In the Circulation Section of the Infinite Life Sutra, the World-Honored One said to Maitreya Bodhisattva: “Therefore, Maitreya, even if a raging fire were to fill a great chiliocosm, you should pass through it to hear this sutra, to inspire joyous faith, to uphold and chant it, and to practice in accordance with its teachings.”

       The metaphor of ‘crossing a raging fire’ illustrates a profound truth. In modern astronomical terms, a great chiliocosm corresponds to a galaxy. Shakyamuni Buddha emphasized that even if the entire galaxy were engulfed in flames, we should bite the bullet by braving them if that’s what it takes to learn the Dharma of Amitabha-Recitation.

       In other words, Shakyamuni Buddha exhorts us to endure and overcome all challenges in our pursuit of his Dharma no matter how arduous or perilous the journey may be.

       The reality is that all things in this world are inherently impermanent and arising from the convergence of causes and conditions. Everything is in a constant state of flux, one minute it exits, the next minute it perishes.

       The Buddha taught that before the world ends, it will undergo three great calamities, caused by flooding, fire and wind. Water will flood the First Dhyana of the Heaven realm, flames will consume the Second Dhyana, and the wind will sweep away the Third Dhyana. When these disasters have run their course, the world will be annihilated.

       [In Buddhist cosmology, there are six realms of existence: heavens (with twenty-eight levels), humans, animals, ghosts, hell dwellers (eighteen levels), and Asuras. The first six levels of the heavens belong to the Domain of Desire, which includes lower realms down to hell. Above these are the Domain of Form and the Domain of Formless. The Domain of Form consists of eighteen levels of meditative absorption (Dhyana): the First Dhyana (three levels), Second Dhyana (three levels), Third Dhyana (three levels), and Fourth Dhyana (nine levels). Ascending these levels increases both lifespan and blissfulness.]

      Although the great fire has not yet occurred, it is certain to come. If we do not escape the six realms of samsara, we are bound to face calamity in some future life. What kind of calamity? It is none other than the fires of hell.

       As long as we remain trapped within the Three Domains and Six Realms, there is no guarantee that we won't fall into the three wretched realms in the endless cycle of birth and death. The fires of hell await us!

       Therefore, if we do not make the effort now to brave the metaphorical flames and learn the Dharma of Amitabha’s deliverance - Dharma that enables us to escape samsara - we will inevitably encounter those fires in the future.

       The meaning behind Shakyamuni Buddha’s metaphor is clear: either we confront the blaze now to learn the Dharma, or we endure the fires of hell in the future.

(Translated by the Pure Land School Translation Team;
edited by Householder Fojin)