Wonderful Analogies in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Amitabha-Recitation and False Thoughts
1. Clay Sculpture and Charcoal
A dragon sculpture in the temple is made of clay. If we wash it enough, can we
turn it into porcelain?
Similarly, we cannot clean a piece of charcoal and turn it from black to white. Our ignorant minds are like a piece of charcoal. Because of their darkness we cannot see things clearly and constantly commit offenses. We should deeply recognise and accept this , and not waste time trying to change it.
As Pure Land practitioners, we should try to understand that it isn’t necessary to add other practices to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land. We should clearly recognise that we are ignorant ordinary beings who are bound to fall into the wretched realms. Our only way to change this is to completely rely on the power of Amitabha’s 18th vow.
Some people may say, “I generally don’t feel troubled or have any scattered thoughts; but, when I recite the Buddha’s name, I experience a whole variety of random thoughts.” Actually, this feeling is quite normal.
念佛與妄想
1. 泥塑與木炭喻
好比一個泥巴做的塑像,它是泥巴做的,泥巴就是它的本體,不管怎麼樣去洗它,你能洗乾淨嗎?
龍王廟裏用泥巴做的龍,上面有灰塵,你想把它洗乾淨,無論你怎樣洗,洗到最裏面的龍筋,還是泥 —— 它就是泥土做成的,所以,不論怎麼樣,它還是脫離不了泥土。
又好比一塊木炭,它怎麼都是黑的,再洗也洗不乾淨,不可能洗出一塊白的木炭;怎麼洗它都是黑的,拿它來畫,還是一條黑線。
我們的妄想心就像木炭一樣,再怎麼樣都是黑暗、無明、造罪的眾生 ——對這一點,我們要有深切的認識,不要在那裏做無用功:「大概我這樣修行,到時候可能會好一些,那個時候再說⋯⋯」如果以淨土法門來講,不要抱這樣的期望,是要認識到我們是一個造罪、必然墮落的凡夫,唯有仰靠彌陀的願力。
有人感嘆說:「我平常不覺得有什麼煩惱,有什麼妄想雜念;可是,不念佛便罷,一旦想靜下心來念佛,妄想雜念就特別多。」其實這是很正常的。
Namo Amituofo!
