Excerpts

How To Reduce Lust 如何减少淫欲

必使淫机,身心俱断,断性亦无,
于佛菩提,斯可希冀。

— 释迦牟尼佛
《楞严经》清净明诲章

If enabling sexual conduct’s intention,
in body and mind to be together severed,
also without the nature of severance,

then of the Buddha’s Bodhi,
this can be hoped for.

— Śākyamuni Buddha
(Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section On Clear And Definitive Instructions On Purity)

If seeing women, of those old, have them as my mother thought, of those elder, have them as my elder sisters thought, and of those younger, have them as my younger sisters thought. Regardless of what kind of women, for all have these thoughts. Gradually time, then seeing other women to be with seeing my mother, elder sisters and younger sisters, without differences. (若见女人老者作吾母想,长者作吾姊想,幼者作吾妹想。无论何等女人,皆作此想。久之则见他女人与见己母姊妹无异矣。)

Also, if seeing women, with their beauty then, giving rise to evil thoughts, often think of these persons’ belly skins inside, to be completely with faeces and urine. With only one piece of thin skin wrapping, then seemingly good-looking. If with this skin peeled away, then without one bit good-looking. Women are thus, and myself is also thus. (又见女人以其美而起邪念,常想此人肚皮里尽是屎尿。只一张薄皮包著,似乎好看。若把此皮去了,则无一点好看。女人如是,自己也如是。)

When yet to see them having this thought, when seeing them, this thought will manifest in the present. Gradually over time, then will evil thoughts be self-eliminated. If marrying, for your wife likewise having this thought, then will you not likely, due to greed for sex, have early death. [Women should also have same thoughts about men.] (未见时作此想,当见时此想现前。久之则邪念自消。若娶妻亦作此想,不致贪色早夭。) [女人也应当对男人作同想。]

Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
(Reply Letter To Layperson Lǚ Zhìmíng)
  净土宗十三祖印光大师
《复吕智明居士书》

[Translation by Shen Shi’an]

Please Be Mindful Of Your Speech, Namo Amituofo!

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