Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 57: Light Dispels Darkness
As Master Tanluan says in his Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth, “Suppose there is a room that has been dark for a thousand years. If sunlight enters the room , the room will instantly become bright. Could the darkness refuse to leave because it has been there for a thousand years?
The question to contemplate is whether the sun has risen. If the answer is yes, we know for sure that the darkness is gone.
The important issue is whether Bhikhu Dharmakara became a Buddha. If he did, we should know that he has accumulated all the merits and virtues necessary for our rebirth in the Pure Land. If we take refuge in Amitabha Buddha, aspire to be reborn in his Land of Bliss, and exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha
throughout our lives, then our rebirth and achievement of Buddhahood are instantly guaranteed. It is effortless and not contrived. Hence the saying, “ Both rebirth and non-retrogression are assured in the present lifetime.” This is spontaneous and natural, and accords with Amitabha Buddha’s fundamental vow.
As Master Shandao says in his In Praise of Pratyutpanna, “Don’t ask if Amitabha embraces us or not. We should just focus our minds on exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha. Once we have resolved to be reborn in the Pure Land, Amitabha Buddha and the sacred assembly, under splendid canopies, will naturally come to carry us to the Land of Bliss at the end of our lives.”
Master Shandao also has this to say in his In Praise of Dharma Practices, “Exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha without a shred of doubt, regardless of one’s offenses and blessings, whether for a long or short time.”
57. 破暗喻
曇鸞大師《往生論註》說：「千年暗室，光若暫至，即便明朗；暗豈得言，在室千歲，而不去也？」
當思：太陽出否？太陽若出，應知黑暗已去，不用疑慮。
當知：法藏菩薩成佛否，若已成佛，應知我等往生的功德、功能、資糧都已 成就，我若歸命，願生、稱名，畢生不退，則我往生成佛之事當下決定，不隔 時、不隔日，不用費力，不用造作；所謂「平生業成，現生不退」，這是天性自然 ，亦即彌陀願力自然。
善導大師《般舟讚》言：「莫論彌陀攝不攝，意在專心迴不迴；但使迴心決定 向，臨終華蓋自來迎。」
善導大師《法事讚》言：「無問罪福時多少，心心念佛莫生疑。」
Namo Amituofo!
