[513] 劝眷属常念佛对临终有什么帮助？
[513] [If] Encouraging Family Members [To] Constantly Recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s Name], For [Those] Approaching [Life’s] End, [This] Has What Help?
◎ 劝家中眷属，同生信心，同常念佛。以备彼等于父母，及诸眷属之有命终者，为之助念。否则，不但不助其正念，反令起嗔恨爱恋等念。可不哀哉。
◎ [Summary]: Encourage family members within [the] family, [to] together give rise [to the] faithful mind, [and] together constantly recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name] (阿弥陀佛). With [this] preparing those, equally [for] fathers [and] mothers, and all family members, those having [their] lives ending, [to] for them [offer] support-chanting. Otherwise, not only not supporting their Right Mindfulness, instead causing [the] arising [of] anger [and] hatred, deep attachment [and] other thoughts. How [is this] not lamentable?
又念佛之人，必须劝家中眷属，同生信心，同常念佛。
Also, of people [who] recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name (阿弥陀佛), they] must encourage family members within [the] family, [to] together give rise [to the] faithful mind, [and] together constantly recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name].
以备彼等于父母，及诸眷属之有命终者，为之助念。
With [this] preparing, equally [for] fathers [and] mothers, and all family members, those having [their] lives ending, [to] for them [offer] support-chanting.
否则，不但不助其正念，反令起嗔恨爱恋等念。
Otherwise, not only not supporting their Right Mindfulness, instead causing [the] arising [of] anger [and] hatred, deep attachment [and] other thoughts.
（预为洗澡换衣，则失正念。
([If] in advance for [them] bathing [and] changing clothes, [they will] then lose Right Mindfulness.
[Note 1: This is so as the dying and just deceased, (if with consciousness still within the body), will experience greatly magnified pain from being touched and moved, by about nine times. Thus, even being slightly touched can be very painful, what more if touched and moved much, to be showered and wiped, with clothing taken off and put on too.]
若搬动致疼痛，则生嗔恨。嗔恨，则或致堕于毒虫之类。
If [with] moving [and] touching causing pain, [they will] then give rise [to] anger [and] hatred. [With] anger [and] hatred, then perhaps caused [to] fall, to [be] kinds of poisonous insects.
若对之哭泣，则生爱恋。
If towards them crying, [they will] then give rise [to] deep attachment.
均属失正念，而永无往生之望矣，哀哉。）
All these belong [to] loss [of] Right Mindfulness, then [with them] for long, without hope of rebirth [in the Pure Land. How] lamentable!)
不念佛者，尚不至大有所损。
[For] those not reciting [Āmítuó]fó[’s name, they are] still unlikely [to] have that great lost.
念佛者，一经破坏，正念全失，将欲往生，竟莫能得。
[For] those reciting [Āmítuó]fó[’s name], once passing [its] destruction, [with] Right Mindfulness entirely lost, [even if they were] going to [be] reborn [in the Pure Land], in the end, [they will] not [be] able [to] attain [this].
[Note 2: If the deceased’s consciousness has yet to take rebirth to elsewhere, they can still be guided with support-chanting, to connect to Āmítuófó, to reach his Pure Land. Thus, there should be ample post-death support-chanting offered too, for three to eight or more hours.]
从此长劫轮回六道，皆此等眷属之所致也。
From this, [for] long kalpas reborn [in the] six paths, all this [and] others [are] caused by family members.
[Note 3: Of course, the main cause for not being able to reach Pure Land is due to personal karmas of the deceased. However, family members should always do their best to offer supportive conditions (助缘), for maximising their ability to reach Pure Land, instead of possibly sabotaging their efforts, be it accidentally or out of ignorance.]
《复吴慧诒罗慧澍居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Laypersons Wú Huìyí [And] Luō Huìshù
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
相关教理
Related Teachings:
《临终三大要》
The Three Great Essentials When Approaching Life’s End
https://purelanders.com/now
死亡前后与丧礼中后的诵念
Chanting When Dying, After Death, During & After Wakes
https://purelanders.com/wake
