Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
The parable of “Two Rivers and a White Path” by Master Shandao is deeply inspiring and summarized as follows:
5. Faith is expressed through Single-Minded Recitation
Amitabha Buddha deeply understands the woeful aptitudes of sentient beings. Therefore, he does not teach us the ascetic path, in which we pour out the water of greed and extinguish the fire of hatred. He simply asks us to “Come straight here with single-mindedness and right attention!”
The word “single-mindedness” in this context means that those who practice the Pristine Pure Land teachings, need not worry about how intense their greed, anger and hatred are, or how advanced their practice is. They only need to recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name exclusively and without deviation, and their rebirth in the Land of Bliss is assured.
二河白道喻
5.一心即是信心。
阿彌陀佛知道我們眾生的根性,因此沒教我們去把貪水舀干,把瞋火撲滅,只告訴我們:“汝一心正念直來!”
這裡的“一心”是說:不管有無貪瞋,不管功夫深淺,通通不論,只要專念南無阿彌陀佛,一心靠倒南無阿彌陀佛,就能往生。
Namo Amituofo!
