遊心安樂道 1.41

1.41

言顯了義十念相者，望第四對淨而說。如《觀經》言：「下品下生者，或有眾生作不善業，五逆十惡，具諸不善。臨命終時，遇善知識，為說妙法，教令念佛。若不能念者，應稱無量壽佛，故於念念中除八十億劫生死之罪，命終之後，即得往生」，乃至廣說以何等心名為至心？云何名為十念相續者？什公說言：「譬如有人，於曠野中值遇惡賊，揮戈拔劍，直來斷殺。其人勤走，視度一河，爾時但念渡河方便，既至河岸，為著衣度？為脫衣度？若著衣納，恐不得過；若脫衣納，恐不得暇。但有此念，更無他意，當念度河，即是一念。此等十念，不雜餘念，行者亦爾。若念佛名，若念佛相，無間念佛，乃至十念，如是至心，名為十念。」此是顯了義十念相也。

As for the characteristics of the ten recitations of the explicit meaning, they are spoken regarding the fourth pair's pure [land]. As the Contemplation Sūtra says: "As for the lowest rebirth of the lowest grade, there may be sentient beings who commit unwholesome karma—the five heinous crimes, the ten non-virtues, and are endowed with all unwholesome deeds. When about to die, they meet a good spiritual friend who explains the marvelous Dharma to them and teaches them to practice buddhānusmṛti. If they are unable to practice mindfulness, they should invoke the Buddha of Immeasurable Life; thus, in thought after thought, the transgressions of eighty billion kalpas of birth-and-death are eliminated, and after life ends, they immediately attain rebirth," and so on at length. With what kind of mind is it called the "utmost mind"? What is called the "ten continuous recitations"? Master Kumārajīva said: "For example, suppose a person meets a wicked bandit in an open wilderness who brandishes a spear and draws a sword, coming straight to kill him. That person runs desperately, looking to cross a river. At that time, he only thinks of a means to cross the river. Having reached the riverbank, should he cross with his clothes on, or should he cross with his clothes off? If he crosses wearing his clothes, he fears he cannot get across; if he crosses taking off his clothes, he fears there is no time. He has only this thought, without any other intention; the focused thought of crossing the river is just one single thought. Ten such thoughts without being mixed with other thoughts—the practitioner is also like this. Whether recollecting the Buddha's name or contemplating the Buddha's physical form, being mindful of the Buddha without interruption for up to ten recitations—such an utmost mind is called ten recitations." This is the characteristic of the ten recitations of the explicit meaning.