念佛鏡 1.24

1.24

夫佛者三界大師，四生慈父。歸信者，滅罪恒沙；稱念者、得福無量。凡欲念佛，要起信心，若當無信，空無所獲。是故經言：「如是」者，信相也。夫信為入道之初宗；智為究竟之玄術。初稱如是，信也；後曰奉行，智也。故《阿彌陀經》云：「若有信者，應當發願，生彼國土。」此是本師釋迦牟尼勸信之處。彼經又言：「汝等當信是稱讚不可思議功德。」此是六方諸佛勸信處。又經言：「隨順此經，以信得入。」此是《法華經》勸信處。又云：「若人種善根，疑則華不開，信心清淨者，華開即見佛。」此是《十住論》勸信處。又「人無信而不立，車無輗軏不行。」此是外書勸信處。又「信則所言之理順，順則師資之道成，經無豐約，非信不傳。」此是肇法師勸信處。大行和上曰：「念佛法門不問道俗、男女、貴賤、貧富，唯要具信。」此是大行和上勸信處。

Now, the Buddha is the Great Teacher of the three realms, the Compassionate Father of the four forms of birth. For those who take refuge and have faith, sins [numerous as] sands of the Ganges are extinguished; for those who recite his name, merit and blessings are immeasurable. Whenever one wishes to practice buddhānusmṛti, one must arouse faith; if one lacks faith, one will vainly gain nothing. Therefore the sūtra states: "Thus" is the mark of faith. Faith is the initial tenet for entering the Way; wisdom is the ultimate marvelous method. At first uttering "thus" is faith; later stating "faithfully practice" is wisdom. Therefore the *Amitābha-sūtra* says: "If there are those who have faith, they should make the vow to be born in that land." This is where our original teacher Śākyamuni exhorted faith. That sūtra also states: "You should believe this praise of inconceivable merit." This is where the Buddhas of the six directions exhorted faith. Moreover, a sūtra states: "Accord with this sūtra, and through faith one gains entrance." This is where the *Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra* exhorted faith. It also states: "If a person plants roots of virtue, if they doubt, the flower will not open; for those whose faithful mind is pure, when the flower opens they immediately see the Buddha." This is where the *Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣā* (*Shizhu lun*) exhorted faith. Furthermore: "If a person has no trust, they cannot be established; a carriage without collar-bars cannot move." This is where non-Buddhist writings exhorted faith. Also: "If there is faith, the principle spoken accords [with truth]; when it accords, the way of teacher and disciple is accomplished; whether a sūtra is extensive or concise, without faith it is not transmitted." This is where Dharma Master Sengzhao exhorted faith. Preceptor Daxing said: "The dharma gate of buddhānusmṛti does not ask whether one is monastic or lay, male or female, noble or base, poor or rich—it only requires having faith." This is where Preceptor Daxing exhorted faith.