[22] 古今知识，为什么极力宏扬净土法门？
[22] Why [Do] Ancient [And] Modern Knowledgeable [Ones, With] Utmost Efforts Propagate [The] Pure Land Dharma Door?
◎ 时当末法，人根陋劣，匪仗如来宏誓愿力，其谁能断烦惑以出生死，见本性而证无生乎？唯以真信切愿，持佛名号，求生西方，最为合机。以故古今知识，极力宏扬此法，以期上报佛恩，下度同伦也。
◎ [Summary]: [With this] time then [being the] Dharma-Ending [Age, with] people’s roots crude [and] inferior, [if] not relying on [the] Thus Come [One’s] great vows’ power, who [are] those able [to] sever afflictions [and] confusions, with [this] exit [the cycle of] birth [and] death, see [their] original nature and realise non-birth? Only with true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, upholding [Āmítuó]fó’s name, seeking birth [in his] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界)], is [that] most suitable [for our] capacities. Therefore, ancient [and] modern knowledgeable [ones, with] utmost efforts propagate this Dharma [Door], with hope [of having] higher repaying [of the] Buddha’s kindness, [and] lower delivering [of] similar peers.
药无贵贱，愈病者良；法无浅深，合机者妙。
Medicine [is] without [that] noble [and] lowly, [with] that healing [the] sick good. [The] Dharma [is] without [that] shallow [and] deep, [with] that suitable [for one’s] capacity wonderful.
时当末法，人根陋劣，匪仗如来宏誓愿力，其谁能断烦惑以出生死，见本性而证无生乎？
[With this] time then [being the] Dharma-Ending [Age, with] people’s roots crude [and] inferior, [if] not relying on [the] Thus Come [One’s] great vows’ power, who [are] those able [to] sever afflictions [and] confusions, with [this] exit [the cycle of] birth [and] death, see [their] original nature and realise non-birth?
譬如病入膏肓，虽和缓亦无从措手。
For example, like [those with] sickness entering [the] vitals, although mild, [they] also [are with] no way to deal with [it].
然肯服此阿伽陀万病总持之药，则所谓断烦惑以出生死，见本性而证无生者，固人人皆可亲得，而了无所难焉。何也？
However, those willing [to] take this Agada medicine that [cures] ten thousand sicknesses, then so-called sever afflictions [and] confusions, with [this] exit [the cycle of] birth [and] death, see [their] original nature and realise non-birth. Certainly, everyone can all personally attain [this], completely without that difficult. Why?
以其以真信切愿，持佛名号，求生西方，决于临终蒙佛接引，即获往生也。
With those, with true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, upholding [Āmítuó]fó’s name [阿弥陀佛], seeking birth [in his] Western [Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界)], definitely when approaching [life’s] end, receiving [the] Buddha’s reception [and] guidance, immediately obtaining rebirth [there].
既往生已，长时亲炙弥陀，参随海众，尚当圆满菩提，彻证究竟涅槃，况所谓断烦惑以出生死，见本性而证无生乎？
Since reborn already, [for a] long time personally taught [by Ā]mítuó[fó], joining [and] following [the] ocean[wide] assembly, [they] also will attain perfect [and] complete Bodhi, [and] thoroughly realise Ultimate Nirvāṇa, much less, so-called sever afflictions [and] confusions, with [this] exit [the cycle of] birth [and] death, see original nature and realise non-birth.
是知当此时节，唯此一法，最为合机。
[With] this, know [that] when [at] this time, only this one Dharma [Door], is [that] most suitable [for our] capacities.
若舍此仗佛力之法门，而修仗自力之法门，勿道中下根人，莫由冀望，纵令上根，亦断难以一生成办，多皆但种来因，难得实益。
If abandoning this Dharma Door that relies [on the] Buddha’s power, then cultivating Dharma Doors that rely on self-power, not speaking [of] middle [and] low roots’ persons, not [having a] cause to hope [for], even if [as] high roots’ [persons, they are] also absolutely difficult [to], with one lifetime [have their] accomplishment done, mostly [with] all only planting future causes, difficult [to] attain [their] true benefits.
以故古今知识，极力宏扬此法，以期上报佛恩，下度同伦也。
Therefore, ancient [and] modern knowledgeable [ones, with] utmost efforts propagate this Dharma [Door], with hope [of having] higher repaying [of the] Buddha’s kindness, [and] lower delivering [of] similar peers.
《净土辑要序》
Pure Land [Teachings’] Gathered Essentials’ 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 by Shen Shi’an
