樂邦遺稿 2.3

2.3

Ci'en's Subcommentary to the General Praise of the Amitābha Sūtra says: "Regarding what the sūtra says, 'One cannot attain rebirth in that land with few wholesome roots and meritorious conditions,' it is truly feared that sentient beings, having heard the Buddha say that ten recitations at the end of life bring rebirth, would think: 'My lifespan is not yet exhausted today; let me just be negligent for now.' To block this, it is said that one cannot attain rebirth in that land with few wholesome roots. To say 'my lifespan is not yet exhausted today' is the view of a foolish person. Human life is impermanent, like a candle flickering in the wind; how could it abide for long? For example, when the Buddha was in the world, several monks practiced the contemplation of impermanence. The Buddha asked them about it, and a monk replied, 'An outgoing breath does not guarantee an incoming breath.' The Buddha said, 'You have truly attained the mark of impermanence.'"