Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Two Rivers and A White Path (continued)
Just as he is hesitating, he hears a voice from the east bank urging him on, “Oh traveler, be resolute and follow the white path! I can assure you that you won’t fall into the rivers. If you stay where you are, you will surely die.”
No sooner does the voice on the east bank fade than someone calls to him from the west bank, “ Keep walking straight ahead, single-mindedly and with constant mindfulness. Don’t be afraid, I will protect you!”
Upon hearing someone exhorting him to go forward from this side and another imploring him to cross from the other side, the man makes up his mind to head straight to the west along the white path. He has no more doubt, fear, or hesitation.
Shortly after he sets off on the white path, the horde of vicious ruffians on the east bank calls out to him: “Friend, come back! That way is too dangerous! Look at the crashing waves and the blazing flames! There is no way you can make it! You are bound to die! We are pleading with you to come back for your own good. We mean you no harm. Please come back!
Though he hears them yelling , the man ignores all their tricks. Instead, he listens only to the voice from the western shore and keeps moving toward it,single-mindedly with no hesitation.
Protected as promised, the traveler reaches the other shore in no time. In a flash, he is forever free of all dangers and threats, including the bandits, ferocious beasts, vermin, vipers, and the threatening rivers of water and fire. Reuniting with his good friends and family members, the new arrival is filled with unparalleled joy.
This is a parable spoken for us!
東岸的聲音剛落,西岸也有人在對面喊他:“你一心正念,徑直過來,不要害怕,我來保護你!”
這個人聽到這邊有人要他過去,那邊有人要他過來,心就決定下來了,要順著這條道過去,直進向西,不生疑惑心,也不生恐懼心,也不生退墮心。
剛上這條白道,才走一步兩步,東岸的群賊在岸邊大喊:“仁者,你回來!這條道太險惡了,水這麼洶湧,火這麼猛烈,你沒法過去!你必死無疑!我們喊你回來都是關心你,我們對你沒有惡意,你回來吧!”
雖聽到背後群賊的喊聲,但是他不被欺騙,不受他們的誘惑,他只聽從對岸的呼喚聲,順著這條白道,唸唸不捨這條白道,向西而去。在對方的保護下,很快就到對岸了,剎那之間就永遠離開了群賊、惡獸、毒蟲、水火......種種險難的境界通通遠離。到了對岸之後,與善友、家人團聚,感到無上的喜悅!
這個比喻說的就是我們啊!
Namo Amituofo!
