[282] 博地凡夫障深慧浅，念佛为什么能往生？
[282] [As] Thin Ground’s Ordinary Beings [With] Obstacles Deep [And] Wisdom Shallow, Why [Are We With] Mindfulness [Of Āmítuó]fó, Able [To Be] Reborn [In His Pure Land]?
◎ 全仗佛力。
◎ [Summary]: [By] completely relying on [the] Buddha’s power.
须知十方佛土，必须到此念佛地位，方可往生。
[It] must [be] known [that for the] ten directions’ Buddha lands, [there] must [be] reaching this mindfulness [of] Buddha’s position, then can [there be] rebirth [there].
博地凡夫障深慧浅，善根微薄，寿命短促，欲仗自力竖出三界，譬如沙子一粒，入水即沉。
Thin ground’s ordinary beings [with] obstacles deep [and] wisdom shallow, good roots small [and] weak, [and] lifespans short, desiring [to] rely on self-power [to] vertically exit [the] three realms, for example, [are] like one grain [of] sand, entering [the] water immediately sinking.
若以数万斤大石装于船中，石虽重大，因有船载，可以不沉。可见自力佛力之难易。
If with several ten thousand jīns’ [i.e. five thousand kilograms] big rocks filled within [a] ship, [with these] rocks, although heavy [and] big, because [of] having [the] ship carrying [them, they] can not sink. [From this, the] difficulty [and] ease of self-power [and] Buddha power can [be] seen.
念佛法门，全仗佛力。欲了生死，即须念佛，横超三界，接引往生。
Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’s Dharma Door, completely relies on Buddha power. Desiring [to be] liberated [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, then must [be with] mindfulness [of Āmítuó]fó, [to] horizontally exit [the] three realms, [with his] reception [and] guidance [to be] reborn [in his Pure Land].
《复周志诚居士书二》
Second Reply Letter [To] Layperson Zhōu Zhìchéng
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
