Page:The Praises of Amida, 1907.djvu/126

 ever be able to move either the one or the other? We cannot wash off the mud from our bodies so long as we stay sitting in the mud: we can not raise humanity from the mire, so long as we ourselves are in the mire of worldly conformity. Where all the birds congregate in troops, the trees lose their foliage and wither: how then can those who are tied and bound by the conflicting judgments of this world obtain the strength to acquire eternal life? We must reach out to something higher than the Nation, higher than Society, higher than Humanity,—we must reach out to the Great Commandment of the One Tathāgata, from Whom we shall get the strength we need, and, having obtained that strength, we must break off once for all with lust and sin, and do as the Great Commanment bids as to do. 16. When men have many masters to teach them their duty, the result is but confusion, and consequently pain. When we follow the One Rule, the One Law of the One Buddha, we find ourselves at the Spring and Fountain-head