Shorter Works

A Collection of Passages
on the Types of Birth in
the Three Pure Land Sutras (2)

[Birth in accord with the Contemplation Sutra]

Concerning birth in accord with the Contemplation Sutra, through the Vow of performing meritorious acts, one is brought to awaken sincere mind and aspiration and, directing one's own good accumulated through the myriad good acts and practices, to aspire for the Pure Land. Thus, in the Sutra of Contemplation on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, the various kinds of good acts - meditative and nonmeditative good, the three types of meritorious conduct and the good acts done by the nine grades of beings - and the saying of the nembutsu in self-power are expounded, and the ways of birth of the nine grades of beings are taught. The sutra takes self-power within the Other Power teaching as its central purport. For this reason, the kinds of birth in accord with the Contemplation Sutra are all birth into the provisional transformed lands. This is called "birth attained beneath twin sala trees."

The Vow of sincere mind and aspiration is stated in the Larger Sutra:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the sentient beings of the ten quarters - awakening the mind of enlightenment and performing meritorious acts - should aspire with sincere mind and desire to be born in my land, and yet I should not appear before them at the moment of death surrounded by a host of sages, may I not attain the supreme enlightenment.

Further, the "Chapter on Great Beneficence" in the Sutra of the Lotus of Compassion states:

I vow that when I have attained supreme enlightenment, if sentient beings of the countless, innumerable, incalculable other Buddha-realms should awaken the mind aspiring for highest, perfect enlightenment, practice roots of good, and desire to be born in my realm, I will appear before them surrounded by a host of sages. Upon seeing me, those people will, in my presence, attain joy in their hearts. Because they see me, they will be freed of all their obstructions and will immediately be born in my realm when their lives end.

The passage declaring the fulfillment of the Vow of sincere mind and aspiration is stated in the Larger Sutra:

The Buddha said to Ananda, "There are devas and human beings throughout the ten quarters who, with sincere mind, aspire to be born in that land. There are three levels. Those of the highest level, abandoning their homes and discarding desires, become monks. Awakening the mind aspiring for enlightenment, they wholeheartedly think solely on the Buddha of immeasurable life, perform various virtuous acts, and aspire to be born in that land. When these sentient beings are about to die, the Buddha of immeasurable life, together with a host of sages, appears before them... Ananda, there are sentient beings who, while in this world, desire to behold the Buddha of immeasurable life. They should, awakening the mind aspiring for supreme enlightenment, practice virtuous acts in aspiration for birth in that land."

The Buddha said to Ananda, "Those of the middle level are devas and human beings of the worlds throughout the ten quarters who, with sincere mind, aspire to be born in that land. Although incapable of performing practices, become monks, and accomplish great virtue, they should, awakening the mind aspiring for supreme enlightenment and wholeheartedly thinking solely on the Buddha of immeasurable life, perform some good, observe precepts of abstinence, raise stupas and statues, give alms to monks, hang temple banners, light lamps, scatter flowers, and burn incense. Directing the merit of these acts, they should aspire to be born in that land. When these people are about to die,... fully like the true Buddha, a host of sages will appear before them..."

The Buddha told Ananda, "Those of the lowest level are devas and human beings of the worlds throughout the ten quarters who, with sincere mind, desire to be born in that land. Even though they may not be able to do various virtuous acts, they should indeed, awakening the mind aspiring for supreme enlightenment, wholeheartedly and with singleness of mind think on the Buddha of immeasurable life even ten times and aspire to be born in that land. When they hear the profound dharma, they rejoice and entrust themselves to it without giving rise to even a single thought of doubt, and thinking on the Buddha, with sincere mind they aspire to be born in that land. When these people are about to die, they, seeing the Buddha in dream, also attain birth. In virtue and wisdom, they are next to those of the middle level.

The Larger Sutra states:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, any bodhisattvas [in my land], even those of little virtue are unable to perceive the bodhi-tree of immeasurable light and countless colors and four million miles in height, may I not attain the supreme enlightenment.

The passage declaring the fulfillment of the Vow of the bodhi-tree states:

Further, the bodhi-tree of the Buddha of immeasurable life is four million miles in height, with a girth, at its base, of fifty yojanas. Its branches and leaves spread two hundred thousand miles in the four directions. It is formed naturally of a composite of all kinds of gems. The kings of gems - the moon-radiant mani-jewel and the ocean-supporting-wheel gem - adorn it. Everywhere amid its branches hang jewel adornments. There are a hundred thousand myriads of colors that change in various ways. Immeasurable light illuminates without bound. Nets of rare and wondrous jewels cover it... All attain profound insight into existence and dwell in the stage of nonretrogression. Until they attain the enlightenment of Buddhahood, their six sense organs are clear and penetrating and they are free of all affliction and sickness.

In Essentials for Attaining Birth by [Genshin,] the Master of Shuryogon-in, the Commentary of Master Huai-kan is cited:

Question: The Sutra of the Bodhisattvas' Dwelling in the Womb, fascicle two, states:

In the western quarter, twenty kotis of nayutas from this Jambudvipa continent, is the realm of indolence and pride... Sentient beings who have awakened aspiration and desire to be born in Amida Buddha's land are all deeply attached to the land of indolence and pride and cannot advance to birth in Amida's land. At times only one of millions upon millions of beings is able to attain birth in Amida's land.

Based on this sutra, the question arises of whether it is possible to attain birth at all?

Answer: In Response to Various Questions Concerning the Pure Land Teaching, the previously cited passage of Master Shan-tao is quoted to answer this criticism, and further the author himself adds:

The next passage in the sutra states, "For since they are indolent and complacent, their resolve lacks firmness." Thus we know that those who engage in sundry practices are people of infirm resolve. For this reason they are born in the realm of indolence and pride. If you do not engage in sundry practices, but solely perform this act, then you are firm of resolve and will definitely attain birth in the land of bliss... Further, those born in the fulfilled Pure Land are extremely few; those born in the transformed Pure Land are many. Therefore, the different teachings in the sutras are in fact not at variance with each other.

You should well understand the "birth attained beneath twin sala trees" taking into consideration the meaning of these passages.