樂邦文類 5.83

5.83

此二偈者，前四句讚佛放光。其光名為見佛，能令臨終者見佛往生。後四句讚佛修此光明之因。其因者，只是勸臨終人念佛，并示其佛像，故成佛時得此光明。今廣施此偈者，蓋勸深信者，凡遇眷屬及一切人臨命終時，先於床前安置佛像令彼眼見，及勸令念佛。若痛苦所逼，或先無信心不肯念佛者，亦須種種方便勸令稱佛，下至十念，得滅重罪，生佛淨土。此一利益不可思議。若勸得一人生淨土，縱自不修行，亦合得生佛國。況當來成佛，能放光明，照一切眾生，臨終見佛也。多見世人，為恩愛故，聚頭哭泣，不思救度。苦哉苦哉！名為惡知識也。恩愛所牽，墮落惡道，無解脫期。世間有五種人，不肯念佛：一者先無信心、二者戀著財寶、三者不捨妻子、四者自惜身命、五者罪業所障。死墮地獄，願早覺悟。

These two verses: the first four lines praise the Buddha's emitting of light. That light is named 'Seeing the Buddha,' which is able to cause those on the verge of death to see the Buddha and attain rebirth. The latter four lines praise the cause by which the Buddha cultivated this light. That cause is simply encouraging dying persons to practice buddha-mindfulness and showing them the Buddha's image; therefore, upon attaining buddhahood, he obtained this light. Now, the reason for broadly disseminating these verses is to exhort those of deep faith that whenever relatives or any people are on the verge of death, one should first place a Buddha image before their bed for them to see with their own eyes, and encourage them to practice buddha-mindfulness. If they are oppressed by pain, or previously had no faith and refuse to practice buddha-mindfulness, one must also use various skillful means to encourage them to recite the Buddha's name; down to ten recitations, they will extinguish heavy offenses and be reborn in the Buddha's Pure Land. This single benefit is inconceivable. If one can persuade even one person to be reborn in the Pure Land, even if one does not cultivate oneself, one naturally deserves to be reborn in the Buddha's land as well. How much more so when attaining buddhahood in the future, being able to emit light that shines upon all sentient beings so that they see the Buddha at the end of life! One often sees that worldly people, because of emotional affection, gather together and weep, not thinking of rescue and deliverance. How bitter, how bitter! They are called bad spiritual friends. Dragged along by emotional affection, they fall into evil destinies, with no time of liberation. In the world there are five kinds of people who refuse to practice buddha-mindfulness: first, those who previously had no faith; second, those who cling to wealth and treasures; third, those who cannot let go of wife and children; fourth, those who cherish their own bodies and lives; fifth, those who are obstructed by sinful karma. At death they fall into hell; may they awaken early!