马喻
[The] Horse Analogy
马有四种：
Horses have four kinds.
[1] 其最上良马，见鞭影而驰，不待驱策；
[1] Those most superior good horses, seeing [the] whip’s shadow then gallop, [do] not wait [to be] forced [by the] whip.
[2] 次则一鞭即走；
[2] [Those] second [are] then [with] one whip immediately walking.
[3] 又次之鞭轻不走，鞭重方走；
[3] Again, second [to] those, [are with] whipping lightly not walking, [with] whipping heavily then walking.
[4] 其最下驽马，鞭重亦不走，必锥入于肤，痛极而始走。
[4] Those most inferior [and] incompetent horses, [are with] whipping heavily also not walking, [who] must [be with an] awl [i.e. pointed object] entering [the] skin, [with] pain extreme then beginning [to] walk.
人亦如是。
Humans [are] also like these.
[1] 有智慧者，易于醒觉，百里内闻人死，即当骇曰：「百里内有人死矣，吾亦人也，死必及我。」作速修行，以求解脱。此见鞭影而驰者也。
[1] Those [who] have wisdom, [are] easy to [be] awakened. Within [a] hundred lǐs, hearing [about] humans dying, [they] will immediately [be] terrified, saying, ‘[As] within [a] hundred lǐs has humans dying, [and] I also [am a] human, death [will] definitely reach me.’ Starting quickly [to] cultivate practice, with [this] seeking liberation. These [are] those seeing [the] whip’s shadow then galloping.
[2] 其次则见亲戚死而觉悟。
[2] Those second, then seeing relatives dying, then awake.
[3] 又其次见逼邻人死，而后觉悟。
[3] Again, those second, seeing persons approaching death, then after awake.
[4] 若待自己年老，或自己有病，而后觉悟，已是锥入肤而后走者。
[4] If waiting [until] oneself [is with] years old, perhaps [with] oneself having sickness, then after awaking, those already are [with the] awl entering [the] skin, then after walking.
[5] 倘或年老犹不觉悟，或已病犹不觉悟，岂非并此而不若者乎？
[5] If perhaps [with] years old still not awaking, perhaps already [with] sickness still not awaking, how can [there be] those resembling this, yet not worse?
玉峰怀西居士周梦颜安士氏汇辑
[By] Yùfēng’s Layperson Huáixī, Zhōu Mèngyán And Ānshì’s Clan Collected [And] Compiled
《安士全书》：西归直指：卷三：启信杂说
Ānshì’s Complete Book: Western [Pure Land’s] Return’s Direct Pointers: Scroll Three: Miscellaneous Essays [For] Awakening Faith
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
