[503] 荐亡为什么要以念佛为主？
[503] Why Must [There Be] With Reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s Name] As [The] Main [Practice] Offered [To The] Deceased?
◎ 人当临终，唯同声念佛为有益。若识心未去，沐浴举哀等，大有所妨。是以修净业人，须于平日，与眷属说其所以，庶不至误用亲爱。
◎ [Summary]: When people [are] approaching [life’s] end, only [having the] same sound reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛)] is [what] has benefits. If [the] conscious mind [is] yet [to] leave, [having] bathing, wailing [in] mourning [and] others, [these will] have that hindered greatly. Therefore, people cultivating pure karmas, must in ordinary days, with family members speak [of] these causes. Hopefully, not going [so far to have] misapplying [of their] personal love.
至于七中，及一切时、一切事，俱宜以念佛为主，何但丧期?
As for within [the] seven days [after death], and [at] all times, [for] all practices, [they are] together suitable [to be] with reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛)] as [the] Main [Practice]. How [can this] only [be for the] mourning period?
以现今僧多懒惰，诵经则不会者多，而又其快如流，会而不熟，亦不能随念。纵有数十人，念者无几。
With nowadays’ ‘monastics’ many lazy, those reciting sūtras will not [be] many. And also, [with] their [reciting] fast like flowing [water, those who] understand [them are] then not familiar, also not able [to] follow [for] recitation. Even [if there] are several tens [of] persons, those reciting [are] without few.
唯念佛，则除非不发心，决无不能念之弊。又纵不肯念，一句佛号，入耳经心，亦自利益不浅。
Only [with] reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name], then excluding [those] not giving rise [to] aspiration, [is] definitely without [the] disadvantage of not [being] able [to] recite. Also, even if not willing [to] recite, [with the] one line [of the] Buddha’s name, entering [their] ears [and] passing [through their] mind, [this is] also [with] personal benefits [that are] not shallow.
此光绝不提倡作余道场之所以也。人当临终，唯同声念佛为有益。
This [is] the reason why [Yìn]guāng [印光] absolutely [does] not promote [those] done [at] other places [of practising the] path. When people [are] approaching [life’s] end, only [having the] same sound reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name] is [what] has benefits.
若识心未去，沐浴举哀等，大有所妨。是以修净业人，须于平日，与眷属说其所以，庶不至误用亲爱。
If [the] conscious mind [is] yet [to] leave, [having] bathing, wailing [in] mourning [and] others, [these will] have that hindered greatly. Therefore, people cultivating pure karmas, must in ordinary days, with family members speak [of] these causes. Hopefully, not going [so far to have] misapplying [of their] personal love.
《与徐蔚如居士书三》
Third Reply Letter For Layperson Xú Wèirú
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
