[237] 往生西方的大根据是什么？
[237] What Are [The] Great Foundations Of Rebirth [In The] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss]?
◎ 信愿为吾人生西方大根据。
◎ [Summary]: Faith [and] Aspiration are our birth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss’ (极乐世界)] great foundations.
往生净土，固贵久修。然其所重，在乎决定不易之志愿耳。
[For] rebirth [in the] Pure Land, certainly precious [is] long cultivation. However, that emphasised [and] cared about [is] determined [and] unchanging Aspiration.
彼终身念佛，心常冀人天福报者，纵令精进，因其心愿尚恋此娑婆，何得有生极乐之望乎？
[Of] those lifelong reciting [Āmítuó]fó[’s name (阿弥陀佛), with their] minds constantly hoping [for] human [and] heavenly blessed rewards, even if diligent, because their minds’ aspirations [are] still attached to this Sahā [World], how [can they] have hope of birth [in the Land Of] Ultimate Bliss?
固知信愿，实为吾人生西方大根据也。
[With this, it is] certainly known [that] Faith [and] Aspiration, truly are our birth [in the] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss’ (极乐世界)] great foundations.
《复智圆居士书》
Reply Letter [To] Layperson Zhìyuán
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
