Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
3H. Light Dispels Darkness
Master Tanluan wrote this in his Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth in the Pure Land, “Suppose there is a room that has been dark for a thousand years. If light reaches it, however briefly, the room immediately becomes bright. How can the darkness say that, having occupied the room for a thousand years, it refuses to leave?” The question to contemplate is whether the sun is going to rise. If it does, we are sure that the darkness before dawn has gone.
What really matters to us is whether Bhikhu Dharmakara has achieved Buddhahood. Today Amitabha is before us, having achieved Buddhahood.We should know that all the merits, conditions, and assets necessary for our rebirth in the Pure Land have been perfectly and completely accomplished for us. If we take refuge in Amitabha Buddha, aspire to be reborn in his Land of Bliss, and recite his name consistently throughout our lives, then our rebirth and our achievement of Buddhahood are instantly established. It happens without any lapse of time. It is effortless and not contrived. Hence, the saying, “Rebirth and non-retrogression are assured in the present lifetime”. This is so because it accords with Amitabha Buddha’s vow.
As Master Shandao says in his In Praise of Pratyutpanna, “We should not ask whether Amitabha embraces us or not, we should just focus our minds on exclusively reciting Amitabha’s name. Once we resolve to be reborn in the Pure Land, Amitabha Buddha and the sacred assembly, carrying splendid canopies, will naturally come to transport us to the Land of Bliss at the end of our lives.”
Master Shandao also has this to say in his “In Praise of Dharma Practices”: “Recite Amitabha’s name exclusively and single-mindedly, without a shred of doubt, regardless of one’s offenses and blessings, whether for a long or short period.”
3H. 佛無條件救度妙喻之 - 破暗喻
曇鸞大師《往生論註》說:「千歲暗室,光若暫至,即便明朗;暗豈得言,在室千歲而不去耶!」
當思:太陽出否?太陽若出,應知黑暗已去,不用疑慮。當知:法藏菩薩成佛否,若已成佛,應知我等往生的功德、功能、資糧都已成就,我若歸命,願生、稱名,畢生不退,則我往生成佛之事當下決定,不隔時、不隔日,不用費力,不用造作;所謂「平生業成,現生不退」,這是天性自然,亦即彌陀願力自然。
善導大師《般舟讚》言:「莫論彌陀攝不攝,意在專心回不回; 但使回心決定向,臨終華蓋自來迎。」
善導大師《法事讚》言:「無問罪福時多少,心心念佛莫生疑。」
Namo Amituofo!
