Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 32: A Drowning Person Urgently Needs to be Rescued
As Master Shandao further points out in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, “Those who are drowning in deep water urgently need to be rescued; but, why do those who are already standing on the other shore need to be saved?”
This means that, when someone is drowning, urgent aid must be given specifically and primarily to the person in danger. Any delay will cost him his life. Those who are on the bank without any threat of drowning naturally have no need to be rescued.
In fact, we sentient beings are all like the person who is drowning. Once we realize that our life is at stake, we will instinctively turn to Amitabha’s deliverance to
rescue us. If we are oblivious to the danger we are in, this suggests that we lack the necessary karmic connection with Amitabha Buddha to obtain his deliverance.
32. 溺水喻
善導大師繼續說：「亦如溺水之人，急須偏救；岸上之者，何用濟為。」 好像沉溺在水中的人，一定要特別地、專門地先去救度他，這時不救就 來不及了。處在岸上的人，救度不救度，根本沒關係，因為他沒有溺水的危險 性。
其實我們眾生都如溺水，只要我們體會到自己是個溺水的人的話，就會 依靠彌陀的救度；若是沒有體會到自己是溺水的人，就跟彌陀的救度無緣。
Namo Amituofo!
