[17] 为什么说知有弥陀圣号，亦为不可思议善根？
[17] Why Say Knowing [There] Is [Ā]mítuó[fó[’s] Sacred Name, Also Is [With] Inconceivable Good Roots?
◎ 知有弥陀圣号，遇境逢缘，便能提起。如陈企被所杀之怨鬼见逼，由念佛而鬼遂不现，因兹毕世念佛，临终往生。
◎ [Summary]: Knowing [there] is [Ā]mítuó[fó’s] sacred name [阿弥陀佛], [when] meeting situations [and] encountering conditions, [one is] then able [to] raise [it]. Like Chén Qǐ, by [the] vengeful ghost of that [person] killed seen [and] oppressed, due [to] reciting [of Āmítuó]fó[’s name], then [with the] ghost thereupon not appearing. Because [of] this, [for] all [of his] life, [he] recited [Āmítuó]fó[’s name. When] approaching [life’s] end, [he was] reborn [in his Pure Land].
不但此也，即绝无信愿，绝不修持，知有弥陀圣号，亦为不可思议善根。何以故？
Not only this, even if absolutely without Faith [and] Aspiration, [and] absolutely not [with] Practice, knowing [there] is [Ā]mítuó[fó’s] sacred name [阿弥陀佛], also is [with] inconceivable good roots. Why thus?
以由知故，遇境逢缘，便能提起。
With [this] reason knowing thus — [when] meeting situations [and] encountering conditions, [one is] then able [to] raise [it].
[Note 1: When willing and able to recite Āmítuófó’s name in an emergency, such as a disturbing supernatural encounter, it can be said that there is some Faith mustered up then, which led to the Aspiration and Practice to recite it, even if just once, or a few times, and even if it is just aspiring for protection in the moment, not for rebirth in Pure Land (yet). If such recitation does not lead to protection, the Faith is inadequate then, for proper connection to Āmítuófó’s blessings.]
如陈企被所杀之怨鬼见逼，由念佛而鬼遂不现，因兹毕世念佛，临终往生，且能归而叙述前因，亲现生西本身妙相。
Like Chén Qǐ, by [the] vengeful ghost of that [person] killed seen [and] oppressed, due [to] reciting [of Āmítuó]fó[’s name], then [with the] ghost thereupon not appearing. Because [of] this, [for] all [of his] life, [he] recited [Āmítuó]fó[’s name. When] approaching [life’s] end, [he was] reborn [in his Pure Land. He was] moreover able [to] return and narrate [his] past causes, [and] personally appear [with his] Western [Land Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界)] born original body’s wonderful forms.
[Note 2: See ‘Chén Qǐ With Mindfulness Of Buddha, With A Ghost Retreating’ (陈企念佛却鬼) at https://purelanders.com/2021/12/10/longshus-pure-land-text-eighth-scroll for more on his case.]
使先未预闻，则便被鬼夺命，永劫沉沦矣。
If first, yet [to] in advance hear [it, he would] then [be] by [the] ghost, robbed [of his] life, [and for] long kalpas sink.
所以《观经》三福，初则世善皆堪回向；及至九品，末则狱现尚获往生；至于一心不乱，妙观圆成，证三昧而往生者，更不须言矣。
Therefore, [the] Contemplation Sutra’s Three Blessings, [are] first then [with] worldly good, [which] all can [be] dedicated [for reaching Pure Land]. Up until [all the] Nine Grades, [those] yet then [to have the] hells’ [forms] appear, still [can] obtain rebirth [in the Pure Land]. As for those [with] wholeheartedness without [being] scattered, [with] wonderful visualisations completely accomplished, [who have] realised samādhi then reborn, [they do] not need [to be] further spoken [of].
是知净土法门，普摄群机，了无弃物，猗欤大哉！
[With] this, know [that the] Pure Land Dharma Door, universally gathers all capacities, completely without abandoning living beings. How great!
《重刻龙舒净土文题词并序》
Recarving [Of] Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text’s Inscription Together [With Its] Preface
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 and notes by Shen Shi’an
