[507] 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?
◎ 儿女眷属轮班念佛，借此令尽孝思，令种善根。此法无令中辍，其利益不可思议。凡有信心人，欲成就父母往生之道业者，皆当以此告之。
◎ [Summary]: Sons, daughters [and other] family members [should] take shifts [to] recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name (阿弥陀佛)], use this [as a pretext, to] enable fulfilling [of] filiality’s thought, [and] enable planting [of] good roots. [With] this method not caused [to] stop halfway, those benefits [are] inconceivable. [Of] all people [who] have [the] faithful mind, desiring [to] accomplish those path karmas of [their] fathers [and] mothers [for] rebirth [in Pure Land], all should with this [be] informed.
然太夫人年已八十有三，当常劝谕，令其信愿念佛。
However, [as the] old lady’s [i.e. your mother] age [is] already eighty-three, [there] should [be] constant encouraging [and] instructing, [to] enable [her, to be with] Faith [and] Aspiration reciting [Āmítuó]fó[’s name (阿弥陀佛)].
若令终日长念，或恐有能如是。
If enabling all day [to have] long recitation, perhaps having [some] able [to do] thus.
前者颇欲设法，在生助念，思之未得。
[There are] former ones [who] much desired [to] establish [a] method, [for] support-chanting while alive, contemplating [about] it, [who have] yet [to] attain [it].
镇守使王悦山，奉母来山，见其眷属甚多，因得一绝妙之助念法。
[When] Defense Commissioner Wáng, [who is] fond of [the] mountain, [for] presenting [it to his] mother, came [to the] mountain, seeing his family members [were] extremely many, because [of this, I] obtained an absolutely wonderful method of support-chanting [for] them.
已与彼略说之。亦与彼说，当与阁下言之。
Already with those briefly speaking [of] it. [Now] also with that speaking, [there] should [be] for your excellency speaking [of] it.
倘阁下能实行，彼亦不至漠然置之，亦自利利他之道也。
If your excellency [is] able [to] truly practise [it, with] that also not going so far [to be] indifferent [to] thus, [to] set [it] aside, [this is] also [the] path [of] self-benefitting [and] benefitting others.
阁下眷属，儿辈则各有职业，固难常时依行。
[As] your excellency’s family members, children [and the like] then, [are with] each having [their] professions, [it is] certainly difficult [for them to] frequently rely [on this for] practice.
若媳辈，则无事清闲。女使辈若奶妈等，则无甚要事。当令诸人，按钟点日在太夫人旁，高声念佛半点钟。
If [with your] daughters-in-law [and the] like, then without matters [and] leisurely, [with] female servants [and the] like, or wet nurses [and] others, then without extremely important matters, [you] should enable all [these] people, [to be at] specific times [of the] day, [with the] person[s] at [the] old lady’s side, [to] aloud recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name for] half [an] hour.
过时换班，一日不断佛声。太夫人能随之而念亦好。如不能随，但令摄心谛听。则一日之中，常不离佛。
Exceeding [the] time, changing shifts, [for the] whole day not severing [the] Buddha[’s name’s sound. If the] old lady [is] able [to] follow it [to] then recite, [this is] also good. If not able [to] follow, only enabling gathering [of the] mind [to] attentively listen. Then within [the] whole day, constantly not departing [from the] Buddha.
在诸人亦不吃力，以一日之中，不过当一回值，或至两回，亦隔许久时候。
When [with] many people, also not strenuous, with [the] whole day within, not exceeding serving [of] duty once, perhaps until twice, also separated [between] for a long time.
彼等一无事事，借此令尽孝思，令种善根。
[When] those [and] others, [are] once without all matters, use this [as a pretext, to] enable fulfilling [of] filiality’s thought, [and] enable planting [of] good roots.
即女使等，亦得因此之故，得植出离生死之缘。
Even female servants [and] others, also [will] attain, because of this thus, attain planting of [the] conditions [for] departure [from the cycle of] birth [and] death.
从此以往，率以为常。即太夫人寿过期颐，此法无令中辍，其利益不可思议。
From this afterwards, lead with [this] constantly. Even [if the] old lady’s lifespan exceeds [a] hundred years, [with] this method not caused [to] stop halfway, those benefits [are] inconceivable.
凡有信心人，欲成就父母往生之道业者，皆当以此告之。
[Of] all people [who] have [the] faithful mind, desiring [to] accomplish those path karmas of [their] fathers [and] mothers [for] rebirth [in Pure Land], all should with this [be] informed.
阁下政务多端，不能按定。若有暇亦如是念一次，以作表率，则儿媳女使等，当更踊跃欢喜也。
Your excellency’s government affairs [are] many [and] varied, not able [to be] controlled [and] fixed. If [there] is leisure, also like this reciting one time, with [this] acting [as an] example, then [your] daughters-in-law, female servants [and] others, should [be] even [more] enthusiastic [and] joyful.
光意谓如此而行，实为利便。
[With Yìn]guāng[’s] meanings said, like this then practising, [there] truly is convenience.
《复黄涵之居士书四》
Fourth Reply Letter [To] Layperson Huáng Hánzhī
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:
为什么说念佛利益比诵经拜忏做水陆大多了？
[506] Why Say Reciting Āmítuófó’s Name’s Benefits, Compared With Reciting Of Sūtras, Prostrating With Repentance Prayers, And Conducting Of The Water And Land Dharma Assembly, Are Much More?
https://purelanders.com/2026/01/13/506-why-say-reciting-amituofos-names-benefits-compared-with-reciting-of-sutras-prostrating-with-repentance-prayers-and-conducting-of-the-water-and-land-dharma-assembly-are-much-more
下个问答
Next Question And Answer:
念佛人如何办丧事？
[508] How Should People Reciting Āmítuófó’s Name Handle Funeral Practices?
https://purelanders.com/2026/05/20/508-how-should-people-reciting-amituofos-name-handle-funeral-practices
全部问答
All Questions And Answers:
卷十：净土法门与临终关怀
Scroll Ten: Pure Land Dharma Door And Care When Approaching Life’s End
https://purelanders.com/2026/06/12/pure-land-dharma-door-and-care-when-approaching-lifes-end
Námó Āmítuófó : 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
