[508] 念佛人如何办丧事？
[508] How [Should] People Reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s Name] Handle Funeral Practices?
◎ 当依佛法，令亲神识得益为事，不可徒为哀毁，令存亡两无所益。
◎ [Summary]: [You] should rely [on the] Buddha’s Dharma, [with] enabling [of your] relatives’ consciousnesses [to] attain benefits as [the] practice. [You] must not [be] in vain for [them with] grief harm [your health, which] causes [the] living [and] deceased, [to] both [be] without that benefitted.
做佛事只可念佛
[When] Doing Buddhist [Funeral] Practices, [There] Only Can [Be] Reciting [Of Āmítuó]fó[‘s Name]
接手书知汝母已于初二日念佛往生，不胜伤叹。
Receiving [your] letter, [then] knowing your mother [was] already, on [the] second lunar day, [with] reciting [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s (阿弥陀佛) name] reborn, [there was] unbearable sorrow.
虽然汝等既知佛法，当依佛法，令亲神识得益为事，不可徒为哀毁，令存亡两无所益。
Although you all already know [the] Buddha’s Dharma, [you] should rely [on the] Buddha’s Dharma, [with] enabling [of your] relatives’ consciousnesses [to] attain benefits as [the] practice. [You] must not [be] in vain for [them with] grief harm [your health, which] causes [the] living [and] deceased, [to] both [be] without that benefitted.
至于丧祭，通须用素，勿随俗转。纵不知世务者，谓为不然，亦任彼讥笑而已。
As for funeral rituals, all should use veg[etari]an [food, and] not accord to ‘customs’ [to] transform [this]. Even if [there are] those [who do] not know worldly affairs, saying [it] is not thus, also allowing those [to] ridicule, that is all.
丧葬之事，不可过为铺排张罗。
[On] practices of funerals, [you] must not [be] excessively for [them] arranging [with] plans [and] preparations.
做佛事只可念佛，勿做别佛事。
[When] doing Buddhist [funeral] practices, [there] only can [be] reciting [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name], not doing other Buddhist practices.
并令全家通皆恳切念佛，则于汝母，于汝等诸眷属，及亲戚朋友，皆有实益。
Furthermore, enabling [your] whole family, [to] all earnestly recite [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name], then for your mother, for all your other family members, relatives and friends, all [will] have true benefits.
有财力，多做功德，若丧事用度无出，即以之办丧事亦可，切勿硬撑架子，至有亏空，后来受窘，则不必矣。
[Those who] have financial power, [should] do more [to create] meritorious virtues. If [for] funeral practices’ expenses without surplus, then with them handling funeral matters [is] also possible. [There] must not [be] toughing it out to put [on] airs, [to] arrive [at] having debts, [and] later receive embarrassment, [which is] then not necessary.
《复周孟由昆弟书》
Reply Letter [To] Zhōu Mèngyóu’s Brothers
丧礼全素，不用酒肉
Funerals [Should Be] Completely Veg[etari]an, Not Using Alcohol [And] Meat
至于死后，切勿瞎张罗，开吊会亲友。即至亲厚友来，必须用素，永断酒肉。
As for after death, [there] must not [be] blindly making plans [and] preparations, [to] hold memorial assemblies [for] relatives [and] friends. Even if close relatives [and] great friends come, [there] must [be] using [of] veg[etari]an [drinks and food], long severing [from] alcohol [and] meat.
丧葬、敬神、待客，通通用素，万不可用酒肉。
[In] funerals, reverencing gods [and] attending guests, completely using veg[etari]an [drinks and food, there] absolutely must not using alcohol [and] meat.
丧中不用酒肉，儒家古礼如是，不独佛教为然。皇太子居丧，偷着吃酒，史官必书其事，以传后世。
Within funerals not using alcohol [and] meat, Confucian ancient rituals [are also] like this, not only [the] Buddha’s teachings are thus. [When a] Crown Prince observing mourning, secretly eats [meat and] drinks alcohol, [the] court recorder must record this matter, with [this] transmitted [to] later generations.
现在礼废，居丧作乐杀生，当做体面，汝等切勿学此极恶之派。
Presently, [with] rituals abandoned, [when] observing mourning, [with] making merry [and] killing lives, regarded as [having] face, you all must not learn [from] this extremely evil ‘school’ of thought.
《复开生宁生昆季书一》
First Reply Letter [To] Brothers Kāishēng [And] Níngshēng
净土宗十三祖印光大师著
Written [By] 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
卷十：净土法门与临终关怀
Scroll Ten: Pure Land Dharma Door And Care [When] Approaching [Life’s] End
传印法师鉴定
Evaluated [By] Dharma Master Chuányìn
上个问答
Previous Question And Answer:
如何为大病临身，存亡莫保的老人助念？
[507] How To, For Old People With Great Sicknesses Befalling Themselves, With Living And Dying Not Guaranteed, Have Support-Chanting?
https://purelanders.com/2026/05/22/507-how-to-for-old-people-with-great-sicknesses-befalling-themselves-with-living-and-dying-not-guaranteed-have-support-chanting
下个问答
Next Question And Answer:
为什么丧事杀诸生命以祭其灵、宴其宾，皆是以落井下石为孝，比杀亲为更可怜悯？
[509] Why Is The Funeral Practice Of Killing Many Lives, With Them Offering To Those Consciousnesses Of The Deceased, And Feasting Of Those Guests, All For Those Fallen Into A Well, With Dropping Rocks As ‘Filiality’, Compared With Killing Of Parents, Is Even More Pitiable?
https://purelanders.com/2026/06/06/509-why-is-the-funeral-practice-of-killing-many-lives-with-them-for-offering-to-those-consciousnesses-of-the-deceased-and-feasting-of-those-guests
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
《临终三大要》: 原文·白话·详解
The Three Great Essentials When Approaching Life’s End: Original, Simplified And Explanatory Text
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
