Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 36: Long-Legged Cranes and Short-Legged Ducks Are Received by Amitabha in the Same Way
Amitabha delivers all sentient beings in the same way; whoever and whatever we are, without any preconditions or criteria.
As a saying goes, “Whether it is a long-legged crane or a short-legged duck, it will be delivered [by Amitabha] in just the same way.” A white crane is born long-legged, and a duck short-legged. It is impossible to subject their rebirth to conditions that change their natural appearance. Therefore, cranes will be delivered as long-legged birds and ducks as short-legged.
This means that all sentient beings, whether virtuous or evil, man or woman, householder or monastic, can all be reborn in the Land of Bliss just as they are, as long as they exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name.
Therefore, anyone who exclusively recites Amitabha Buddha’s Name is assured of Amitabha’s compassionate deliverance.
If we can improve ourselves by changing, so much the better. If not, through the virtue of Amitabha-recitation, we will nonetheless be delivered without conditions or restrictions. If Amitabha’s deliverance were subject to conditions or restrictions, the Buddha’s compassion would be limited, and sentient beings in the ten directions could not be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
36. 鶴腳長鴨腳短喻
我們眾生是什麼樣子，阿彌陀佛就怎麼樣救度我們，對我們沒有任何條 件、任何要求。
有一句話說：「鶴腳長、鴨腳短，就那樣地救度。」鶴的腳天生是長的，要牠 短才能夠往生，那不可能；鴨子的腳天生是短的，要牠長才能夠往生，也不可 能。所以，白鶴就以白鶴長腳的樣子來往生，鴨子就以牠天生腳短的樣子來 往生。
意思是說，眾生是善人，就善人的模樣念佛往生，惡人就惡人的模樣念佛 往生；男人就男人的樣子，女人就女人的樣子；在家就以在家的身份，出家就 以出家的身份。任何人，阿彌陀佛都對他慈悲救度。他能改變就改變，不能的 話，就他的原樣來救度他，只要他迴心念佛。沒有任何的條件要求，沒有任何 限制。如果有條件、有要求，那阿彌陀佛的慈悲就有限度，而我們十方眾生就 可能不得往生。
Namo Amituofo!
