Major Expositions

KGSS III:99-105

[On Being the Same as Maitreya]

99 Wang Jih-hsiu states:

As I reflect on the Sutra of Immeasurable Life, I find that sentient beings, as they hear the Name, realize even one thought-moment of shinjin and joy, and aspiring to be born in that land, they then attain birth and dwell in the stage of nonretrogression. "The stage of nonretrogression" is avaivartika in Sanskrit. The Lotus Sutra states that this is the stage of fulfillment attained by Bodhisattva Maitreya. The birth attained in one thought-moment is, as such, the same as [the stage of] Maitreya. The Buddha's words are not empty. The Sutra of Immeasurable Life is truly the shortest path to attainment of birth, the superlative means to liberation from suffering. All people should embrace [its teaching].

100 The Larger Sutra states:

The Buddha said to Maitreya, "In this world there are sixty-seven hundred million bodhisattvas of the stage of nonretrogression, and they will all be born in that land. Every one of those bodhisattvas has already in the past made offerings to innumerable Buddhas, and is next [to enlightenment], like Maitreya."

101 Further, [the Sutra of the Tathagata of Immeasurable Life] states:

The Buddha said to Maitreya, "In this Buddha-land there are seventy-two hundred million bodhisattvas. They have planted roots of good under the guidance of Buddhas numbering countless hundreds of thousands of billions of nayutas, and they have attained nonretrogression. They will be born in that land."

102 Yung-ch'in of the Vinaya school states:

Nothing surpasses the ultimate teaching of the Garland Sutra or the excellent message of the Lotus Sutra. But the universal prediction of attainment is yet to be seen in those sutras. For all sentient beings to receive the prediction that they will realize the supreme, perfect enlightenment after the present life is indeed the benefit of the inconceivable virtue that is taught here [in the Amida Sutra].

103 Truly we know that because Mahasattva Maitreya has perfectly realized the diamondlike mind of the stage equal to enlightenment, he will without fail attain the stage of supreme enlightenment beneath a dragon-flower tree at the dawn of the three assemblies. Because sentient beings of the nembutsu have perfectly realized the diamondlike mind of crosswise transcendence, they transcend and realize great, complete nirvana on the eve of the moment of death. Hence the words, As such, the same.

Moreover, the people who have realized the diamondlike mind are the equals of Vaidehi and have been able to realize the insights of joy, awakening, and confidence. This is because they have thoroughly attained the true mind directed to them for their going forth, and because this accords with [the working of] the Primal Vow, which surpasses conceptual understanding.

104 Chih-chüeh of the Ch'an school praises the practicer of the nembutsu:

How wondrous! The power of the Buddha surpasses conceivability; never has there been such power.

105 Yüan-chao, master of the Vinaya school, states:

Ah, for clear understanding of the teaching and the contemplations, who can equal Chih-che (Chih-i)? But when facing the end of life, he took up the Contemplation Sutra, and praising the Pure Land, he went there forever.

For realization of the dharma-realm, who can equal Tu-shun? But he urged all four groups - monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen - to think on the Buddha, and perceiving the excellent features, he went to the West.

In practicing dhyana and seeing reality, who can equal Kao-yü and Chih-chüeh? But they formed societies for contemplating the Buddha and both realized the highest birth in the Pure Land.

For ability in classical study, who can equal Liu, Lei, Liu Tzu-hou, and Po Lo-t'ien. But they all took up the brush to write the truth and aspired to be born in that Land.