如何临终时，无可怜现象
[175] How [To Be] Without Pitiful Phenomena When Approaching [Life’s] End
黄后觉之现象，颇与学佛之人有大利益。无论彼之究竟是往生，是堕落，且不必论。
[The] phenomenon of Huáng Hòujué, [can] perhaps give those people [who are] learning Buddhism, [that which] have great benefits. Regardless of [whether] he was in the end reborn [in Pure Land] [净土], [or] has fallen, [this] moreover need not [be] discussed.
果念佛人，知彼临终之现象，决不敢浮游从事于了生死一法也。
If [as] persons mindful [of the] Buddha[‘s name] [i.e. 阿弥陀佛 (Āmítuófó)], knowing that phenomenon of approaching [life’s] end, [they] definitely [will] not dare [to be] drifting [when] handling [the] matter [of] liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death [with this] one Dharma [Door Of Mindfulness Of Buddha] [念佛法门].
观彼之行迹，似乎至诚。观彼临终所现之景象，盖平日未曾认真从心地上用功，并从前或有悭于财而致人丧命，或悭于言而致人丧命等业之所致也。
Contemplating his those practices’ traces, [they were] seemingly sincere. Contemplating those circumstances that appeared [when] approaching [life’s] end, [they were] because [of, in] ordinary days, not yet earnestly from [the] mind ground above [being] diligent. And from [the] past, perhaps having stinginess of wealth, then leading people [to] lose [their] lives, or stinginess of words, then leading people [to] lose [their] lives [and] other karmas, by those caused.
（悭于言，致人丧命者，如自知有寇，并知可避之处，以心无慈悲，乐人得祸，故不肯说。此事此心，极犯天地鬼神之怒。故致临终前不能言，而且恶闻念佛等相。）
(Those [with] stinginess of words, leading people [to] lose [their] lives, [is] like [with] oneself knowing [there] are bandits, and knowing [there are] places that can avoid [them, yet] with [their] minds without loving-kindness [and] compassion, delighting [in] others getting misfortunes, thus not [being] willing [to] speak [of them]. This matter [and] this mind, [might] incur [the] extreme fury of [the] heavens [and] earth’s ghosts [and] gods. Thus leading [to, when] approaching, before [life’s] end, not [being] able [to] speak, moreover detesting hearing [about] mindfulness [of] Buddha [and] other forms [of practice].)
然以现一时不死之象，及助念人去，未久则死，此与悭财悭言误人性命，完全相同。
Thus, with appearing of [the] phenomenon, [at] one period, when not [yet] dead, [of] support-chanting persons leaving. Yet [to be] long [later], then dying. This with stinginess [of] wealth [and] stinginess [of] words harming people’s lives, [is] totally [the] same [as] one another.
虽不堕饿鬼，而其气分，乃是饿鬼之气分也。
Although not falling [to be a] hungry ghost, yet his bearing, thus was [the] bearing of [a] hungry ghost.
然彼或由自己心中忏悔，或由诸人，及儿女之诚恳，遂得减轻，不至直堕饿鬼耳。
However, [there are] those perhaps due [to] repentance within one’s mind, or due [to the] sincerity of many persons, sons [and] daughters, [who] thereupon attain lightening [of their evil karmic obstacles] [业障], not going so far [to have] direct falling [to be] hungry ghosts.
为今之计，必须其儿女，并各眷属，念彼之苦，同发自利利人之心，为彼念佛，求佛垂慈，接引往生。
That plan for now, [is that there] must [be, with] their sons [and] daughters, and each [other] family member, mindfulness of their suffering, together giving rise [to the] mind of self-benefitting [and] benefitting others, for them reciting [the] Buddha[‘s name], seeking [the] Buddha’s approach [with] compassion, [to be] received [and] guided [to be] reborn [in his Pure Land].
则诚恳果到，往生即可预断。以父子天性相关，佛心有感即应。
Then [with] sincerity, if arrived [at], rebirth immediately can [be] in advance determined. With father [and] child’s natural nature related [to] each other, [the] Buddha [and the] mind [will] have connection [with] immediate response.
彼眷属若泛泛悠悠从事，则便难以消业障而蒙接引也。千钧一发，关系极重。
Those family members, if drifting [and] leisurely handling matters, [are] then difficult [to be] with eliminating [of] karmic obstacles, then receiving reception [and] guidance. [With] one thousand jūns [i.e. fifteen thousand kilograms] [on] one hair, [this] connection [is] extremely critical.
[Note: As 1 jūn is 15 kilograms, 1,000 jūns is 15,000 kilograms.]
凡念佛人，各须务实克己习气，与人方便。
All people [with] mindfulness [of] Buddha, must each [have] practical self-restraint [of] habitual forces, [and] give people convenience.
凡可说者，虽与我有仇，亦须为说，令其趋吉而避凶，离苦而得乐。
[For] all those [who] can [be] spoken [to], although with myself having enmity, likewise must [I] for [them] speak, [to] enable them [to] attract [the] auspicious and avoid [the] inauspicious, [to] depart [from] suffering and attain bliss.
平时侃侃凿凿，与人说因果报应，生死轮回，并念佛了生死之道，与教儿女，立太平之基。
In ordinary times, [with] composed fervour [and] truthful assurance, for people speak [on] cause [and] effect’s retribution [and rewards], birth [and] death [in] rebirth, also [on] mindfulness [of] Buddha, [as the] path of liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, with [this] teaching sons [and] daughters, [to] establish [the] foundation of great peace.
心如弦直，语无模棱。
[Be with the] mind like [a] string straightened, [with] speech without [the] vague [and] indefinite [i.e. ambiguous and equivocal speech].
居心可以质鬼神，作事决不昧天理。
[As] harboured [evil] intentions can [be] questioned [by] ghosts [and] gods, [the] doing [of] matters [is] definitely not concealed [from] natural principles.
若到临终，决无此种可怜可悯之现象。
If [practising as above], arriving [at life’s] end, [they will] definitely [be] without this kind [of] pitiful [and] pitiable phenomena [of facing karmic retribution].
如是，则黄后觉便是诸人之接引导师也。诸人既因彼而将来可得巨益，彼亦将仗诸人之心力，而灭罪往生也。
Thus, Huáng Hòujué then is [the] receiving [and] guiding teacher of many persons. Many persons, since because [of] him, then [in the] future can attain great benefits. He also will rely [on the] mind power of all [these] persons, [to] then eliminate transgressions [and be] reborn.
光此语，非首鼠两附者，乃决定不欺之定论也。
These words [of Yìn]guāng, [are] not those [with the] head [of a] rat [to] two [ends] attached [i.e. with hesitance undecided], thus [with the] definite conclusion that definitely [does] not deceive.
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）：复杨德观书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Yáng Déguān;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百七十五则）：三、示修持方法：己、勉行人努力（第六则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (175th Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: Sixth, Encouragement Of Practitioners To Strive Diligently (6th Short Section)
[Ref: #175 / 3.6.6]
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
