儒以三綱五常，奠乾坤而正人類；至於截生死逆流，出三界火宅，必資佛教。十方三世佛，而阿彌陀為第一也；諸佛各有所攝受之淨土，而西方極樂世界為第一也。念佛求生淨土，功行觀門無窮；而執持名號，一心不亂為第一也。古今聖賢，讚淨土教念佛，如天台《十疑論》、永明《萬善同歸》、天如《或問》、龍舒《淨土文》，諸書已詳；而義類散見，卷帙分函，至大明雲棲大師《彌陀疏鈔》，為集大成。又有楚公安袁石公先生諱宏道者，所著《西方合論》，會通異同，決釋疑滯，闡發玄奧，直指趣歸。佛經而祖緯之，兄舉而弟揚之，誠儒家之無著、天親，論部之馬鳴、龍樹。可謂：現宰官居士身，而弘同居同事攝矣。念佛至此，方為圓教；淨土得此，方稱惟心。達理之士，宜人手一編，日披數次。顧《疏鈔》已盛行于世，而《合論》或罕識其文。今末法式微，劫運方起，娑婆四眾，速宜願生，而不無宗教之岐路、禪淨之疑情，使蓮花忽開忽謝、淨域若近若遠，此阿彌陀佛所為悲切以急需，而假廣長舌相于袁氏之書以疾呼也。

Confucianism, with its Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, establishes the order of heaven and earth and guides humanity. Yet to cut off the flow of birth and death and escape the burning house of the three realms, one must rely on Buddhism. Among all Buddhas of the ten directions and three times, Amitabha Buddha is foremost. Each Buddha has a Pure Land they guide beings to, yet the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is foremost. Among the countless practices and methods for attaining rebirth in the Pure Land through Buddha-recitation, the practice of single-mindedly holding the name without distraction is foremost.

Throughout history, sages and masters have praised the Pure Land and the practice of Buddha-recitation, as seen in detailed works like the *Ten Doubts* from Tiantai, Yongming's *Myriad Virtues Returning to the Same Goal*, Tianru's *Questions and Answers*, and Longshu's *Essays on the Pure Land*. Yet these teachings were scattered across different volumes and texts. It was the great Ming dynasty master Yunqi, with his *Commentary on the Amitabha Sutra*, who brought them all together into a comprehensive whole.

Furthermore, there is the work *Western Harmony* by the lay scholar Yuan Hongdao (styled Shigong) from Chugong'an. This text reconciles differences, resolves doubts, clarifies profound meanings, and directly points to the ultimate goal. It weaves together the sutras and the treatises of the patriarchs, with elder brothers presenting the teachings and younger brothers propagating them. Truly, he is like the Asanga and Vasubandhu of Confucianism, the Nagarjuna and Asvaghosa of the treatise tradition. One could say he manifested as an official and lay practitioner to widely teach the practice of dwelling together and working together.

Buddha-recitation, when understood through this, becomes the perfect teaching; the Pure Land, when seen through this, is truly the Mind-Only Pure Land. Those who understand the principles should keep a copy at hand and read it daily. While the *Commentary* is already widely circulated in the world, the *Harmony* is less commonly known.

Now, in this Dharma-ending age when the teachings are declining and kalpic disasters are arising, the fourfold assembly of the Saha world should swiftly aspire for rebirth. Yet there remain sectarian divisions and doubts between Chan and Pure Land, causing the lotus flower to sometimes bloom and sometimes wither, the Pure Land to seem sometimes near and sometimes far. This is why Amitabha Buddha, with great compassion and urgency, has manifested the broad, long tongue mark through Yuan's book to urgently call out to us.

