人间胜事无如念佛
[This] Human World’s Supreme Practices [Are] Without [That] Like Mindfulness [Of Āmítuó]fó
《譬喻经》云：「昔有夫妻二人，祷天求子。
[The] Sūtra [Of] Parables says, ‘[In the] past, [there] were [a] husband [and] wife, [these] two persons, [who] prayed [to the] heavens [to] seek [a] child.
妇即怀娠，生四种物：[1] 一栴檀米斗、[2] 二甘露蜜瓶、[3] 三珍宝锦囊、[4] 四七节神杖。
[The] woman immediately became pregnant, [and] gave birth [to] four kinds [of] objects. [1] First, [was a] sandalwood rice dipper. [2] Second, [was an] ambrosia [and] honey bottle. [3] Third, [was a] precious treasures’ brocade pouch. [4] Fourth, [was a] seven-segment divine staff.
其人叹曰：『吾本求子，何用此物？』
That person sighed, saying, “[As] I originally sought [a] child, [of] what use [are] these objects?”
天神问曰：『汝欲得子何为？』
[A] heavenly god asked, “Why [do] you desire [to] get [a] child?”
其人曰：『吾欲得子，将来望其养育耳。』
That person said, “I desire [to] get [a] child, hoping [that] he [will] nurture [me in the] future only.”
神曰：『[1] 斗中之米，取之复盈。[2] 甘露瓶中，能消百病。[3] 珍宝之囊，用之不竭。[4] 七节神杖，以备凶暴。人间孝子，岂能如是？』
[The] god said, “[1] [Of] that rice within [the] dipper, [with] taking [of] it, [will] again [become] full. [2] [Of that] ambrosia within [the] bottle, [it is] able [to] eliminate [a] hundred sicknesses. [3] [Of] that pouch [with] precious treasures, [it is with] using [of] it unending. [4] [Of that] seven-segment divine staff, [there can be] with [it for] guarding against [the] vicious [and] ruthless. [Of this] human world’s filial children, how [are they] able [to be] like these?”
其人大喜，遂至殷富。
That person [was] greatly joyful, [and] thereupon [became] extremely well-off.
其后他国闻之，遣兵往夺。
Afterwards, [when] other countries heard [of] this, [they] sent soldiers [to] go [to] snatch [them].
其人擎杖，飞行击退，保之终身。」
That person held up [the] staff, flew, struck [and] repelled [them, with it] protecting him [for] all [of] his life.’
世人孜孜汲汲，无暇修行者，不过为一妻子耳。然妻子纵极趋奉，安能若此四物哉？
Those world’s people, [with] diligence [and] anxiety, [who have] no time [to] cultivate practice, [are] no more than for one wife [and] child only. However, [with the] wife [and] child, even if extremely fawned upon, how [are they] able [to be] like these four objects?
至于往生西方，则超出生死，万福庄严，所求如意。
As for rebirth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss] [极乐世界], [this] then transcends [and] exits [the cycle of] birth [and] death, [with] ten thousand blessings adorning, [and] all sought as wished.
又岂四物之所较量哉？故天上人间，第一胜事，无如念佛。
Also, how can [there be] those [which can] compete [with these] four objects? Thus [in the] heavens above [and in this] human world, [the] foremost supreme practices, [are] without [that] like mindfulness [of Āmítuó]fó.
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 by Shen Shi’an
