安樂集 1.88

1.88

答曰：「此事不類。何者？經云：『十念相續。』似若不難。然諸凡夫心如野馬、識劇猨猴，馳騁六塵，何曾停息？各須宜發信心，預自剋念，使積習成性，善根堅固也。如佛告大王：『人積善行，死無惡念；如樹先傾，倒必隨曲也。』若刀風一至，百苦湊身，若習先不在懷，念何可辦？各宜同志三、五預結言要，臨命終時，迭相開曉，為稱彌陀名號，願生安樂國，聲聲相次，使成十念也。譬如蠟印印泥，印壞文成。此命斷時，即是生安樂國時。一入正定聚，更何所憂？各宜量此大利，何不預剋念也？」

He answers: "This matter is not comparable. Why? The sūtra says: 'Ten thought-moments in succession.' It seems as though it is not difficult. However, the minds of ordinary beings are like wild horses, and their consciousnesses are more erratic than apes and monkeys; galloping across the six sense-objects, when have they ever ceased? Each must arouse faith and restrain thought in advance, so that accumulated habit becomes second nature and good roots become firm. As the Buddha told the Great King: 'When a person accumulates good deeds, at death there are no evil thoughts; just as when a tree leans beforehand, its fall must follow its bend.' If the wind of knives suddenly arrives and a hundred sufferings converge upon the body, if the habit has not previously been held in the heart, how could mindfulness be accomplished? Each person should form an advance pact with three or five like-minded companions, so that at the approach of the end of life, they may mutually remind and enlighten one another, reciting Amitābha's name on each other's behalf, aspiring to be reborn in the Land of Peace and Bliss, with voice following voice in succession to accomplish ten thought-moments. It is like a wax seal stamping clay: when the seal is destroyed, the pattern is formed. When this life is severed, that very moment is the time of rebirth in the Land of Peace and Bliss. Once one has entered the samyaktva-niyata-rāśi, what further sorrow is there? Each should weigh this great benefit; why not restrain your thoughts in advance?"