英文版《念佛感應錄》序文
 

編者按：

由香港淨土居士主持翻譯、編輯、整理的英文版《念佛感應錄》即將由台灣中華淨土宗協會出版發行。

本書內容取材於弘願寺多年來印行流通的一系列《念佛感應錄》，編者將系列書中精彩、精華、經典的感應案例，以及與西方文化生活背景相通、相應的感應事實，抽集成冊，翻譯成英文，希望遠通四海、不同膚色語言的讀者們也能通過這些真切鮮活的事實，對南無阿彌陀佛生信，對極樂世界發願，一向專念，往生成佛！

下文為淨土宗編輯部為本書撰寫的英文序文（ 本文為暫定稿，中文譯文為全文大意）。

This is a collection of documentary records of life stories of ordinary Pure Land practitioners, interesting, revealing and inspiring. In this book, what you will read are more than 100,000 words, yet all we want to say is just one phrase: Namo Amitabha. If you read these stories by heart, you may surprise yourself by retrieving something unbelievable out of your own heart.

這是一本念佛人的生命故事紀實錄，裡面的每一個故事都講述著平凡人所親歷的不平凡，情節有趣、深意顯明、啟迪人心。這本紀實錄共計約10萬字，但這10萬字想說的其實只有一句——「南無阿彌陀佛」。如果您能用心聽完這些故事，您很可能會被某種不期而遇的東西觸動，並發現從自己內心深處湧出的驚喜。

In this collection, each story is either told or written by direct witnesses. In each story, the real benefits conveyed by 「Namo Amitabha」 have make their presence in one way or another. These experiences may not be as familiar to you as the sun rising from the east every morning. However, they are as true as the fact that the earth is circling around the sun, a real fact you don』t actually see or even feel the opposite in your whole life. Not all of the people in these stories, know exactly why or how these happened in the backstage. They simply practice the recitation and enjoy the benefits. It just happens, like the flowers growing and blossoming in the sun without necessarily knowing why or how. It』s simply the way the flowers are. It』s simply the way we are. It』s simply the way 「Namo Amitabha」 works, carrying all the real benefits.

在不同的講述中，六字名號的真實利益以各自的方式示現。對您而言，這些經歷和其中的原理或許並不像每日太陽東昇西落那樣熟悉，但它們的確是像地球繞著太陽轉一樣真實發生過、存在著（事實上，我們一輩子可能都不會親眼看到地球繞著太陽轉，反而會覺得是太陽繞著地球轉，但我們怎麼會因為沒有親眼所見而否定這一事實呢？）故事中，並非所有人都清楚這一切的背後原理何在，他們只是那樣念了佛名，就得了利益。這一切發生得如此自然，就像花在陽光下生長、盛放，而不知何以如此。如果說於陽光下綻放是花的自然之道，那麼念佛能得真實利益就是我們的自然之道，是「南無阿彌陀佛」六字名號的自然之道。

When something is real, it is usually universal rather than particular, free from any limitation of different individuals, times, spaces or occasions. It is true that our lives are frittered away by trivial things in different time zones or even different hemispheres. It is true that our skins are in different colors and we speak different languages. It is true that we are born in different families with different personalities. It is true that we worship different things in different rituals. It is true that we make different achievements in different professions… But you know what? We are not that different from each other as it seems to be. Those discomforted by hunger and thirst all long for food and drinks, those trapped in coldness all long for warmth, those suffered from illness all long for health, those lost in darkness all long for brightness, those deserted and lonely all long for love, those fearful and miserable all long for peace and joy. We are all the same by nature: vulnerable, powerless, insignificant, transitory and imperfect. Like any kind of ice melting in the sun, be it salty or sweet, clear or dirty, in your coffee or coke, any one could benefit from reciting 「Namo Amitabha」, be s/he old or young, rich or poor, kind or evil. It』s simply the way the melting ice is. It』s simply the way we are. It』s simply the way 「Namo Amitabha」 works, making the best givings the easiest.

