Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 49: Reciting Amitabha’s Name is Like Striking a Bell
A large bell, though capable of being sonorous, will not produce any sound unless someone strikes it. Amitabha’s power, although inconceivably great, will not deliver anyone unless sentient beings entrust themselves to him by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha.
A bell resonates once it is struck. A sentient being is sure to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land once he exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha.
“A bell won’t chime unless someone strikes it.”
A hard strike produces a loud toll, a gentle strike a soft one.
The bell rings as soon as it is struck. No strike, no ringing. It is the law of the bell and entirely natural – in the same way flames rise upwards and water flows downward.
“Amitabha has vowed to deliver all sentient beings from suffering in the six realms; but, they cannot be saved unless they entrust themselves to him by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha.”
Sentient beings, whether good or evil, are all assured to be reborn in the Land of Bliss if they entrust themselves to Amitabha Buddha by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha. Those who recite are certain to be delivered while those who don't. This reflects the spontaneous nature of Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow. It occurs naturally - just like flames rising upwards and water flowing downwards. With boundless compassion and kindness, Amitabha Buddha is omniscient, his light illuminating all worlds and permeating the past, present and future without obstruction. We only need to exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha and he answers our call instantly — like the ringing of a bell upon each strike.
49. 叩鐘喻
洪鐘雖響，不叩不鳴；彌陀雖度，不歸不救。
洪鐘叩之則鳴，彌陀念之則生。
洪鐘雖響，不叩不鳴
所謂大叩大鳴，小叩小鳴；一叩即鳴，不叩不鳴。叩即鳴，是鐘天性自然， 不假造作的，如火往上，如水流下。
彌陀雖度，不歸不救
善歸善生，惡歸惡生，一歸則生，不歸不生。因為歸則生，是彌陀天性自 然，不假造作的，如火往上，如水流下。阿彌陀佛無時不在，無處不在，無限 慈愛，無有不知，無有障礙。我們只要念佛，彌陀應聲即現，猶如叩鐘，一叩 即鳴。
Namo Amituofo!
