Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 25: Amitabha’s Deliverance Is Like the Moon — Always Keeping Company with Its Viewers
Amitabha’s deliverance is like the moon, which is equally mirrored in all the waters of the earth at moonrise. Lunar reflections appear everywhere, in the waters of oceans, rivers, brooks, and wells; even in basins and cups.
Meanwhile, the moon always follows us wherever we go, whether east or west. In fact, the moonlight shines on each and every one of us. We can all see it.
The same applies to Amitabha’s deliverance. Those who recite his Name are always embraced and protected by the Buddha’s light, whenever and wherever they are.
25. 如月相隨喻
彌陀救度如同月亮,月亮沒有分別心。月亮一出,影現千江萬水,同一個時間,月影照在大海、長江,同時也照在小溪、井水,乃至臉盆的水、杯中的水,同時都現出月影。一個人在東邊,看到月亮在他頭頂;到了西邊,同樣看到月亮跟他到西邊。不管這個人走到哪裡,都看到月亮跟隨他到哪裡。可以說,月亮沒有差別的,同一個時間普照所有的人,每一個人都親見月亮與我同在。阿彌陀佛的救度也是這樣,念佛的眾生,阿彌陀佛的光明永遠攝取著他、護念著他,不論何時,不論何地。
Namo Amituofo!
