Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 73: Making an Emergency Call
As the saying goes, “Prevention is not always possible.” What if we commit a terrible wrong, or one of the five gravest transgressions, or slander the correct Dharma? Will Amitabha Buddha refuse to save us ? Certainly not! In such a situation, think of it as if a fire has broken out - the larger the fire is, the more pressing it is to dial emergency services. Upon receiving the call, fire fighters arrive promptly to combat the blaze. They don’t pause to inquire who started the fire, or whether it was an accident or an act of arson. The immediate priority is to extinguish the fire.
Calling for emergency help is a metaphor for a person’s change of heart. A person who once neglected fire safety or even played with fire, now sees the disastrous consequences. In a critical, fearful state, he sends out a desperate call for help. Will the fire department ignore his plea? Certainly not. They will come to his rescue right away. Amitabha’s compassion is the same. Regardless of how sinful a person is, if he has a change of heart and recites Namo Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha will come to his rescue without delay. “Even those who committed the five gravest transgressions or slandered the right Dharma can be reborn in the Land of Bliss, if they express genuine remorse and aspiration for rebirth”.
It is also said that “All fear-ridden beings will be given great peace [by the Buddha].” Of all the fears, the most frightening one is, when a person who has committed the five gravest transgressions or slandered the right Dharma, sees the blazing fire of Hell before him on his death bed.
Just as a spreading fire threatens more lives and property, an offender who commits such evil acts who is not saved, can continue to spread harm after their death; hindering or even destroying the virtuous roots of others. Therefore, it is
not just the individual offender that Amitabha Buddha saves; but, he also assures the protection and salvation of many more beings.
(to be continued tomorrow)
73. 報警喻
但俗話說「防不勝防」，萬一犯了惡，甚至是犯了五逆謗法的大惡，那又怎 麼辦？難道阿彌陀佛就不救了嗎？不會的！那就要像著了火一樣，越是大火 越是要趕緊報警。一旦報警消防隊立即就到，立即救火，這個時候不會問：是 誰著的火？是大意著的火，還是人為放的火？都不問，先救火滅火再說。
報警就是迴心。先不注重防火，甚至喜歡玩火，現在看到釀成大禍了，情 況危急了，沒有辦法撲救了，害怕恐懼了，發出一心求救的信號，消防隊接到 火警會不來嗎？立即趕到！彌陀的慈悲正是如此，不管怎樣的罪人，迴心求 救，立即來救，所以說「五逆謗法，迴心皆往」。
所謂「一切恐懼，為作大安」，一切恐懼中最大的恐懼就是造下了五逆謗法的 重罪，臨命終時已經看見地獄之火燃燒的那一種恐懼。正因如此，五逆謗法 的人是必定要救，甚至是第一要救的。如同大火如果不及時撲滅的話，就會漫延，傷及更多無辜的生命、財產；五逆謗法的人不救，從地獄出來後還是逆 謗種子，惡種流布，會阻礙、斷滅更多眾生的世法、佛法善根，所以不管是為 了他一人迴心求救，還是為了保護救度更多的眾生，都必定要救。
Namo Amituofo!
