Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land Teachings
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 2A: The Emergency Rescue of a Drowning Person
In the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, Master Shandao says, “Like those who are drowning who urgently need rescue. Why relieve those who are already on the shore?” It is a matter of life and death for those who are drowning. They may die if the rescue is delayed even a little; so, it is a general rule to immediately rescue them. Those already on the shore are safe and happy, and, of course, need no help.
Those on the shore refers to sages, such as arhats and bodhisattvas, who have already transcended reincarnation in the cycle of birth-and-death. So, Pure Land teaching is not designed for sages; but, specially for ordinary beings. If they are not rescued in an emergency, they will continue to suffer unceasingly in the cycle of birth-and-death.
2A. 彌陀大悲，急救苦者- 溺水急救喻
善導大師《觀經疏》云：「如溺水之人急須偏救，岸上之者何用濟為。」溺水之人，生死攸關，若遲一步，則葬身水中，故須急救，毫無猶豫，此是常理。岸上之人，安坐岸上，安樂無憂，當然無須救度。
岸上之人則指阿羅漢、菩薩等聖者，超脫輪迴，遠離三界火災，無有眾苦，生死無憂。故淨土法門不為聖者設，專為罪惡生死凡夫所立。若不急救，則在三界六道，常沒常流轉，甚者長墮地獄，受無量眾苦，無有出離之期。
Namo Amituofo!