如果一種事物是真實不虛的，那麼它通常也是具有普適性的，不需特定的、特殊的條件。我們山海相隔，時區有別；我們膚色不同，語言迥異；我們出身不同，秉性各異；我們信仰不同，儀式不同，職業不同，成就不同……但是，您知道嗎？我們的生命並沒有看上去那樣大相逕庭——一樣有喜怒哀樂，一樣有愛恨離別……忍饑挨渴的都會嚮往飲食，風寒所侵的都嚮往溫暖，病魔纏身的都嚮往康健，困於黑暗的都嚮往光明，孤獨無依的都嚮往被愛被關心，恐懼不安和痛苦萬分的都嚮往平安與喜樂……看，我們本質上完全相同：脆弱、無力、渺小、短暫、不完美。正如任何冰塊都會在暖陽下融化，無論是鹹的還是甜的、乾淨的還是骯髒的、放在咖啡裡還是可樂裡；任何人都可以從稱念彌陀名號中受益，無論長幼，無論窮富，無論善惡。如果說於陽光中融化是冰的自然之道，那麼輕輕鬆鬆念佛得益就是我們的自然之道，是「南無阿彌陀佛」六字名號的自然之道。

If something beneficial is universal, it should be highly accessible. It』s easy to hold to 「Namo Amituofo」, which means you allow it to go with you, to support you and to empower you. You don』t have to be calm enough, sincere enough or smart enough to recite 「Namo Amitabha」. You don』t have to convert to Buddhism to start reciting 「Namo Amitabha」. Simply recite the name at any time possible, quietly or out loud, alone or collectively. When you open your eyes to embrace a new day; when you turn off the lamp for a good sleep; when you are sitting, walking or running; when you are cooking or driving; happy or sad, in hope or despair, just allow 「Namo Amitabha」 to be around you. Amitabha Buddha has already embedded his love in his name, including all his great compassion, support, virtues, power and wisdom. Holding to his name is the best way for us to be connected with Amitabha Buddha, who knows us better than we do. He loves us more than we do.

如果一種利益是具有普適性的，那麼它應該是人人可得的。持念六字名號，讓它跟著你、加持你、護佑你。你不必非要等到足夠靜心、足夠虔誠、足夠聰明才開始念佛，你甚至都不一定要皈依佛教就可以念佛，只要隨時、隨處、隨心念即可：或默念或出聲，或獨坐或共修。當你睜開眼迎接新一天，當你關上燈進入夢鄉，當你做飯或是開車，或坐或行，或喜或憂，只要讓「南無阿彌陀佛」伴你左右就好。阿彌陀佛已經將他的大愛注入他的名號，連同所有他的慈悲、德行、力量和智慧。稱念彌陀聖號是我們與阿彌陀佛相聯結的最好方式，而阿彌陀佛瞭解我們勝過我們瞭解自己，阿彌陀佛愛我們勝過我們愛自己。

The real benefits brought by 「Namo Amtabha」 are unbelievable and unfathomable. These real benefits are so universal that they are open to all and non-discriminatory. The universal, real benefits are so easy to obtain that they come to you at each recitation. universal and easy, 「Namo Amitabha」 belongs to everyone.

一句「南無阿彌陀佛」所帶來的真實利益是不可思議的。它普遍適用，普遍到對全世界每個人全然開放、平等無差；它方便取得，方便到任何人隨時隨地、當下可得。真實、普遍、方便，「南無阿彌陀佛」屬於每一個人。

Our hearts are like the seeds, while Amitabha Buddha』s love for us is the sunshine. The sunshine is ready as it is always ready. Now, are you ready to accept the infinite brightness and warmth and to grow and to blossom?

我們的心是種子，阿彌陀佛對你我的愛是陽光，陽光早已準備好去照耀、去溫暖，那麼您呢，您準備好了麼——準備伴著這聲佛號，接受這光與暖，去生長、去綻放了嗎？