Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Two Rivers and A White Path
Ordinary beings are full of afflictions arising from greed, anger, and ignorance, with few virtuous roots from doing good. This is the cause of our endless transmigration in the “burning house” of the Three Domains. Amitabha Buddha has boundless compassion for those who suffer and vowed to rescue all sentient beings.
In his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra in Four Fascicles, Master Shandao tells a story to explain the meanings of the “sincere mind”, “deep mind” and the “mind of merit-dedication towards rebirth”.
The parable he uses is entitled “Two Rivers and A White Path”. It metaphorically explains the assured rebirth of ordinary beings in the Land of Bliss through Amitabha-recitation, despite our insatiable greed, anger, and ignorance.
The fable is presented in the original text as follows:
“It is like a man who desires to travel a hundred thousand ‘li’ to the West. Suddenly in the midst of his journey he sees two rivers. One is a river of fire stretching south. The other is a river of water stretching north. Each of the two rivers is a hundred steps across and unfathomably deep. They stretch without end to the North and South. In between the fire and water; however, is a white path barely four or five inches wide. Spanning the East and West banks, it is one hundred steps long. The waves of water surge and splash against the path on one side while the flames of fire scorch it on the other. Ceaselessly, the fire and water come and go.
The man is out in the middle of a wasteland and none of his kind are to be seen. A horde of vicious ruffians and wild beasts see him there alone and are about to kill him. Fearing death he runs towards the West, and then sees these two great rivers.
Praying, he says to himself: “To the North and South I see no end to these rivers. Between them I see a white path, which is extremely narrow. Although the two banks are not far apart, how am I to travel from one to the other? Without a doubt I shall surely die today. If I seek to turn back, the horde of vicious ruffians and wild beasts will attack me. If I run to the North or South, evil beasts and poisonous vermin will race toward me. If I seek to make my way to the West, I fear that I may fall into one of these rivers.”
Thereupon he is seized with an inexpressible terror. He thinks to himself: Turn back now and I die. Stay and I die. Go forward and I die. Since death must be faced in both cases, I would rather continue on this path before me. If I follow this path I can surely make it across.
Just as he thinks this, he hears someone from the east bank call out and encourage him: “Dear friend, if you follow this path resolutely there will be no danger of being killed.”
To stay here is to die. On the west bank there is someone calling out, “Continue straight ahead, single-mindedly and with fixed purpose. I can protect you. Never fear falling into the fire or water!”
At the urging of the one and the calling of the other, the man gathers both his physical and mental strength and resolves to proceed, without any lingering doubts or hesitations. No sooner has he gone a step or two when from the east bank the horde of vicious ruffians calls out to him: “Friend, come back! That way is perilous, and you will never make it across. Without a doubt you are bound to die. None of us means any harm.”
Though he hears them calling, the man still does not look back; but, single-mindedly proceeds on the path. In no time he is at the west bank, forever free of his endless suffering. He is greeted by his dear friends and there is no end to their joy.”
7. 二河白道喻
凡夫眾生貪瞋具足、煩惱具足,善根薄少、流轉三界、不出火宅,而彌陀大悲于苦者,正是要救度我們這樣的眾生。
善導大師在《觀經四帖疏》中,解釋至誠心、深心、回向發願心的時候,用“二河白道”之喻,把凡夫雖然貪瞋煩惱猛烈,唸佛必定 往生之理,解釋得淋漓盡致。
文中比喻言:
譬如有人,欲向西行,百千之裡。忽然中路,見有二河,一是火河在南,二是水河在北。二河各闊百步,各深無底,南北無邊。正水火中間,有一白道,可闊四五寸許。此道從東岸至西岸,亦長百步。其水波浪交過濕道,其火焰亦來燒道,水火相交,常無休息。
此人既至空曠迥處,更無人物,多有群賊惡獸,見此人單獨,競來欲殺。此人怖死,直走向西,忽然見此大河,即自念言:“此河南北不見邊畔,中間見一白道,極是狹小。二岸相去雖近,何由可行?
今日定死不疑。”正欲倒回,群賊惡獸漸漸來逼。正欲南北避走,惡獸毒蟲競來向我。正欲向西尋道而去,復恐墮此水火二河。當時惶怖,不復可言,即自思念:“我今回亦死,住亦死,去亦死;一種不免死者,我寧尋此道向前而去。
既有此道,必應可度。”作此念時,東岸忽聞人勸聲:“仁者,但決定尋此道行,必無死難!若住即死。
”又,西岸上有人喚言:“汝一心正念直來,我能護汝!眾不畏墮于水火之難。”
此人既聞此遣彼喚,即自正當身心,決定尋道直進,不生疑怯退心。或行一分二分,東岸等喚言:“仁者回來!此道險惡不得過,必死不疑;我等眾無噁心相向。”
此人雖聞喚聲,亦不回顧,一心直進,念道而行。須臾即到西岸,永離諸難,善友相見,慶樂無已。此是喻也。
Namo Amituofo!
