Issue

4rd Issue (June, 2007)

Meditation for Rebirth in Pure Land of Amitābha Buddha

By K.S.Chow

Introduction

Many Asian Mahāyānists have adhered to Pure land Buddhism (淨土) and conceive that it is an easy path to gain emancipation. It is claimed by some masters who opine that if a thousand of Pure Land practitioners who devote to this so called easy path, a thousand of them will be reborn in the Pure Land of Amitābha Buddha. The claim seems to suggest that without the gradual cultivation of morality, concentration and wisdom, rebirth into the Pure Land of Amitābha Buddha can be eventuated merely by the constant recitation of the name of Amitābha Buddha which is the Pure Land tradition of meditation. In order to know the actual message of Śākyamuni Buddha, a close examination of chapter 24 of the Mahāyāna Sūtra of Infinite Life (Sukhāvatī-vyūūha-sutra 大乘無量壽經) can brush aside the doubt or mispresentation.

The following verses of Sūtra are extracted from the Chapter 24 on ‘Three Categories of Rebirth (三輩往生)’ of the Mahāyāna Sūtra of Infinite Life (大乘無量壽經).

佛告阿難, 十方世界諸天民眾, 其有至心愿生彼國, 凡有三輩. [Note 1]

The Buddha informed Ānanda that all sentient beings of the entire cosmos or universe, who aspire devotedly with absolute sincerity or faith to gain rebirth in the western paradise , are categorized into three categories.

Commentary: The faith to obtain rebirth in the Pure Land is not to enjoy sensual pleasures like the life in the heavenly world of the Sphere of Sense Desire. The objective of rebirth in this western paradise to associate closely with Amitābha and other Bodhisattvas to achieve ultimately enlightenment with their guides or instructions. The unique characteristic feature of Pure Land is that whoever is reborn there will not relapse.

其上輩者, 舍家棄欲, 而作沙門. 發菩提心, 一向專念, 阿彌陀佛. 修諸功德, 愿生彼國. [Note 2]

The high-capacity meditator or practitioner (of Pure Land Buddhism) ought to fulfill the following conditions:
  
i.  He must renounce household life and become a recluse.
ii. He must eliminate cravings
iii.  He must aspire to gain self-enlightenment
iv. He must recite the name of Amitābha Buddha one-pointedly
v. He must course in the Six Perfections (pāramitā-s) of Generosity, Precepts, Endurance, Energy, Meditation and Wisdom.
vi. He must have a strong aspiration or will to be reborn in the Pure Land of Amitābha Buddha.

Commentary:

All these six aforementioned conditions for rebirth in the western paradise are stringent. Since the requirements for rebirth in the pure Land are stringent for the high capacity Pure Land meditators or practitioners, the rebirth into the Pure Land of Amitābha is expected. In short. good result does not ensue easily. One has to cultivate and practise diligently, ardently and resolutely as advised by Śākyamuni Buddha before his parinirvāṇa.

此等眾生,臨壽終時,阿彌陀佛,與諸聖眾,現下其前.經須臾間,即隨彼佛往生其國,便於七寶華中自然化生.智慧勇猛,神通自在. [Note 3]

Moment before the death of this category of sentient beings, Amitābha Buddha and other accompanying Bodhisattvas will manifest before them. Within a short moment of time, they will follow Amitābha Buddha and the Bodhisattvas to be reborn in their Pure land. The sentient beings will manifest through the lotus flowers in the pond of seven jewels. Immediately after rebirth, their wisdom, courage and determination are instantaneously developed and are accompanied with the manifest of other supernatural powers.

Commentary:

The high capacity Pure land meditators or practitioners develop their mental frequencies or wavelengths which correspond with the Dharmabodies of Amitābha Buddha or the Bodhisattvas. In short, their heart-minds must overlap one another. Therefore, rebirth into the paradise is expected. Not only there must be one-pointed recitation of the name of Amitābha Buddha but also the mind of the practitioners must be purified through the practice. Only pure minds of practitioners and that of Amitābha Buddha can meet at a common plane to find a footing in the Pure Land.  

When a satellite dish is set and  tuned to the  frequency of the satellite television station, the programmes can be received by the television set at home. A high capacity Pure Land meditator is akin to a powerful satellite dish which is in tune with the main transmission station. The rewards in the Pure Land are, of course, attractive. It is evident that the determined, persistent efforts of the high capacity practitioners are correspondingly rewarded in the western paradise. The western paradise is certainly not meant for those indolent ones.

其中輩者, 雖不能行作沙門, 大修功德, 當發無上菩提心, 一向專念, 阿彌陀佛. 隨己修行, 諸善功德, 奉持齋戒, 起立塔像. 飯食沙門, 懸繒然切, 散華燒香, 以此回向, 愿生彼國. [Note 4]

The intermediate capacity meditators or practitioners are not required to be a recluse and course fully in the Six pāramitās. But they are required to aspire to gain self-enlightenment and recite the name of Amitābha Buddha one-pointedly. They are expected to cultivate according to their capacities to accumulate merits such as keeping the precepts, donating to the construction of stūpa-s and Buddha statues, offering alms to the monks or nuns, paying homage to the Buddha with flowers and incenses. Having performed the merits, they are to transfer the merits and vow to gain rebirth in the Pure Land.

Commentary:

Even though the intermediate capacity Pure Land meditators or practitioners are free from two stringent primary conditions of recluseship and Six pāramitās imposed on the high capacity practitioners, the other remaining secondary contigent conditions are, by no means, easy to be fulfilled by the ordinary adherents. They are expected also to be ardent, diligent and resolute in their cultivation and practice. There is no free breakfast in the world.

其卞輩者, 假使不能作諸功德, 當發無上菩提之心, 一向專念, 阿彌陀佛. 歡喜信樂, 不生疑惑, 以至誠心, 愿生其國. [Note 5]

Even though the low capacity meditators or practitioners are not capable of cultivating merits like the high and intermediate capacity cultivators, they are too required to aspire to gain self-enlightenment and recite the name of Amitābha Buddha one-pointedly. They must be delighted, rejoice and have strong faith in the path of Pure Land without any trace of doubt of Amitābha Buddha. They must have absolute faith in their aspiration to gain rebirth in the Pure Land.

Commentary:

Aspiration for bodhicitta (發菩提心), one-pointed recitation of the name of Amitābha and unshakeable faith in the Pure land are, by no means, easy to be fulfilled by the low capacity Pure land meditators or practitioners. It is always expounded by some that Pure Land Buddhism is an easy path. I do not conceive that rebirth into the Pre Land is easier than rebirth in the heavenly world in the Sphere of Sense Desire. How many Buddhist practitioners believe that it is easy to be reborn in the heavenly world? I do not intend to discourage Pure Land cultivation or practice. What I always conceive is that good things do not emerge easily or with ease. We ought to strive diligently, ardently and resolutely towards any worthy goal set.

Endnotes:

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