龍舒增廣淨土文 6.12

6.12

僧家當自念云：我為出家人，了達生死乃本分事。不能如此，遂汩沒俗塵。一日大限到來，有何倚賴？平日雖有善業，不免逐輪迴去。善業報盡，又復墜墮。不如早修淨土，直脫輪迴，面見阿彌陀佛，方是出家事畢。如永明壽禪師、長蘆賾禪師、萬年一禪師皆修此道，又轉以化人，使更相勸化。豈可効彼哉？凡受人一錢之施、一食之供，皆當為說淨土以報其德。縱彼不信，亦使知之，耳根漸熟，久而自信。若或便信，其利益大矣。常如此化人，現世則為人所敬，己之善緣愈見純熟。又能精心觀想，不久必見佛之真身。此報身盡後必上品上生，為不退轉地菩薩矣。古語云：此身不向今生度，更向何生度此身？當常念此意，不可懈怠。

Monks should reflect: 'I am a renunciant; realizing birth and death is my proper duty. Failing to do so, I will sink into worldly dust. When the final limit arrives one day, what can I rely on? Although I may have good karma in ordinary times, I cannot avoid following saṃsāra. When the retribution of good karma is exhausted, I will fall once again. It is better to cultivate the Pure Land early and escape straight out of saṃsāra; meeting Amitābha Buddha face-to-face is truly the completion of the renunciant's task.' Chan Master Yongming Shou, Chan Master Changlu Ze, and Chan Master Wannian Yi all cultivated this Path, and in turn transformed others, having them mutually exhort and transform one another. How could one not emulate them? Whenever you receive an offering of a single coin or a meal from someone, you should preach the Pure Land to them to repay their kindness. Even if they do not believe, still let them know of it; as their hearing gradually becomes familiar, over time they will naturally come to believe. If they believe right away, the benefit will be immense. If you constantly transform people like this, in the present life you will be respected by others, and your own good conditions will become increasingly mature. Furthermore, if you contemplate with focused mind, before long you will certainly see the Buddha's true body. After this retribution body comes to an end, you will certainly attain rebirth in the highest level of the highest grade and become a bodhisattva on the ground of non-retrogression. An ancient saying goes: 'If I do not liberate this body in this present life, / In what life will I liberate this body?' You should constantly keep this meaning in mind and never become indolent.