Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
The Metaphor of the King Issuing a Summons
Common people do not have the authority to present themselves before a monarch. An audience with the king must be granted by him. We ordinary beings are like peasant farmers, while Amitabha Buddha is like our king. It is impossible for us to be reborn in his Land of Bliss by relying on self-power. Our rebirth there is assured only because of the infinite power of Amitabha’s great vow. Therefore, as Master Shandao said,“No ordinary beings, whether good or evil, can attain rebirth in the Pure Land without recourse to the karmic power of Amitabha’s Great Vow as the augmentative cause.”
We learn from Master Shandao’s statement that whoever we are, whether a great bodhisattva or an ignorant being, we are all equal when it comes to rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land. Our rebirth fully relies on Amitabha’s great vow power, not our own powerless practices.
5C. 不論凡夫,只論彌陀妙喻之 - 國王召見喻
老百姓要去覲見國王,以老百姓自己的力量是不夠的;能見到國王,都是國王的召見。
我們凡夫就好像一個鄉下老百姓,阿彌陀佛就是國王一樣。如果以我們本身的力量,不可能往生極樂世界;能往生,就是依靠阿彌陀佛的大願業力。所以,善導大師說:「一切善惡凡夫得生者,莫不皆乘阿彌陀佛大願業力為增上緣。」
善導大師作出這樣的解釋,讓我們知道:往生淨土,大菩薩和我們小凡夫都是平等往生,而且全靠佛願力,不靠我們的修行力,我們自己沒有力量。
Namo Amituofo!
