In a world that’s ever-changing,
if I can make it to old age,

I would long for a life
spent with a few close Lotus friends,
reciting the Buddha’s name and reading sutras, together
looking forward to Amituofo receiving us.

In spring, we recite the Buddha’s name, admiring the flowers blooming on the mountainside;
In summer, we recite the Buddha’s name, contemplating the clouds as they gather and disperse;
In autumn, we recite the Buddha’s name, watching the maple leaves blanketing the hillside;
In winter, we recite the Buddha’s name, awaiting the heavy fall of snow.

The changing seasons remind us well
That life is fleeting, a transient spell,
Yet Buddha’s name gives us peace and beauty that are truly divine.

In a world that’s ever-changing,
if I can make it to old age,

I hope for days when
I have my own place to practice,
A few small rooms,
Hidden in the mountains, veiled from the chaos of the world.

A small abode is all I need,
Far away from the bustling world.
Where only the sonorous chanting of the Buddha’s name
Keeps me company amidst Amituofo’s light.

In a world that’s ever-changing,
if I can make it to old age,

I’ll cherish the days when
I still have my few Lotus friends,
Looking back on our lives in the Saha World,
Yearning for the Pure Land ahead.
We’ll find solace in reciting the Buddha’s name, and
Exploring the meaning of the Dharma way.

Even in solitude and seclusion,
I’ll find refuge in the Buddha’s name and,
In the stillness of the years, I’ll spend the rest of my life in peace and quiet.

In a world that’s ever-changing,
if I can make it to old age,

This is how I would like to live,
Each day with the Buddha by my side,
Calmly awaiting the day of rebirth.

When my vision’s blurred and I’m old and frail,
Each day I’ll draw closer to the Pure Land,
My days in the Saha World are numbered but
I am so blessed, for I have the Buddha with me
And I still recite Namo Amituofo.

(Translated by the Pure Land School Translation Team;
edited by Householder Fojin)