[516] 老年人怎样为往生做好准备？
[516] How [Should] Old People Prepare Well For Rebirth?
◎ 常为眷属说知临终助念之利益，及不得瞎张罗，致成落井下石之事；日日常作将往生想，心中不留一事；当汲汲念佛，率其家人一致念佛，以作去世时，彼等悉能助念之预备。
◎ [Summary]: Constantly for family members speak [the] benefits of approaching [life’s] end [with] support-chanting, and [that there] must not [be] blindly [making] plans [and] preparations, leading to become [the] matter of [for those] fallen [into a] well dropping rocks. Every day constantly have [the] thought [of] going [to be] reborn, [with the] mind within not retaining one [other] matter. [There] should [be] urgent striving [to] recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name (阿弥陀佛)], leading your family members [to] unanimously recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name], with [this] becoming, when passing away, [the] preparation of those [and] others, [to] all [be] able [to practise support-chanting.
阁下老矣。世道如此，宜将此境缘以作警策。俾求生西方之心之事十分周挚。
Your excellency [is] old. [As the] way [of the] world [is] like this, [you] should use this situation’s conditions, with [them] as admonitions. So that [your] practice of seeking birth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界) is with] ten parts [i.e. extremely] utmost sincere.
又祈与令嗣及阖家，常说临终助念之利益。及预为洗浴换衣哭泣之祸害。
Moreover, requesting [that you], for your descendants and whole family, constantly speak [the] benefits of approaching [life’s] end [with] support-chanting. And [the] harms of in advance for [you] bathing, changing clothes [and] crying.
使彼等利害明了，断不至为行孝故，致成落井下石之事也。
Enabling those [and] others [to have the] benefits [and] harms understood clearly, [they will] absolutely not [be] likely, for practising filiality thus, [be] led to become [the] matter of [for those] fallen [into a] well dropping rocks.
《复潘对凫居士书一》
First Reply Letter [To] Layperson Pān Duìfú
日日常作将往生想，心中不留一事。
Every day constantly have [the] thought [of] going [to be] reborn, [with the] mind within not retaining one [other] matter.
有宜交代者，即预交代之。
[If] having those [which] should [be] handed over, immediately, in advance hand over them.
子孙有宜问者，即预问之。
[If] children [and] grandchildren have those [which] should [be] asked, immediately, in advance ask them.
《复夏寿祺居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Layperson Shòuqí
八十三岁老人，来日无多。民国国运，危如累卵。际此二事，当汲汲念佛，以求往生。
[As an] eighty-three-year-old person, [your] future days [are] not many. [The] Republic [of] China’s fate [of the] nation, [is as] precarious as [a] pile [of] eggs. Connecting these two matters, [there] should [be] urgent striving [to] recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name (阿弥陀佛)], with seeking [of] rebirth [in his Pure Land].
又须率其家人一致念佛，以作汝去世时，彼等悉能助念之预备。
Also, [there] must [be] leading [of] your family members [to] unanimously recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name], with [this] becoming, when you [are] passing away, [the] preparation of those [and] others, [to] all [be] able [to practise] support-chanting.
又须叮嘱临终不可预为洗身、换衣，及问事、（此当预先交代）安慰，哭泣等。
Also, [there] must [be] repeated exhorting [that when] approaching [life’s] end, [there] must not in advance for [you] washing [your] body, changing clothes, and asking [about] matters, (these should in advance, first [be] explained) consoling, crying [and] others.
随彼坐着死也好，睡着死也好，大家一口同音念佛。
Complying [with] that seated deceased [is] also good, lying down deceased [is] also good, everyone [should with] one voice [and the] same sound recite [Āmítuó]fó[’s name].
一直念到断气后，再过三点钟后，再为安顿，万不可早。
Continuously reciting until ending [of] breathing after, again passing three hours later, then [can there] be peaceful settlement [of the body, it] absolutely must not [be] earlier.
不但老人死如是，即年青人死，也须如是。
Not only [for] old people dying, [should it be] like this, even [for] young people dying, [it] also should [be] like this.
此末后最要紧之一大事。若不预为操练，及说其利害，未有不被眷属瞎张罗所误者。
This [is] that final [and] most important one great matter. If not in advance for [this] practising, and speaking [of] their benefits [and] harms, [there is] yet [to] be those not by family members blindly planning [and] preparing hindered.
《复慧明居士书》
First Reply Letter [To] Layperson Huìmíng
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》
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
已年老，该如何？
When Already Old, What Should Be Done?
https://purelanders.com/2023/11/08/when-already-old-what-should-be-done
如何作往生想？
How To Have Thought Of Being Reborn In Pure Land?
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2019/03/how-to-have-thought-of-being-reborn-in-pure-land
