[523] 为什么临终时只可念佛，切勿另诵别种经咒？
[523] Why Can [There] Only [Be] Recitation [Of Āmítuó]fó [When] Approaching [Life’s] End, [And] Must Not [Be With] Separate Recitations [Of] Other Kinds [Of] Sūtras [And] Mantras?
◎ 凡一切念佛不念佛人，临终俱宜念佛以助，切勿另诵别种经咒。人之临终，只可念佛，不宜持咒。
◎ [Summary]: [Of] all people [with] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛) [and] not [with] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name, when] approaching [life’s] end, [there] should together [be with] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name] for support. [There] must not [be] separate recitations [of] other kinds [of] sūtras [and] mantras. Of people approaching [life’s] end, [there] only can [be] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name, with it] not suitable [for] upholding mantras.
又人之临终，只可念佛，不宜持咒。
Also, of people approaching [life’s] end, [there] only can [be] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛), with it] not suitable [for] upholding mantras.
以念佛令彼听，彼虽不能念，听见佛声，心即清净。
With recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name], causing those [to] listen, [of] those although not able [to] recite, hearing [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name’s] sound, [their] minds [will] immediately [be] clear [and] pure.
若持咒则止有加持力，彼无由随诵，此从古以来之定例。助念于将去时为最要，岂持咒毕，方以念佛为回向乎？光《文钞》中亦有其说。
If upholding mantras, [this] then only has blessings’ power, [while] those [are] unable [to] follow [their] recitations. This [is] that from ancient [times] since, [the] usual practice. [However, as] support-chanting at when going [to] depart is [the] most important, how can [it be with] upholding [of] mantras completed, then with recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name] for dedication [only]? [Yìn]guāng, within [the] Collected Writings also has this spoken.
凡一切念佛不念佛人，临终俱宜念佛以助，切勿另诵别种经咒，则不能令彼心中默随也。关系非小，故为补书于后。
[Of] all people [with] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name and] not [with] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name, when] approaching [life’s] end, [there] should together [be with] recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name] for support. [There] must not [be] separate recitations [of] other kinds [of] sūtras [and] mantras, then not able [to] cause those minds [to] silently follow [them] within. [This] connection [is] not minor, thus for [this] supplementing [the] book, at [it] behind.
现今之世，无法能救，幸有因果，尚可挽回。因果一事，高明者每厌闻，此种高明，实为卑暗。
This world nowadays, [is] without [a] method able [to be] saved. Fortunately having [karmic] cause [and] effect, [there] still can [be] redemption. [On] cause [and] effect, [this] one matter, those ‘lofty [and] bright’ each dislike hearing [about it]. This kind [of] ‘loftiness [and] brightness’, truly is lowly [and] dark.
如来成正觉，众生堕三途，皆不出因果之外。由高明之人，专谈理性，不说因果，其弊遂成今日之景象。
[The] Thus Come [Ones’] accomplishing [of] Right Awakening, [and] sentient beings’ falling [into the] three paths, all [do] not go outside that [of] cause [and] effect. Following those ‘lofty [and] bright’, focusing [on] discussing [about] principles’ nature, [and] not speaking [of] cause [and] effect, its disadvantages thereupon become [the] circumstances of today.
祈见一切人，皆以因果为劝导，则其利大矣。
[I] implore, [when] seeing all people, [to] all [be] with cause [and] effect, for encouraging [and] guiding [them]. Then [are] their benefits great.
《与江易园居士书一》
First Reply Letter For Layperson Jāng Yìyuán
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
