Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Amitabha-Recitation and False Thoughts
Metaphor 1D: Lotus Flowers Not Contaminated by Mud
An ancient scholar said, “Amitabha-recitation that arises from an afflicted mind is like a lotus flower emerging from muddy water. It is uncontaminated”. These words are very moving and can give us comfort. Even though we have false thoughts, we can keep reciting “Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo...”
Our mind is very much like muddy water. However, a recitation of the Name is like a pure lotus flower - beautiful, fragrant, and clean.
Our minds are like the muddy water; but, the Name is not contaminated by our muddy thoughts. So, the Pure Land School is also known as the Lotus School, because the lotus flower is not contaminated even though it grows in mud. Our minds are full of greed, hatred and delusion, just like mud.
Because our minds are full of greed, hatred and delusion, we are taught to recite the Buddha’s Name. Why do we recite the Buddha’s Name? Because we have committed offenses and require liberation.
Thus, if we truly seek liberation, we have to rely on the power of Amitabha’s vow, and recite Amitabha’s Name. Our mind is like the mud in the lotus pond, which provides nutrients to the lotus flowers. A fresh lotus flower emerges from the mud with a fragrant smell. Though our minds are contaminated, the Name that we recite is pure. The merit and virtues of the six-syllable Name produce a fragrance that permeates the Dharma Realm. That is to say, “Amitabha-recitation that arises from an afflicted mind is like a lotus flower emerging from muddy water.”
1D. 念佛與妄想 - 蓮花不染污泥喻
古德曾說:「從妄念中,所出念佛,猶如蓮花,不染污泥。」 這幾句話尤其讓我們覺得安慰、感動。我們雖然有妄念,但是我們在妄念當中發出念佛聲:
「南無阿彌陀佛,南無阿彌陀佛,南無阿彌陀佛,南無阿彌陀佛⋯⋯」
我們的心雖然是妄念,像污泥一樣的染污;但是,所稱出來的這一句名號,卻是像清淨的蓮花一樣不染污泥,微妙香潔。
我們的心是骯髒的,是染污的,是妄念的;可是,這句名號不被我們的妄念所染污。所以,淨土宗又稱「蓮宗」,蓮花的特點就是出污泥而不染。我們的心像污泥一樣骯髒,有貪瞋癡的煩惱。
我們這樣貪瞋癡煩惱的心,反而成為念佛的動力。我們為什麼念佛?因為有罪業,我們要求解脫,所以要仰靠彌陀的誓願,稱念彌陀的名號。就好像蓮花池中的污泥,它反而成為蓮花的養分;這樣,一支清新的蓮花就從污泥當中獨立出來,飄散著微妙的香味。我們的心雖然是染污的,可是我們念的名號是清淨的,可以說,六字名號的功德、香味遍滿法界,所以說「從妄念中,所出念佛,猶如蓮花,不染污泥」。
Namo Amituofo!
