丙九、求生净土
C9: Seek Birth In Pure Land
求生净土
[9] Seek Birth In Pure Land
云何求生净土？谓在此土修行，其进道也难；彼土往生，其成佛也易。易故一生可致，难故累劫未成。
Why seek birth in Pure Land? Speaking of in this defiled land (秽土) cultivating practices, that entering of the path is also difficult. In that Pure Land reborn, that accomplishing of Buddhahood is also easy. It is easy there, thus in one lifetime, it can be attained, and difficult here, thus despite continuous kalpas, it is yet to be accomplished.
是以往圣前贤，人人趣向；千经万论，处处指归。末世修行，无越于此。
Therefore, of former noble and past virtuous ones, everyone turned towards it. A thousand sutras and ten thousand treatises, everywhere point ‘return’ to it. In this Dharma-Ending Age (末法时期) cultivating practices, it is without that superior to this.
然经称少善不生，多福乃致。言多福，则莫若执持名号；言多善，则莫若发广大心。是以暂持圣号，胜于布施百年；一发大心，超过修行历劫。
However, the Amitābha Sūtra《阿弥陀经》says that those with few good roots (善根) cannot be born there, and those with much blessed virtues (福德) thus attain birth. Speaking of much blessed virtues, then is nothing better than firmly upholding the name of Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛). Speaking of much good roots, then is nothing better than giving rise to the vast and great Bodhi Mind (菩提心(. Therefore, temporarily upholding the sacred name, is superior to practising generosity for a hundred years. Once giving rise to the great Bodhi Mind, this surpasses cultivation of practices passing through kalpas.
盖念佛本期作佛，大心不发，则虽念奚为？发心原为修行，净土不生，则虽发易退。
About mindfulness of Buddha, it is originally with the hope of becoming Buddhas. If the great Bodhi Mind is not given rise to, then although mindful, what is it for? Giving rise to the Bodhi Mind is originally for cultivation of practices. If in the Pure Land not born, then although there is that given rise to, it is easy to retrogress.
是则下菩提种，耕以念佛之犁，道果自然增长；乘大愿船，入于净土之海，西方决定往生。
Nevertheless planting the Bodhi seed, and cultivating with the plough of mindfulness of Buddha, the path’s fruit will naturally grow. Riding great vows’ ship, for entering the ocean of Pure Land, in the Western Land Of Ultimate Bliss, there will definitely be rebirth.
是为发菩提心第九因缘也。
This is for giving rise to the Bodhi Mind, the ninth cause and condition.
净土宗十一祖省庵大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 11th Patriarch Great Master Xǐng’ān
《劝发菩提心文》
Essay On Exhortation To Give Rise To The Bodhi Mind
全文
Complete Text:
《劝发菩提心文》
Essay On Exhortation To Give Rise To The Bodhi Mind
https://purelanders.com/quan
