Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 60: Genes for Perfect Enlightenment (4/ 5 continued)
The Sudden Manifestation of the Dharma Body
Fourth, “the Dharma Body suddenly manifests; therefore it is called transformation-birth.” Upon rebirth in the Land of Bliss, one is born by transformation in the flower of Perfect Enlightenment. Without relying on cultivation or severing of delusions, the Dharma Body instantly appears. Like beings born by transformation in the world, one suddenly comes into being from non-being, inwardly and outwardly complete, and lacking nothing.
Rebirth in the Land of Bliss is “birth by transformation in the flower of Perfect Enlightenment.” It does not depend on personal cultivation or on cutting off delusions. It does not rely upon eliminating the delusion of views, thought, dust-like delusion, or fundamental ignorance. Thus, one is naturally born by transformation, and the Dharma Body immediately manifests. It is like transformation-birth within the three realms and six paths: suddenly appearing
from non-existence, fully endowed inwardly and outwardly, without any deficiency.
The Infinite Life Sutra says: “Within the seven-jeweled lotus flowers, they are naturally born by transformation. In a brief instant, their bodily marks, radiance, wisdom, and merits are fully accomplished, just like those of the bodhisattvas.” Although in this world one may be an ordinary being, once one exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha and attains rebirth, the external bodily radiance and the inner wisdom and virtues are accomplished in a single instant — equal to those of great bodhisattvas.
Whether it is the Land of Ultimate Bliss, the lotus of Amitabha’s Perfect Enlightenment, or the six-character phrase Namo Amitabha Buddha; all have been accomplished by Amitabha for the sake of sentient beings in the ten directions.
(to be continued tomorrow)
60. 基因喻 (續 4 /5)
♦ 法身頓現
第四，法身頓現，故說化生 —— 往生極樂，正覺花生，不藉修斷，法身頓 現。如世化生，無而忽有，內外具足，無有缺少。
往生極樂是「正覺華化生」，不假修持、斷惑，也就是說不假借其他的修行 功用來斷除見惑、思惑、塵沙惑、無明惑，所以自然化生，當下法身立即顯現 ，好像我們三界六道的化生，無而忽有，而且內心、外相一切具足，無有缺 少。
《無量壽經》說：「七寶花中，自然化生。須臾之頃，身相光明，智慧功德，如 諸菩薩，具足成就。」雖然在此界是凡夫，但是一旦念佛往生，外在的身相光 明、內心的智慧功德，都是剎那就具足成就的，而且和大菩薩都一樣。
那麼，極樂世界也好，阿彌陀佛的正覺蓮花也好，阿彌陀佛這句六字洪名 也好，都是阿彌陀佛為十方眾生所完成的。
Namo Amituofo!
