Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 65: A Fire without Smoke
[Master Tanluan says,] “If a person wishes to be reborn in the Pure Land simply out of a desire for the peace and happiness there, it would be like seeking waterless ice or smokeless fire. How could that be possible?”
This means that, if a person doubts the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha regarding Amitabha’s deliverance to the Pure Land; but, still desires to be reborn in that land for the pleasure of its peace and joy, his efforts will be in vain. This is because what he seeks is nonexistent, such as ice without water or a fire that doesn’t produce smoke.
So, what do the two metaphors of waterless ice and smokeless fire illustrate? They illustrate the idea that seeking rebirth in the Pure Land without believing in Amitabha’s deliverance is futile. Just as ice cannot exist without water and fire cannot burn without producing smoke, rebirth in the Pure Land cannot be attained without believing in Amitabha’s salvation.
Logically, if one wishes to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, one must first believe in the Pure Land and in Amitabha’s deliverance. Without such belief, who would you rely on for salvation, and where could you go for rebirth? A desire for rebirth that is merely driven by personal satisfaction, rather than the faithful acceptance of Amitabha’s deliverance, is akin to seeking something that doesn’t exist.
This is why Master Tanluan says, “How could a fool who slanders Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching possibly aspire to be reborn in Amitabha Buddha’s land?”
65. 無煙之火喻
「假使但貪彼土安樂，而願生者，亦如求非水之冰，無煙之火，豈有得理」： 意思是說，你既然不信有極樂世界，不信有阿彌陀佛的救度，不相信佛所說， 可是卻因貪受安樂而想要到那種安樂的地方去，也是不可能的，就像「求非水 之冰，無煙之火」。
什麼叫「求非水之冰，無煙之火」呢？也就是說你若要求生極樂世界，你就要相信有極樂世界、有阿彌陀佛呀！如果不相信的話，那麼你要念什麼、 求生何處呢？因為你沒有所念的對象，沒有所去的地方啊！同樣的，沒有水哪有冰呢？你不肯定有水而想求冰，那是不可能的；同樣的，火必定有煙，沒 有煙的火也是不存在的。也就是說，他內心不認為有極樂、有彌陀的救度，那 麼，他貪彼土安樂，只是概念性的心情而已，並非出自內心的信受。所以，曇 鸞大師說「此愚癡人，既生誹謗，安有願生佛土之理！」
Namo Amituofo!
