[262] 判断往生[净土]的标准是什么？
[262] What Is [The] Criteria [For] Determining Rebirth [In Pure Land]?
◎ 念佛人平时有真信切愿，无一不得往生。何以故？以信愿感佛，佛以慈悲摄受，感应道交，必能仗佛慈力，带业往生。又何须问彼见佛与否，方可断判也。
◎ [Summary]: [Of] people mindful [of Āmítuó]fó, [who in] ordinary times have true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, [they are] without one not attaining rebirth [in his Pure Land]. Why thus? [Those] with Faith [and] Aspiration connecting [to Āmítuó]fó, [Āmítuó]fó with loving-kindness [and] compassion [will] gather [and] receive [them, to have] connection [and] response [for] mutual interaction. [They are] definitely able [to] rely [on] Āmítuófó’s compassionate power, [to] bring [their] karmas [to be] reborn. Again, why [is there] need [to] ask [if] he saw [Āmítuó]fó or not, just so [for] absolute determination?
念佛人平时有真信切愿，无一不得往生者。
[Of] people mindful [of Āmítuó]fó [阿弥陀佛], [who in] ordinary times have true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, they [are] without one not attaining rebirth [in his Pure Land].
[Note 1: This is not to say that those who assume and/or claim they already have Faith and Aspiration do not need Practice of mindfulness of Āmítuófó in everyday life. In fact, the Great Master also taught that those who have Faith and Aspiration will express them by practising mindfulness of Āmítuófó in everyday life: https://purelanders.com/2019/08/01/is-your-faith-and-aspiration-resolute-enough. Thus, with the Three Provisions (三资粮) of Faith, Aspiration and Practice (信愿行) complete (https://purelanders.com/2018/02/08/the-three-provisions), birth in Pure Land is definite.]
况福峻临终正念昭彰，作问讯顶礼等相，而死后身体柔软洁净，颜貌如生，又何必以彼工夫浅为疑乎？
Moreover, [as] Fújùn, [when] approaching [life’s] end, [was with] right mindfulness manifested, [with] making [of] half-bows, prostrations [and] other forms [of practice], and after death, [with his] body gentle, soft [and] clean, [and] countenance lifelike, again, why must [there be] with his skills shallow as doubt?
[Note 2: The Three Provisions were expressed directly by Fújùn with right mindfulness (正念) as a Pure Land practitioner, which is to be with the Practice (行) of mindfulness of Āmítuófó with Faith and Aspiration (信愿), and less directly when he practised the above other practices too, of expressing reverence and refuge, probably before practising mindfulness of Āmítuófó.]
[Note 3: Among other auspicious signs (瑞相) of reaching Pure Land: https://purelanders.com/2020/01/18/how-to-know-if-the-deceased-has-reached-pure-land-how-to-seek-advice-for-difficult-decisions, the two most common ones are ‘the body and mind being gentle and soft’ (身心柔软): https://purelanders.com/2023/03/06/96-the-auspicious-sign-of-the-body-and-mind-being-gentle-and-soft and ‘the facial appearance as if alive’ (面相如生): https://purelanders.com/2023/02/07/the-auspicious-sign-of-the-facial-appearance-as-if-alive.]
夫弥陀愿王，十念尚度，况彼精进修持，已二三年，又有何疑？
[As] that [Ā]mítuó[fó’s] Vows’ King [i.e. 18th great vow], [states that those with] ten thoughts [of mindfulness, are] still [able to be] delivered, moreover, [as] he [had] diligently practised, already [for] two [to] three years, again, [this] has what doubt?
[Note 4: As in the Immeasurable Life Sūtra《无量寿经》, Āmítuófó’s 18th great vow’s criteria is ‘with the sincere mind of joyful Faith, desiring (i.e. Aspiration) birth in my land, and even with ten thoughts (i.e. as Practice)’ (至心信乐，欲生我国，乃至十念), thus including the most critical Three Provisions. It is the Vows’ King (愿王) as it sets the lowest criteria, and thus with the most ease of meeting, for reaching the supreme Pure Land.]
[Note 5: It is not that those who practise mindfulness of Buddha just in time, instead of in everyday life, will not reach Pure Land, as it is also possible to connect when dying, and even after death, as long as before taking rebirth to elsewhere. However, it is with more practice in everyday life, that makes it easier to swiftly connect to him, with ten thoughts, or even less, even one thought, in the most crucial moments.]
世有种人，志意下劣，虽常念佛，不求往生，唯欲求人天福报，此种人纵毕世修行，只得来生之痴福而已。
[The] world has [a] kind [of] people, [with] Aspiration’s mind lowly [and] inferior, although constantly mindful [of Āmítuó]fó, [do] not seek rebirth [in Pure Land], only desiring [to] seek human [and] heavenly blessed rewards. This kind [of] people, even if [for the] whole [of their] lives cultivating, only attain ignorant blessings of [their] future lives, that is all.
[Note 6: Those who did not learn about the ultimate purpose of mindfulness of Buddha might not know the superior (or rather supreme) Aspiration to have — to be reborn in his Pure Land, for perfecting Dharma learning and practice, to guide one and all to Buddhahood. Thus do they end up practising merely for general or specific blessings in this and the future life, still in terms of worldly rebirth for mundane betterment; not in terms of rebirth in Pure Land, for self-liberation and Buddhahood. The blessings they accumulate are thus ignorant because of their short-sighted and short-lived nature. These blessings can even lead to spiritual complacence, and doing of evil later, resulting in more suffering: https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2010/08/are-you-recycling-yourself-every-three-lifetimes.]
有正信者，自己以信愿感佛，佛以慈悲摄受，感应道交，必能仗佛慈力，带业往生。
[Of] those [who] have right Faith, personally with Faith [and] Aspiration connecting [to Āmítuó]fó, [Āmítuó]fó with loving-kindness [and] compassion [will] gather [and] receive [them, to have] connection [and] response [for] mutual interaction. [They are] definitely able [to] rely [on] Āmítuófó’s compassionate power, [to] bring [their] karmas [to be] reborn.
[Note 7: With ‘Faith and Aspiration connecting to Āmítuófó’ (信愿感佛) is to be with ‘true Faith and sincere Aspiration’ (真信切愿) mindful of Āmítuófó’s name (念佛).]
又何须问彼见佛与否，方可断判也。
Again, why [is there] need [to] ask [if] he saw [Āmítuó]fó or not, just so [for] absolute determination?
[Note 8: According to the Section On Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha《大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》, ‘If sentient beings’ minds, recollect (Amitābha) Buddha (阿弥陀佛), or are mindful of the Buddha(‘s name: “Āmítuófó”), manifesting in the present or in the future, they will definitely see the Buddha, with the Buddha not far away.(若众生心，忆佛念佛，现前当来，必定见佛，去佛不远。) Thus, all reaching Pure Land will see Āmítuófó come to receive and guide (接引) them, even if this is not expressed verbally on the deathbed.]
[Note 9: In conclusion, as long as there are expressions of the Three Provisions for ten thoughts, with no retrogression of these provisions (by losing Faith, giving up Aspiration, and thus Practice) before rebirth in Pure Land, it will be reached.]
《复郁智朗居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Layperson Yù Zhìlǎng
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师答念佛600问》
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Answers [For] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’s 600 Questions
释宗柱法师审阅
[By] Dharma Master Shì Zōngzhù Reviewed
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
