[264] 念佛没有境界和瑞相能否往生？
[264] [Are Those With] Mindfulness [Of Āmítuó]fó Without States And Auspicious Signs Able [To Be] Reborn [In His Pure Land] Or Not?
◎ 心与佛相应，有真信愿，决定往生。
◎ [Summary]: [With your] mind, with [the] Buddha corresponding, having true Faith [and] Aspiration, [there will] definitely [be] rebirth [in his Pure Land].
问：修行有得好境界者，或梦到西方，或面见弥陀，或闻异香，或见莲花。湘省王季果居士常有见到。乃念佛十年，并无瑞相发现，设临终亦如此，岂非难到极乐？究竟可否听其自然，不生希望？
Question: [There] are those cultivating attaining good states, or dreaming of [the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界)], or facing [to] see [Ā]mítuó[fó], or smelling extraordinary fragrance, or seeing [a] lotus flower. Xiāng Province’s [i.e. Húnán (湖南)] layperson Wáng Jìguǒ frequently had [that] seen. Thus [having] recited [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛) for] ten years, completely without auspicious signs found, if approaching [life’s] end also like this, how can [it] not [be] difficult [to] reach [his Land Of] Ultimate Bliss? Actually, is it possible or not, [to] allow this [to be] natural, [by] not giving rise [to] hope?
答：但求心与佛合，不须致力于见境界。心与佛相应，有真信愿，决定往生。心若希求境界，或未相应，有境界现，或致着魔。
Answer: Only seeking [your] mind [to be] with [the] Buddha united, [there is] no need to devote efforts to seeing states. [With your] mind, with [the] Buddha corresponding, having true Faith [and] Aspiration, [there will] definitely [be] rebirth [in his Pure Land. Your] mind, if hoping [and] requesting [for] states, perhaps [when] yet [to] correspond, having states appearing, [this might] perhaps lead to possession [by] demons.
《答俞大锡居士问》
Answer [To] Layperson Yú Dàxī‘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
