Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 62: Born as Cattle – The Karmic Forces Behind all Rebirths
All Rebirths are Determined by Karmic Forces.
The actions of sentient beings in past lives determine their births in their present lives. If one has created the karma of cattle in past lives, then one is born as cattle in the present life; with their appearance and temperaments. If one has created the karma of a pig, then one is born with the appearance and character of a pig. These various rebirths are due to various past karmas.
What type of rebirth will the karma of practicing Amitabha-recitation result in? The answer is - rebirth in the Pure Land by transformation in the Lotus Flowers of Enlightenment. In other words, this rebirth is the outcome of the merits and virtues accumulated through the good karma of reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha.
62.牛喻
隨業受生
眾生都是隨業受生 — 隨過去的業，感受今生的果報。若過去世所造的是 牛的業，那麼他一出生就是牛，一生下來就是牛的相貌、牛的脾氣；如果所造 的是豬的業，他一出生就是豬的相貌、豬的性格，都是各由不同的雜業，感受 雜生。
念佛往生隨業受生又是什麼情況呢？隨念佛之業，受正覺華化生。
Namo Amituofo!
