Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 22: The Agada Medicine — The Panacea for All Illnesses
Imagine someone is critically ill and dying. No ordinary medicines can cure him. Only “ the Agada medicine” can help. Agada medicine is the panacea for all diseases and illnesses.
Sentient beings in the Avici Hell have committed the gravest transgressions and are steeped in sinfulness. However, if they recite Amitabha’s name, the Buddha will nonetheless deliver them. The Buddha’s name is therefore acclaimed as “ the Agada medicine”.
The iniquitous sentient beings in Avici Hell would have no hope of being saved, had it not been for the Agada medicine of the name of Amitabha Buddha. We thus know that Amitabha-recitation can save all the beings who practice it, if they are willing.
22. 阿伽陀藥喻
例如,一個人已經病入膏肓了,一般的藥怎麼醫治得了呢?必須是「阿伽陀藥」。「阿伽陀藥」就是任何疑難雜症、大小病症都能夠醫治的,叫做「阿伽陀藥」。
阿鼻眾生,其惡最重,其罪最深;但,只要念佛,阿彌陀佛也能救他,因此,彌陀佛名,被讚為「阿伽陀藥」。阿鼻眾生,若非彌陀佛名的阿伽陀藥,則永無可救。故知念佛一法,無一人不堪修,無一人不能修。
Namo Amituofo!
