安樂集 1.86

1.86

答曰：「譬如有人於空曠逈處，值遇怨賊，拔刀奮勇，直來欲殺。此人徑走，視渡一河，未及到河，即作此念：『我至河岸，為脫衣渡？為著衣浮？若脫衣渡，唯恐無暇；若著衣浮，復畏首領難全。』爾時但有一心作渡河方便，無餘心想間雜。行者亦爾，念阿彌陀佛時，亦如彼人念渡，念念相次，無餘心想間雜。或念佛法身，或念佛神力，或念佛智慧，或念佛毫相，或念佛相好，或念佛本願，稱名亦爾。但能專至，相續不斷，定生佛前。今勸後代學者，若欲會其二諦，但知念念不可得，即是智慧門；而能繫念相續不斷，即是功德門。是故經云：『菩薩摩訶薩恒以功德、智慧以修其心。』若始學者未能破相，但能依相專至，無不往生，不須疑也。」

He answers: "It is like a person who, in a remote and desolate wilderness, encounters a murderous bandit drawing a sword with fierce courage and coming straight to kill him. This person flees directly, looking toward crossing a river. Before reaching the river, he forms this thought: 'When I reach the riverbank, should I take off my clothes to cross, or should I float across with my clothes on? If I take off my clothes to cross, I fear there will be no time; if I float across with my clothes on, I fear it will be difficult to preserve my life.' At that time, there is only the single mind devising the expedient means to cross the river, without any other thoughts intervening. The practitioner is also like this: when recollecting Amitābha Buddha, just as that person contemplates crossing, thought-moment follows thought-moment in succession without any other thoughts intervening. One may contemplate the Buddha's dharmakāya, or contemplate the Buddha's spiritual power, or contemplate the Buddha's wisdom, or contemplate the Buddha's white-hair mark, or contemplate the Buddha's major and minor marks, or contemplate the Buddha's original vows; recitation of the name is also like this. If one can simply be single-minded and utmost in devotion, continuing without interruption, one is certain to be reborn before the Buddha. Now I exhort scholars of later generations: if you wish to harmonize the two truths, simply knowing that thought after thought is ungraspable is the gateway of wisdom; and being able to maintain continuous mindfulness without interruption is the gateway of merit. Therefore a sūtra says: 'Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas constantly cultivate their minds with merit and wisdom.' If beginners have not yet been able to shatter marks, as long as they can rely on marks with utmost devotion, none will fail to attain rebirth; there is no need for doubt."