[296] 念佛求生净土是否消极？
[296] Is Reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s Name For] Seeking Birth [In His] Pure Land Negative Or Not?
◎ 信愿念佛求生净土者，世间摩尼宝珠也！
◎ [Summary]: Those [with] Faith [and] Aspiration reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛) for] seeking birth [in his] Pure Land, [are the] world’s maṇi treasure gems!
世人虚生浪死，修净土者，了生脱死。
[The] world’s people [are] in vain born [and] ‘randomly’ die, [while] those cultivating [the] Pure Land [teachings, will be] liberated [from the cycle of] birth [and] death.
在世间所作所为，皆敦行孝弟忠信礼义廉耻，但以厌离娑婆，即加之以消极，此真所谓竞买千担假，不买一担真也。
In [this] world, all actions [and] all conduct, [are] all [to be with] sincere practice [of the Eight Virtues (八德) of] (i) filial piety, (ii) fraternal respect, (iii) loyalty, (iv) trustworthiness, (v) propriety, (vi) righteousness, (vii) integrity [and] (viii) shamefulness. However, with revulsed renunciation [of this] Sahā World then in addition, assuming [this is] ‘negative’. This truly [is] so-called contending [to] buy [a] thousand piculs [i.e. 50,000 kilograms] [of the] false, not buying one picul [i.e. 50 kilograms] [of the] true.
于无实际者之事生贪着，反以为积极，于纲常伦理身心性命上用工夫，反以为消极。
For those matters that [are] without reality giving rise [to] greedy attachment, instead assuming [this] is ‘positive’, [and] for [the Three] Guiding Principles [and Five] Constant [Regulations’] [三纲五常] ethics, on [the] body [and] mind’s life applying skills, instead assuming [this] is ‘negative’.
[Note 1: Three Guiding Principles (三纲): With rulers, fathers and husbands who are good examples, then with (i) rulers for their officials as a guiding principle (君为臣纲), (ii) fathers for their children as a guiding principle (父为子纲), and (iii) husbands for their wives as a guiding principle (夫为妻纲).]
[Note 2: Five Constant Regulations (五常): (i) benevolence (仁), (ii) righteousness (义), (iii) propriety (礼), (iv) wisdom (智) and (v) trustworthiness (信).]
吾愿世人，通如此消极，则娑婆世界，当转成清净佛国矣。
I wish [the] world’s people, [will be] thoroughly ‘negative’ like this. Then, [this] Sahā World, will transform [to] become [a] pure Buddha land.
《复湘阴黄颂平居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Xiāngyīn Layperson Huáng Sòngpíng
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
