Those As Monastics Must Not Not Cultivate The Pure Land Path 为僧者不可不修净土

为僧者不可不修净土
Those As Monastics Must Not Not Cultivate [The] Pure Land [Path]

[宋青草堂禅师]
[Sòng Dynasty’s Chán Master Qīngcǎotáng]

宋青草堂禅师，素有戒行，年九十余。

[The] Sòng [Dynasty’s] Chán Master Qīngcǎotáng [i.e. Cǎotáng’s (草堂) Chán Master Shànqīng (善清禅师)] always had precepts’ practices, [with his] years more than ninety.

曾氏常供养之，屡施衣物。

[The] Zēng clan often made offerings [to] him, frequently giving clothing [and] personal items.

僧感其德，许以托生其家。

[The] monastic [was] moved [by] their virtues, [and] promised [to] rely on [their] womb [to be] born [in] their family.

后曾氏妇人生子，使人看草堂，已坐化矣。

Later, [when the] Zēng clan’s madam gave birth [to a] son, [she] sent [a] person [to] see Cǎotáng, [he had already] sat [and] departed.

所生子，即曾鲁公也。

That born son, then [became] Duke Zēnglǔ [i.e. Zēng Gōngliàng (曾公亮), or Duke of the country of Lǔ’ (鲁国公)].

以前世曾修福慧，故少年登高科，后作贤宰相。

With [his] past life’s previously cultivated blessings [and] wisdom, thus [when] young ascending high [in] imperial examinations, [he] later became [a] virtuous prime minister.

[明末僧大成]
[Late Míng Dynasty’s Monastic Dàchéng]

又如明末浙江僧大成，为寺中收盏饭供众，道经饭店史家。

Also, like [the] late Míng [Dynasty’s] Zhèjiāng monastic Dàchéng. [He was] for [a] monastery within, collecting small cups [of] rice [to] make offerings [to the] assembly. On the way, [he] passed [the] rice shop [of the] Shǐ family.

其家奉佛，僧来化斋者必留，大成收饭回寺。史见其日饭少，辄以其饭凑满。

[As] that family revered [the] Buddha, those monastics [who] come [to] seek alms [food] would [be] retained [for giving offerings. When] Dàchéng [with] collected rice [was] returning [to the] monastery, Shǐ saw [that] this day’s rice [was] little, [and] then with his rice, pooled [to make it] full.

史家素无子，后其妻忽有孕，分娩时，亲见大成走入卧房，急追问之，不得。而分娩者，竟产一男。

[The] Shǐ family [was] always without [a] child, [yet] later, that wife suddenly became pregnant. When delivering, personally seeing Dàchéng walking [to] enter [her] bedroom, [she] hurriedly investigated [and] asked [about] him, [but could] not get [any answer]. And that delivered, in the end, [was] a male [child].

是日大成僧不见来取饭，造寺问之，乃知即于是日谢世。于是即以大成名之。

[On] this day, [as the] monastic Dàchéng [was] not seen coming [to] take rice, [they] visited [the] monastery [to] ask [about] him, thus knowing [he had] then, on this day passed away. Thereupon, immediately with ‘Dàchéng’ naming that [child].

其子幼年，聪慧孝友，茹胎斋，终身不破戒。

Their son, [in his] young years, [was] intelligent, filial [and] friendly, [already] eating [in the] womb [as a] veg[etari]an, [with] lifelong not breaking [of] precepts.

以顺治乙未，大魁天下。

In [Emperor] Shùnzhì’s Yǐwèi [year] [1655 C.E.], [he became the] greatest [and] best [scholar in the] heavens’ below.

[两僧之自误]
[Personal Mistakes Of The Two Monastics]

自世俗观之，此两公者，皆富贵而享大名。

From [the] worldly [and] secular viewing them, both these dukes, [were] all [with] wealth [and] honour, then enjoying great fame.

若修行人观之，两僧之自误者多矣。

If [as] practitioners viewing them, those personal mistakes of [the] two monastics [are] many.

向使两师知有西方法门，以其所修者回向净土，纵或不能上品，犹或可以中品。

If [the] two masters knew [there] is [the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss’] [极乐世界] Dharma Door, with their those cultivated [practices], dedicating towards [birth in the] Pure Land, even if perhaps not able [to attain] High Grades, [they] could perhaps still [attain] Middle Grades.

何至仅以状元、宰相竟其局哉？

How [will they] only arrive with [becoming] top scoring candidates in imperial examinations [and] prime ministers in the end, [by] these limited?

[Note: The key problems with choosing worldly rebirths, even if they seem ‘better off’ can be seen in the Related Teachings on the Three Lifetimes’ Grievances (三世怨) below.]

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 note by Shen Shi’an

You may also like

Leave a Comment X