Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
The parable of the “Two Rivers and a White Path” by Master Shandao
Greatly inspires us and is summarized as follows:
1.Amitabha Buddha Created a White Path to Deliverance through the Power of His Vows.
It is impossible for ordinary beings like us to gain rebirth in the Western Land of Bliss by only relying on our own efforts. That is why Amitabha Buddha created, metaphorically speaking, a white path to deliver us through the power of his vows. This path stretches from the east bank to the west bank of the rivers of water and fire. In other words, Amitabha’s deliverance is available for as long as our minds are afflicted by greed and anger. For those with such defiled minds, Amitabha created the white path through the power of his vows. We iniquitous beings are exactly the people Amitabha vowed to save!
(to be continued tomorrow)
善導大師的“二河白道喻”對我們有很多啟發,主要有以下幾點。
1.阿彌陀佛為我們建了一條願力的白道。
我們要到西方,靠我們自己的力量,是無法到達的。所以,阿彌陀佛建了一條願力的白道,從西岸直接鋪到東岸。水火二河有多寬,白道就有多長,這說明我們的貪瞋煩惱有多長久,阿彌陀佛的救度就有多長久。只要有貪瞋存在,就有彌陀的救度存在。阿彌陀佛就在我們貪瞋具足的心中,架設願力的白道: 阿彌陀佛就是要救度這樣的眾生!
Namo Amituofo!
