Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 35: Afflictions Abound While the Physical Body Exists
Our fear [of endless reincarnation in the Six Realms] grows like a bitter tasting tree. Every part of it, from the roots to all its branches and leaves, is bitter. To eradicate such bitterness, the tree must be chopped off at its roots. However,
even if the whole plant is uprooted, its branches and leaves will remain alive for some time instead of withering immediately. On rainy days, it may even sprout new growth.
The same applies to Pure Land practitioners. Although the cycle of our birth and death has already been cut off through the power of Amitabha’s Vow, we are still afflicted with fear, pain and a general sense of malaise while our physical bodies exist.
35. 樹喻：肉體存在，就有煩惱
這個恐懼就像一棵苦樹，有根、有幹、有枝、有葉。這是一棵從根到枝葉都是 苦的樹，這棵苦樹，必須從根斬斷、從根消除。但即使從根斷除了，它的枝葉，還不會一下子乾枯，還是鮮活的，遇到天陰下雨，有可能還會發芽。
我們學淨土法門的眾生也是一樣，生死輪迴被阿彌陀佛的願力截斷，但是， 當我們的肉體存在的時候，還是會有恐懼、痛苦、不安。
Namo Amituofo!
