Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land Teachings
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 2F: Using a Rescue Basket to Save all Victims
As said in Amitabha’s 18th Vow, “Except those who commit the Five Gravest Transgressions and slander the correct Dharma.” This passage indicates that Amitabha Buddha focuses on iniquitous sentient beings as his main priority for deliverance. They need urgent relief because their virtues are inferior.
It is just like a cliff with a 100-meter drop. Some people are trapped at the bottom, some at 90 meters and some at 80. If you want to rescue them, you have to prepare a rope with a net at least 100 meters long. In saving sentient beings, the Buddha must first consider those who have fallen to the deepest level. Ordinary beings, throughout many lifetimes, have committed the Five Gravest Transgressions and slandered the correct Dharma. They are most likely to fall into hell, which makes them the main target of Amitabha’s deliverance.
2F. 彌陀大悲，急救苦者- 繩籃全救喻
第十八願「唯除五逆，誹謗正法」，也能顯阿彌陀佛救度，是以罪苦眾生為先，
眾生有逆謗根性，如此眾生，更當急救。
如有懸崖，深百米，有人落入其中，有在懸崖之底，有在九十米處，有在八十米處，欲以繩籃全救，至少以百米之繩方能成。
佛度一切眾生，定先思維墮落最深者。而凡夫常造五逆、誹謗正法重罪，即將墮入地獄，正為彌陀救度者。
Namo Amituofo!
