A Verse about Compassionate Advice and Cautions quoted from “In Praise of Dharma Practice” by Master Shandao
善導大師《法事讚》慈悲勸誡
By singling out Sariputra [in the Amitabha Sutra], Shakyamuni Tathagata is actually addressing all suffering sentient beings.
The Six Realms in the Land of Saha are neither safe nor peaceful as a permanent residence. All ordinary beings there keep moving aimlessly in darkness, like an endless nightmare.
Though sacred and ordinary beings live together in the Land of Saha, they do not recognize each other. Becoming easily angered , people constantly fight and commit other offenses due to ignorance.
Because of their ignorance, they lose their freedom and must endlessly remain in the Six Realms. When can they treat each other equally and wisely discriminate between love and hatred, superiority and inferiority?
They have no virtuous karma to eliminate the suffering of birth-and-death, and they are
unaware of the retribution they will receive resulting from their greed.
Those beings in the animal realm and Three Wretched Realms, who have the body of an ass wrapped within a human skin , will automatically be reborn without doubt.
Upon hearing this we are so sad that our hearts are broken. We vow to renounce all worldly glories immediately.
釋迦如來告身子,即是普告苦眾生,
娑婆六道非安處,冥冥長夜闇中行。
聖化同居不相識,動生瞋毒鬥無明;
為此無明繫六道,愛憎高下何時平。
既無善業排生死,由貪造罪未心驚;
犯此人皮裹驢骨,三塗自入不須爭。
我等聞之心髓痛,誓願頓捨世間榮。
Namo Amituofo!
