drop the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot; immediate redemption through repentance
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesproverb
immediate repentance and redemption; a wicked person can become virtuous instantly upon reform
literaryThis idiom emphasizes the transformative power of sincere repentance. It originates from Mahayana Buddhism and is commonly used to encourage forgiveness or to describe a dramatic moral turnaround. It often implies a sudden, complete change.
He had a bad record in the past, but if he can truly drop the butcher's knife and become a Buddha, people are still willing to give him a chance.
Buddhism emphasizes compassion and believes everyone has Buddha-nature; even the most wicked person can drop the butcher's knife and attain Buddhahood on the spot.
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This isn't some romantic story of dropping the knife and becoming a Buddha; offenders must face the legal consequences of their actions.