编者按：

       由香港净土居士主持翻译、编辑、整理的英文版《念佛感应录》即将由台湾中华净土宗协会出版发行。

       本书内容取材於弘愿寺多年来印行流通的一系列《念佛感应录》，编者将系列书中精彩、精华、经典的感应案例，以及与西方文化生活背景相通、相应的感应事实，抽集成册，翻译成英文，希望远通四海、不同肤色语言的读者们也能通过这些真切鲜活的事实，对南无阿弥陀佛生信，对极乐世界发愿，一向专念，往生成佛！

       下文为净土宗编辑部为本书撰写的英文序文（ 本文为暂定稿，中文译文为全文大意）。

       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.

       这是一本念佛人的生命故事纪实录，里面的每一个故事都讲述着平凡人所亲历的不平凡，情节有趣、深意显明、启迪人心。这本纪实录共计约10万字，但这10万字想说的其实只有一句——「南无阿弥陀佛」。如果您能用心听完这些故事，您很可能会被某种不期而遇的东西触动，并发现从自己内心深处涌出的惊喜。

       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.

       在不同的讲述中，六字名号的真实利益以各自的方式示现。对您而言，这些经历和其中的原理或许并不像每日太阳东昇西落那样熟悉，但它们的确是像地球绕着太阳转一样真实发生过、存在着（事实上，我们一辈子可能都不会亲眼看到地球绕着太阳转，反而会觉得是太阳绕着地球转，但我们怎麽会因为没有亲眼所见而否定这一事实呢？）故事中，并非所有人都清楚这一切的背後原理何在，他们只是那样念了佛名，就得了利益。这一切发生得如此自然，就像花在阳光下生长、盛放，而不知何以如此。如果说於阳光下绽放是花的自然之道，那麽念佛能得真实利益就是我们的自然之道，是「南无阿弥陀佛」六字名号的自然之道。

       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.

       如果一种事物是真实不虚的，那麽它通常也是具有普适性的，不需特定的、特殊的条件。我们山海相隔，时区有别；我们肤色不同，语言迥异；我们出身不同，秉性各异；我们信仰不同，仪式不同，职业不同，成就不同……但是，您知道吗？我们的生命并没有看上去那样大相迳庭——一样有喜怒哀乐，一样有爱恨离别……忍饥挨渴的都会向往饮食，风寒所侵的都向往温暖，病魔缠身的都向往康健，困於黑暗的都向往光明，孤独无依的都向往被爱被关心，恐惧不安和痛苦万分的都向往平安与喜乐……看，我们本质上完全相同：脆弱、无力、渺小、短暂、不完美。正如任何冰块都会在暖阳下融化，无论是咸的还是甜的、乾净的还是肮脏的、放在咖啡里还是可乐里；任何人都可以从称念弥陀名号中受益，无论长幼，无论穷富，无论善恶。如果说於阳光中融化是冰的自然之道，那麽轻轻松松念佛得益就是我们的自然之道，是「南无阿弥陀佛」六字名号的自然之道。

       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.

       如果一种利益是具有普适性的，那麽它应该是人人可得的。持念六字名号，让它跟着你、加持你、护佑你。你不必非要等到足够静心、足够虔诚、足够聪明才开始念佛，你甚至都不一定要皈依佛教就可以念佛，只要随时、随处、随心念即可：或默念或出声，或独坐或共修。当你睁开眼迎接新一天，当你关上灯进入梦乡，当你做饭或是开车，或坐或行，或喜或忧，只要让「南无阿弥陀佛」伴你左右就好。阿弥陀佛已经将他的大爱注入他的名号，连同所有他的慈悲、德行、力量和智慧。称念弥陀圣号是我们与阿弥陀佛相联结的最好方式，而阿弥陀佛了解我们胜过我们了解自己，阿弥陀佛爱我们胜过我们爱自己。

       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「南无阿弥陀佛」所带来的真实利益是不可思议的。它普遍适用，普遍到对全世界每个人全然开放、平等无差；它方便取得，方便到任何人随时随地、当下可得。真实、普遍、方便，「南无阿弥陀佛」属於每一个人。

       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?

       我们的心是种子，阿弥陀佛对你我的爱是阳光，阳光早已准备好去照耀、去温暖，那麽您呢，您准备好了麽——准备伴着这声佛号，接受这光与暖，去生长、去绽放了吗？