之夔夙承佛恩，蹇滯濁界，歸命斯道，思廣是書，而艱於力。有居士道友甘爾翼字右民，與其仲氏甡字左民者，同志淨業，適見《合論》，大慊本心，歡喜讚嘆，遂捐資授梓，偕眾成之，俾袁氏之水月重朗，而蓮池之華果普周。人人念佛見佛者，繇乎獲覩是書；人人得力是書者，繇乎重新斯刻。多一人生淨土，宛轉作我導師；早一日證無生，長遠續佛慧命。凡忠臣孝子、義夫節婦，及蜎飛蠕動，皆樂邦之伴侶；凡參禪誦呪、持戒修福，與治生雜務，皆往生之資糧。凡勸念一聲、靜閱一刻、演說一字、流通一處，皆功德壽命之無量。事理真寔，不誑不妄；生佛平等，非易非難。淨土在我目前，大願當人一念。吁蔑以加矣！

I have long received the Buddha's grace, yet remained trapped in this turbid world. Devoted to this path, I wished to widely circulate this book, but lacked the means. Then there were lay practitioners, brothers Gan Eryi (courtesy name Youmin) and Gan Shen (courtesy name Zuomin), who share the aspiration for Pure Land practice. Upon seeing the "Combined Commentary," they found it deeply aligned with their original intent, rejoiced and praised it. They then provided funds for its printing, joining with others to accomplish this work, allowing the moon's reflection in Master Yuan's waters to shine brightly once more, and the blossoms and fruits of the Lotus Pond to spread universally.

For everyone who chants the Buddha's name and sees the Buddha, it is because they have encountered this book. For everyone who gains strength from this book, it is because of this new printing. For each additional person reborn in the Pure Land, they will in turn become our guides. For each day earlier we realize the unborn, we eternally continue the Buddha's wisdom-life.

All loyal officials, filial children, righteous husbands, chaste wives, and even the tiniest crawling and flying creatures are companions in the Land of Bliss. All meditation, mantra recitation, upholding precepts, cultivating merit, and even daily work and miscellaneous tasks become provisions for rebirth. Every encouragement to chant once, every moment of quiet reading, every word explained, every place where it is circulated—all are immeasurable merit and life.

The principles and realities are true, not deceptive or false. Sentient beings and Buddhas are equal; it is neither too easy nor too difficult. The Pure Land is right before our eyes; the great vow lies in a single thought of the individual. Ah, nothing surpasses this!

袁氏一門，向心淨土，紀夢其驗也。余讀《中郎先生集》至家報，每合掌贊誦。其書云：「聞大人及一家眷屬，俱歸心白業，此人間第一希有事；專持名字，有甚麼難？而人自生疑阻。蓋此等大富貴，天自不肯輕易與人也，又必堅行善法，以利濟忍耐，破人我慳貪等相，為作聖作佛吃緊事，皆今日銖錙必較者之良藥。先生所為，夢中獨以勤行方便，憐憫一切，叮嚀不置也。」讀是編而不慨然省發，豈人情也哉？適周章甫先生，指示念佛路徑，袁子《合論》盡乏，并授紀夢以為《合論》之勝，余迺得取是書以觀，而余弟甡與豚子佑，病中聞其說，皆起信念，遂付重梓，用相勸勉。因以告于

The Yuan family, with hearts turned toward the Pure Land, recorded their dreams as proof. Whenever I read the "Collected Works of Mr. Zhonglang" and come to the family letters, I join my palms in admiration and recite them. The letter says: "I hear that my father and all the family members have turned their hearts toward wholesome deeds—this is the rarest and most precious thing in this world. To single-mindedly recite the name—what difficulty is there in that? Yet people themselves create doubts and obstacles. Truly, such great fortune and virtue, Heaven does not lightly bestow upon people. One must also firmly practice good deeds, benefiting others with patience, breaking through the appearances of self and others, stinginess and greed—all these are crucial matters for becoming a sage or a Buddha. They are the good medicine for those who today calculate every trifle. What Mr. Yuan did, in his dream, was to tirelessly practice skillful means, showing compassion for all, and earnestly urging without cease." To read this collection and not be moved to reflect deeply—could that be human nature?

Just then, Mr. Zhou Zhangfu pointed out the path of Buddha-recitation. Master Yuan’s "Harmonious Discourse" was lacking, so he also bestowed the "Record of Dreams" as a complement to the "Harmonious Discourse." Thus, I was able to obtain this book to read. And my younger brother Shen, as well as my son You, hearing of its teachings while ill, both arose in faith. Therefore, we have reprinted it to encourage one another. With this, I offer these words.

Western Synthesis Treatise (西方合論)

Western Synthesis Treatise (西方合論)