [and] reciting [a] certain number [of times], other [than] this, [when] walking, standing, sitting [and] lying down, all [are] good [for] reciting. Until [you] fall asleep, [is] good [for] reciting [too. This] also must [be with the] mind retaining reverence. [There] should [be] wearing [of] shirt [and] pants. [There] must not [be the] bare body.
[Note: Recitation of Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) name will also do, as he is a Buddha, with perfect compassion for offering abundant blessings too. Perhaps because some associate reciting of his name to support-chanting (助念) for the dying and deceased, the Great Master directly encouraged mindfulness of the Bodhisattva for the living and those about to be born instead.]
宜默念，不宜出声。默念若字多难念，可去「南无」二字，但念「观世音菩萨」五字。白衣咒，念也好，不念也无碍。
[There] should [be] silent recitation, [as it is] not suitable [to be] verbal [then. With] silent recitation, if [the] words [are] many [and] difficult [to] recite, [there] can [be doing] away [with] ‘Námó’, [these] two words, only reciting ‘Guānshìyīn Púsà’, [these] five words. [On the] White-Robed Mantra, reciting [it is] also good, not reciting [is] also without obstruction.
汝如是存心，行事，念，亦令汝妇也如是存心，行事，念，及至临产还念。
You [should] thus retain thoughts, do deeds [and] recite, likewise lead your wife [to] also thus retain thoughts, do deeds [and] recite, up until approaching delivery still reciting.
生子之道
[The] Path Of Birthing Children
临产不可默念，要出声念。旁边照应的人，须大声帮他念。管保了无苦痛难产之事。临产默念不得，以用力送子出，默念或受气病。
[When] approaching delivery, [there] must not [be] silent recitation. [There] must [be] verbal recitation. People [by the] side taking care, must loudly help her [to] recite. [This] guarantees [that there will] completely [be] no matters of suffering [and] pain [of] difficult delivery. [When] approaching delivery, silent recitation must not [be done], with using [of] strength [to] deliver [the] child out, silent recitation [will] perhaps receive breathing’s sickness.
女人一受孕，不可生气，生大气则堕胎。兼以乖戾之气，过之于子，子之性情，当成凶恶。
Women, once becoming pregnant, must not give rise [to] anger, [with] giving rise [to] great anger, then [is] induced abortion. Simultaneously with [the] disagreeable of temper, passing it to [their] children, [the] disposition of [these] children, will become ferocious.
养子之道
[The] Path Of Nurturing Children
又喂儿奶时，必须心气和平。若生大气，奶则成毒，重则即死，轻则半日一日死，决无不死者。小气毒小，虽不死，也须生病。
Also, when feeding children [the mother’s] milk, [there] must [be the] state [of the] mind [at] peace. If giving rise [to] great anger, [the] milk then becomes poisonous, [if] heavier, then immediately dying, lighter then [in] half [a] day, [or] one day dying, definitely without those not dying. [With] little anger’s [i.e. pettiness] poison [being] little, although not dying, [there] also will be sickness.
以故爱生气之女人的儿女，死的多，病的多。自己喂，雇奶母喂，都是一样。
Therefore, [the] sons [and] daughters of women [who] love [to] give rise [to] anger, [are with those] dying many [and those] sick many. [With] oneself feeding, [and with a] hired wet nurse feeding, [they] are all [the] same.
生了大气，万不可喂儿奶，须当下就要放下，令心平气和，过半天再喂。喂时先把奶挤半茶碗，倒了，奶头揩过，再喂，就无祸殃。
[Having] given rise [to] great anger, [there] absolutely must not [be] feeding children [with one’s] milk. [There] must [be, in the] immediate moment, willingness [to] let [it] go. Leading [the] mind [to be] tranquil [with] temperament kindly, passing half [a] day, [then] again feeding. When feeding, first take [the] milk squeezed [into] half [a] teacup, [to be] poured [away] completely. [With the] nipple wiped, again feeding, then [will it be] without misfortune [and] disaster.
若心中还是气烘烘的，就是一天，也喂不得。喂则不死，也须大病。此事古今医书，均未发明。近以阅历，方知其祸。
If [the] mind within is still [with] anger ‘baking’, even if [for] one day, [there] also must not [be] feeding. [With] feeding then not dying, also will [there be] great sicknesses. [Of] this matter, [in] ancient [and] modern medical books, all [have] yet [to] expound [on it]. Recently, with [that] seen [and] heard, then knowing this misfortune.
女子从小，就要学柔和谦逊，后来生子，必易，必善，必不死，必不病。
Females from young, should learn [to be] gentle [and] modest. Later giving birth [to] children, [this] will [be] easy, [and they] will [be] good], will not die [young, and] will not [have great] sicknesses.
凡儿女小时死病，多一半是其母生气之故，少一半是自己命该早死。
[Of] all sons [and] daughters, when young dying [from] sicknesses, more [than] one half are [with the] cause of their mothers giving rise [to] anger. Less [than] one half are [with their] own lives [that] should [have] early deaths.
天下古今，由毒乳所杀儿女，不知有几恒河沙数，可不哀哉！汝为悦亲，故为汝详说。
Under [the] heavens [from] ancient [to] modern [times], due [to] poisonous milk, [with] that killing sons [and] daughters, not knowing [there] are how many Ganges rivers’ sands’ number [of them], how [is this] not pitiable? [As] you [wish to] be [with] pleasing [of your] parents, thus for you detailedly speaking [this].
须劝汝母吃素念佛，求生西方。汝与汝妻，亦各如是。
[There] must [be] encouraging [of] your mother [to] eat [as a] veg[etari]an [and be] mindful [of the] Buddha[‘s name] [i.e. Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛)], [to] seek birth [in his] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss] [西方极乐世界]. You, with your wife, [should] also each [practise] thus.
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）：复张德田书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Zhāng Détián;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第三百零五则）：九、谕在家善信：甲、示伦常大教（第六则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (305th Short Section): 9th [Chapter]: Instructions For Householders [To Be] Good And Faithful: First, Guidance On Proper Human Relationships’ Great Teachings (6th Short Section)
[Ref: #305 / 9.1.6]
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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