念佛三昧寶王論 2.26

2.26

對曰：「誠如所問，聲亦無爽，試為明之。何者？夫辟散之要，要存於聲，聲之不厲，心竊竊然，飄飄然無定；聲之厲也，拔茅連茹，乘策其後，畢命一對，長謝百憂，其義一也。近而取之，聲光所及，萬禍氷消，功德叢林，千山松茂，其義二也。遠而說之，金容熒煌以散彩，寶華淅瀝而雨空，若指諸掌，皆聲致焉，其義三也。如牽木石，重而不前，洪音發號，飄然輕舉，其義四也。與魔軍相戰，旗鼓相望，用聲律於戎軒，以定破於強敵，其義五也。具斯眾義，復何厭哉！未若喧靜兩全，止觀雙運，叶夫佛意，不亦可乎？定慧若均，則兼忘心佛誠如所問矣。故廬山〈遠公念佛三昧序〉曰：『功高易進，念佛為先。』察夫玄音之扣心，聽則塵累每銷，滯情融朗，非天下之至妙，其孰能與於此歟？言明證者，未若《華嚴經》偈云：

I reply: “It is indeed as you ask, yet vocal sound is also not flawed; let me try to explain it. Why? The essential technique for dispelling distraction lies in sound. If the voice is not vigorous, the mind is timid and drifts without stability. If the voice is vigorous, it uproots weeds with their tangled roots, driving them forward; facing them once with one’s whole life, one permanently bids farewell to a hundred sorrows. This is the first meaning. Taken closer at hand, wherever the sound and light reach, ten thousand misfortunes melt away like ice; the grove of merit and virtue flourishes like pines on a thousand hills. This is the second meaning. Spoken from afar, the golden countenance sparkles and scatters radiance, and jeweled flowers shower gently from the sky; as clearly as pointing to one's palm, all are brought about by sound. This is the third meaning. Just as when dragging heavy timber and stones they are burdensome and cannot advance, but when a mighty shout rings out, they are lifted lightly and easily. This is the fourth meaning. When battling the demon armies, with banners and drums facing each other, using vocal martial tunes upon the war chariots, one decisively destroys the powerful enemy. This is the fifth meaning. Possessing these various meanings, why should it be reviled? Is it not better when clamor and quiet are both preserved, śamatha and vipaśyanā are jointly exercised, according with the buddha’s intention? If calm and discernment are balanced, then both forgetting mind and buddha will truly be as you have said. Therefore Master Yuan of Mount Lu’s ‘Preface to the Buddhānusmṛti-samādhi’ states: ‘Its merit is high and progress is easy; buddha-mindfulness comes first.’ When examining how the profound sound strikes the heart, upon hearing it, defiling burdens are melted away and stagnant feelings become harmoniously luminous. If it were not the supreme marvel of the world, who could take part in this? As for clear evidence, it is best shown by the verse in the Avataṃsaka Sūtra: