[473] 念佛为什么不可着外境相？
[473] Why Must Recitation [Of Āmítuó]fó[‘s Name] Not [Have] Attachment [To] External Realms’ Forms?
◎ 念佛着外境相，易着魔境而不了知，则殆矣。切嘱切嘱。
◎ [Summary]: Recitation [of Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛) with] attachment [to] external realms’ forms, [is] easy [to become] attached [to] demonic realms. Yet not understanding clearly, [this is] then dangerous. [This is] most urgent advice, most urgent advice.
念佛之乐，唯真念佛者自知。然必须志诚恳切，摄心而念，不可着外境相。
[The] bliss of reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛)], [is what] only those [who] truly recite [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name] personally know. However, [there] must [be with] sincerity [and] single-mindedness earnest, gathering [the] mind then reciting, [and] must not [be with] attachment [to] external realms’ forms.
否则心地不通，观道不熟，魔境现前，亦不了知，则殆矣。切嘱切嘱。
Otherwise, [with the] mind ground not clear, [and] visualisation’s path not familiar, demonic realms [can] appear before [one]. Also not understanding clearly, [this is] then dangerous. [This is] most urgent advice, most urgent advice.
《复马契西居士书四》
Fourth Reply Letter [To] Layperson Mǎ Qìxī
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
传印法师鉴定
Evaluated [By] Dharma Master Chuányìn
Námó Āmítuófó : Translation by Shen Shi’an
