[467] 念佛时为什么会发悲痛？
[467] Why [Is There] Feeling [Of] Sorrow When Reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s Name]?
◎ 念佛发悲痛系善根发现。然不可以此为德，常令如此。若常如此，则堕悲魔，切要切要。
◎ [Summary]: [When] reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛)] giving rise [to] sorrow, [this is] connected [to] good roots appearing. However, [there] must not [be] with this as virtuous, constantly causing [yourself to be] like this. If constantly like this, [there will] then [be] falling [to become] compassion’s demon. [This is] extremely important, extremely important [to remember].
念佛发悲痛，亦是善相，切不可常常如是。
[When] reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛)] giving rise [to] sorrow, [this] also is [a] good form. By no means frequently [be] like this.
若常令如是，必着悲魔。悲魔既着，终日悲痛，或至痛死。
If constantly causing [yourself to be] like this, [there will] definitely [be] possession [by] compassion’s demon. [By] compassion’s demon already possessed, all day sorrowful, perhaps until [a] painful death.
此种皆由不善用心所致。
These kinds [are] all due [to] not well using [the] mind [i.e. having unvirtuous attention], [by] that caused.
《复刘慧焯居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Layperson Liú Huìchāo
当念佛时，愍彼苦恼众生，心酸泪流，系善根发现。
When reciting [Āmítuó]fó[‘s name (阿弥陀佛)], sympathising [with] suffering [and] afflicted sentient beings, [with the] heart sad [and] tears flowing, [these are] connected [to] good roots appearing.
然不可以此为德，常令如此。若常如此，则堕悲魔，切要切要。
However, [there] must not [be] with this as virtuous, constantly causing [yourself to be] like this. If constantly like this, [there will] then [be] falling [to become] compassion’s demon. [This is] extremely important, extremely important [to note].
《复陈士牧居士书一》
First Reply Letter [To] Layperson Chén Shìmù
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
