文昌帝君阴骘文英译.doc

《文昌帝君阴骘文》英译 The Tractate on the Unseen Judgment, by The Great Emperor of Literary ThrivingTranslated into English by Teitaro Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1906 (Revised edition)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Lord says:For seventeen generations I have been incarnated as a high officer, and I have never oppressed my people nor maltreated my subordinates. I have helped them in misfortune; I have rescued them from poverty; I have taken compassion on their orphans; I have forgiven their transgressions; I have extensively practised unheeded virtue (yin chih) which is attuned to heaven above. If you are able to keep your hearts as I have kept mine, Heaven will surely bestow upon you blessings. Therefore, these are the instructions I declare unto mankind: (Several stories are omitted here)He who wants to expand the field of happiness, let him lay the foundation of it on the bottom of his heart.Practise benevolence wherever you find an opportunity, and let your deeds of merit be unheeded (yin).Benefit all creatures; benefit the people.Practise goodness: acquire merit.Be honest like Heaven in conducting your affairs.Compassionate and auspicious, the state government must be devoted to the salvation of the people.Let your heart be impartial and wide of range.Be faithful and reverential to the ruler. Be filial and obedient to parents. Be congenial and friendly to brothers. Be sincere in your intercourse with friends. (Some instructions are omitted here)Let some worship the Truthful One, and revere the Northern Constellation, while others bow before the Buddha and recite sutras.Fulfil the four obligations; impartially observe the three doctrines.By discoursing on morality and righteousness, convert both the cunning and the dull. By preaching on the canonical books and histories, enlighten the ignorant and the benighted.Relieve people in distress as speedily as you must release a fish from