Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 56: Amitabha-recitation is Like a Sunrise
When the sun rises, darkness in all directions is dispelled.
When the moon emerges, waters of the dharma realms reflect it. At daybreak darkness gives way to light,
At moonrise the lunar reflections abound.
Know that the day has broken, worry not whether gloom is gone.
Know that Dharmakara has become Amitabha Buddha, do not doubt whether our rebirth is assured.
Rising in the east, the sun shines on everything, embracing mountains and plains, and men of virtue and vice without discrimination.
The sunlight is unbiased and all-illuminating. It brings us brightness, warmth, and hope.
The blanket of darkness that covers the earth, however thick, vanishes immediately when the sun comes out.
All the waters on our planet, whether vast or small, reflect the moon when it appears.
Darkness is dispelled at dawn the instant the sun rises.
Likewise, the moment the moon rises at night, at once we see its reflections upon the water. There is no delay in the effect. It is effortless and without any human intervention.
56. 日出喻
日出之剎那，十方暗皆晴；月出之同時，法界水映現。
日出暗轉晴，月出影宿水；當思日出否，莫疑暗晴否；當知成佛否，莫疑得生 否。
旭日東昇，陽光普照，既照高山也照平地，既照好人也照壞人。陽光無私，普 照一切，帶來光明、溫暖、希望。
太陽一出，大地之暗，不論深暗淺暗，即時一片晴朗。
月亮一出，大地之水，不論大水小水，即時顯現月影。
日出暗轉晴，月出影宿水，這都是同時的，不用再等幾分幾秒，也不須費力， 不須造作，此乃天性自然之理。
Namo Amituofo!
