Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Five Virtues of a Lotus ( continued)
4. The virtue of “one flower with multiple fruits”
Apart from the “simultaneous production of flower and fruit”, one single lotus flower bears many fruits. It represents that, by believing and accepting Amitabha’s deliverance, one can attain broad and boundless merits and virtues.
As said in the Treatise on Rebirth, “It enables rapid fulfillment of the great treasure ocean of merit and virtues.”
The benefits of believing the Buddha and reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name can be summarized in two ways, present benefits and future benefits, non- retrogression in the present life and rebirth in the future life.
5. The virtue of “being hollow inside, but appearing to be firm outside.”
“Being hollow inside” means “the stem of the lotus is empty”. It seems to be fragile, however, it is not easy to break it, and it can support the whole lotus flower. This metaphor is used to express that an iniquitous Amitabha-reciter who believes the Buddha and recites Amitabha’s Name may seem to be weak, but is actually firm.
Teeth seem to be strong and hard, but they are actually soft. A tongue seems to be soft, but can actually be taut. An old man may have no teeth, but his tongue remains intact.
Status, power and wealth seem to be strong, but they are actually weak, in terms of dealing with death. Those who appear good and are vigorous in self-powered cultivation may still be reborn in the Six realms and reincarnated according to their karma, even if they aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
Those who believe in the Buddha and recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name, may appear to be non-virtuous, neglect cultivation, and have no power of capacity. However, they can be reborn in the Pure Land without any fear near the end-of-life. Even though they may appear to be weak, they are actually strong. “Upright outside” means “they appear virtuous and upright”.
130 蓮花五德 (續)
四、一花多果之德：
蓮花不僅開花、結果同時，而且一朵花之中有許多蓮子。這是譬喻信受彌陀救度，即能擁有廣大無邊的功德，如《往生論》所說：「能令速滿足，功德大寶海。」
信佛念佛的功德利益，歸納為「現當二益」，現生不退，當生成佛。現生不退之外，其他的功德利益甚多；而當生成佛之後，便能廣度十方眾生。
五、中虛外直之德：
「中虛」，蓮花骨莖的中間是空虛的，似覺脆弱，但事實上不容易折斷，能支撐整枝蓮花。譬喻愚惡苦惱的信佛念佛人，似軟弱實堅強。
所謂似堅實軟者，齒；似軟實堅者，舌。有滿口無牙的老人，沒有斷舌的老者。
地位、權力、財富，似強實弱，無常面前毫無作用；賢善精進之人，若不求生極樂，命終之後，依然隨業流轉；信佛念佛的人，顯示自己無德無行、無能無力，然而臨命終時，安然無懼，往生淨土，即是似弱實強。
Namo Amituofo!
