[519] 临终助念可以念观音吗？
[519] Can Support-Chanting [When] Approaching [Life’s] End [Be] With Chanting [Of] Guānyīn [Bodhisattva]?
◎ 为人助念，何可为念观音，又为祈寿乎？念佛，寿未尽亦能延生。念观音，则无求往生之心念。若寿已尽，则误事。非念佛定死，念观音定不能往生。然痴人以无求往生之心念之，故亦只成误事之一种业感也。
◎ [Summary]: For others [having] support-chanting, how can [it] be [with] mindfulness [of] Guānyīn [Bodhisattva’s name], also for [them] praying [for] longevity? [Being] mindful [of] Buddha, [if] lifespan [is] yet [to] exhaust, [is] also able [to] extend life. [Being] mindful [of] Guānyīn [Bodhisattva’s name, is] then [often] without the mind’s thought of seeking rebirth [in Āmítuófó’s Pure Land]. If lifespan [is] already exhausting, [this] then bungles [the] matter [of reaching Pure Land. It is] not that [those] mindful [of the] Buddha [will] definitely die, [or that those] mindful [of] Guānyīn [Bodhisattva will] definitely not [be] able [to be] reborn [in Pure Land]. However, ignorant persons [are] with [the] mind’s thought without seeking of rebirth [in Pure Land], thus also only accomplishing a [lesser] kind of karmic result, bungling [the] matter [of reaching Pure Land].
人有大病，即当作往生想，一心念佛。若寿未尽，由念佛故，即可速愈。（阿弥陀，即无量寿，即是消灾延寿。）
[When] people have great sicknesses, [they] should immediately have rebirth’s thought, [with] wholehearted mindfulness [of Amitā(bha)] Buddha[‘s name: Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛)]. If lifespan [is] yet [to] exhaust, due [to] mindfulness [of Āmítuó]fó thus, [there] can immediately [be] quick healing. (‘Āmítuó’ [i.e. Amitā] thus [is] ‘Immeasurable’ Life, thus is [able to] eliminate disasters [and] extend life.)
至于为人助念，何可为念观音，又为祈寿乎？
As for others [having] support-chanting, how can [it] be [with] mindfulness [of] Guānyīn [Bodhisattva’s name], also for [them] praying [for] longevity?
[Note 1: Such support-chanting is for those already severely sick and possibly dying. Not that there cannot be mindfulness of the Bodhisattva’s name then, as she is one of the key Bodhisattvas who also receives and guides (接引) beings practising with Faith and Aspiration (信愿) to reach Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) Pure Land (净土), (though her name is longer and thus harder to recite when weak), but there should not be praying for longevity, as it might not be possible then.]
念佛，寿未尽亦能延生。念观音，则无求往生之心念。
[Being] mindful [of] Buddha, [if] lifespan [is] yet [to] exhaust, [is] also able [to] extend life. [Being] mindful [of] Guānyīn [Bodhisattva’s name, is] then [often] without the mind’s thought of seeking rebirth [in Āmítuófó’s Pure Land].
[Note 2: The latter is so as she is by many more often associated with saving from suffering, including from death; less associated with rebirth within Pure Land.]
若寿已尽，则误事。非念佛定死，念观音定不能往生。
If lifespan [is] already exhausting, [this] then bungles [the] matter [of reaching Pure Land. It is] not that [those] mindful [of the] Buddha [will] definitely die, [or that those] mindful [of] Guānyīn [Bodhisattva will] definitely not [be] able [to be] reborn [in Pure Land].
[Note 3: If without the corresponding Aspiration to reach Pure Land, it cannot be reached. Yet, if healing is still possible, there can be healing first.]
然痴人以无求往生之心念之，故亦只成误事之一种业感也。
However, ignorant persons [are] with [the] mind’s thought without seeking of rebirth [in Pure Land], thus also only accomplishing a [lesser] kind of karmic result, bungling [the] matter [of reaching Pure Land].
无量光，即消灾。无量寿，即延寿。
[With Āmítuófó’s] immeasurable light, immediately eliminated [are] disasters. [With Āmítuófó’s] immeasurable life, immediately extended [is] life.
[Note 4: Āmítuófó’s light when connected to eliminates disasters in this life by healing, or by offering immeasurable well-being (with lasting healing) when reaching his Pure Land. Āmítuófó’s life when connected to extends life in this life by healing, or by offering immeasurable life when reaching his Pure Land.]
念阿弥陀佛，极功尚能成佛，岂不能延寿而令速死乎？
[If] mindful [of] Āmítuófó[‘s name, with the] ultimate skills, [is] even able [to] accomplish Buddhahood, how can it not [be] able [to] extend life, yet enable quick death?
[Note 5: Even upon reaching Pure Land, there will still be the practice of mindfulness of Buddha, among other practices, to expedite progress towards Buddhahood.]
[Note 6: If lifespan is already exhausting, with mindfulness of the Buddha with the right Aspiration, there will be swift rebirth in Pure Land, so as to be free from needless pain and suffering.]
（师于答辞中，痴人二字旁，抺三笔以警。后死者，切勿自误也。）
(Within [the] master’s reply’s words, [by the] side [of the] two words ‘ignorant persons‘, [he] drew three strokes as [a] warning. Those dying later, must not personally [make this] mistake.)
《答卓智立居士问》
Answer [To] Layperson Zhuō Zhìlì’s Question
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
