For Those Cultivating The Pure Land Dharma Door, That To Most Abstain From Is Being Mixed 修净土者，最忌夹杂

修净土者，最忌夹杂
[For] Those Cultivating [The] Pure Land [Dharma Door, That To] Most Abstain [From Is Being] Mixed

菩萨示沈元辉曰：「大凡修净土人，最忌是夹杂。

[The] Bodhisattva taught Shěn Yuánhuī, saying, ‘Generally, [that which] people [who] cultivate [the] Pure Land [Dharma Door should] most abstain [from] is [being] mixed.

[Note 1: For Pure Land practitioners, having proper Buddhist mixed practices as Supportive Practices (助行) is alright — only if there already is adequate focused practice of mindfulness of Āmítuófó’s name, as the Main Practice (正行) for reaching his Pure Land.]

何谓夹杂？即是又讽经、又持咒、又做会、又好说些没要紧的禅、又要谈些吉凶祸福、见神见鬼的话，却是夹杂也。

What [is] called [being] mixed? [This] then is, also reciting sūtras, also upholding mantras, also conducting [Dharma] assemblies, also [being] fond [of] speaking some words, that [are] not important on meditation, also wanting [to] discuss [those] auspicious [and] inauspicious, [on] misfortunes [and] blessings, seeing gods [and] seeing ghosts, [this] actually is [being] mixed.

[Note 2: Other than the first three practices listed, the rest are not even proper Buddhist practices.]

既夹杂则心不专一。心不专一，则见佛往生难矣。

Since [being] mixed, then [is the] mind not [sincerely] focused single-mindedly. [With the] mind not focused single-mindedly, then [is] seeing [the] Buddha [for] rebirth difficult.

[Note 3: With many mixed practices, both proper and improper, while not having adequate wholehearted focus on mindfulness of Buddha, the right cause for connecting to the Buddha will be amiss, thus missing birth in his Pure Land.]

却不空费了一生的事，你如今一概莫做。只紧紧持一句阿弥陀佛，期生极乐。日久功成，方不错却。

Yet [for] the practice [that will] not emptily waste [this] one life, you [are] now totally not doing [it]. Only closely uphold [the] one line [of] ‘Āmítuófó’, [with] hope [to be] born [in his Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss. [With the] days long, [with your] merits accomplished, then [is this] not [a] mistake.

[Note 4: The direct solution for addressing the problem above, especially when time is already running out, is to immediately and sincerely focus only on mindfulness of Āmítuófó’s name.]

当授汝一偈，依而行之：

[I]] will give you a verse, [for] relying [on, to] then practise this:

阿弥陀一句，万法之总持。
声与心相依，念兹复在兹。
感应不思议，莲开七宝池。」

Āmítuó[fó, this] one line,
[is the] total retention [i.e. dhāraṇī] of ten thousand Dharma [doors.
With its] sound and [your] mind depending [on] each other,
[with sincere] reciting [of] this, again [with mindfulness] of this.
[With] connection [and] response inconceivable,
[your] lotus [flower will] bloom [in a] seven treasures’ pond [in his Pure Land].‘

[Note 5: As the single name of Āmítuófó contains the essence of all Buddhas’ teachings, wholeheartedly mindfulness of it will do. The way to practise is to verbally and/or mentally recite and listen to it, as mindfully as possible, thus creating a closed loop, that keeps all mixed thoughts out. This is how there will be connection to Āmítuófó, with response from him, and in his Pure Land, with your vehicle for birth forming in the same moment there.]

觉明妙行菩萨
Awakening Brightness’ Wonderful Practices (Juémíng Miàoxíng) Bodhisattva
《西方确指》
Definite Pointers [To The] West[ern Pure Land]

Námó Āmítuófó : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an