Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 55: Reflections of the Moon (1 /3 )
Though it shines everywhere, moonlight registers only in the minds of those who look up to the sky.
Although Amitabha excludes no one from being rescued, his light embraces only those who recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.
The moon glows in the sky and is mirrored in bodies of water of all sizes on Earth. The reflection of the entire moon is ubiquitous: in vast oceans and big rivers like the Yangtze and the Yellow River, in common brooks and pools, and even in the tiny amount of water in a ladle or a raindrop.
No matter where the moon is reflected: in oceans, rivers, brooks or pools, the moonlight keeps the viewer company. It makes no difference whether the moon is admired by one person in a single place, or by a thousand people from a thousand places. The moon does not forsake them; but, is visible to whoever looks up at it, including even those who are in remote mountain areas. Wherever the person goes, east or west, the moon follows him; if he stands still, the moon stops as well.
This is true with everyone, whether man or woman, old or young, kind or evil, wise or foolish.
The moon shines everywhere and is visible to everyone. It does not discriminate or vary.
(to be continued tomorrow)
55. 月影喻 (1 /3)
月光雖無處不照，唯宿仰望者心中；
彌陀雖無人不救，唯與念佛人同在。
月麗中天，影現萬水，不但大至大海、長江、黃河，或一般溪水、池塘，都 現全月；即使小至一瓢一滴之水，也無不各現全月。
大海、長江、黃河、溪水、池塘中的月影，一個人在一個地方觀看，這個人 與月獨自相對；百千萬人在百千萬處觀看，也各自與月相對。即使在偏僻山區 ，月亮也不離開他，與他同在。
他往東行，月跟他往東；他往西行，月也跟他往西；他若不動，月亦停留不 動。不分男女老幼、善惡賢愚，人人如此。
一月普現萬水，隨人隨地各現全月，毫不揀擇，毫無差異。
Namo Amituofo!
