炼金偈
Verses On Smelting For Gold
若唯有矿之秽，
何炼得金之纯？
If we only have the impurities of ore,
how can we smelt to get the purity of gold?
若唯有金之纯，
为何有矿之秽？
If we only have the purity of gold,
why do we have the impurities of ore?
既真有金之矿，
能炼得金之纯。
Since we truly have the ore of gold,
we are able to smelt to get the purity of gold.
金之矿即众生，
矿之秽即三毒。
The ores of gold
[with impurities and Buddha-nature (佛性),
the potential for purity]
are then sentient beings,
and the impurities of ores are then the three poisons.
金之纯即本性，
冶炼即是修行。
The purity of gold is then our fundamental nature,
and the smelting is then spiritual cultivation.
圆满炼得真金，
永离一切幻秽。
Having perfectly and completely smelted to get true gold,
is to eternally depart from all illusory impurities.
Related Article:
How Mindfulness Of Buddha Aligns Us To Our Buddha-Nature
(More On The Gold Ore Analogy)
https://purelanders.com/2014/09/26/how-does-nianfo-align-us-to-our-buddha-nature-to-awaken-wisdom/
