![\"Chionin-Buddha6\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/Chionin-Buddha6-225x300.gif?resize=225%2C300\" "\\"Chionin-Buddha6\\"")
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A friend remarked that in this Dharma-ending age, he was surprised that a recent Pureland retreat was not as well received by youngsters as meditation retreats. Most participants of the first are middle-aged and above. Pureland practice is often mistaken to be only for the old or dying, to be less intellectually challenging – as many think that Pureland practice is just chanting, and nothing else. The truth is, if mindfulness of Buddha is practised mindfully, one can actually realise the whole spectrum of the Buddha’s teachings as it encompasses the threefold training (\u6212\u5b9a\u6167). Well, let\u2019s not forget that the Pureland tradition is ‘an extremely hard to believe’ method, as proclaimed by the Buddha himself – because it seems simple, while truly profound.<\/p>\n
Many feel that meditation should not be dismissed totally as Buddha himself did sit under the Bodhi tree to meditate towards enlightenment. Thus, many Buddhists might not see their spiritual path as complete if they had not tried sitting meditation. True enough… for myself too had gone through a systematic way of training in meditation before becoming a Purelander. Meditation has its advantages and it\u2019s undeniable beneficial for the spiritual path. But when it comes to the subject of determining my next birth, my personal meditation skills might not be able to help me out of Samsara. That said, Pureland practice in terms of training mindfulness of Buddha by chanting (aloud or silently) can achieve Samadhi and insight as well. Pureland practice is relatively much easier, if I were to say, meet a car accident at this instant.<\/p>\n
If one practises really diligently, one might become a stream-winner (Sot\u0101panna), and will have 7 or less lifetimes to go, before gaining enlightenment (Arahantship) – while not retrogressing below the human realm. But before one becomes an Arahant, one is still subjected to suffering and riding the roller-coaster of Samsara. Becoming an Once-returner (Sakadagami), one will have only one more lifetime before enlightenment, or one might become a Non-returner (An\u0101g\u0101mi), reborn in the Pure Abodes. If one puts in even more effort, one will become an Arahant, out of the cycle of birth and death. However, even as an Arahant can abide in emptiness of self for aeons, one would still need to, eventually, further advance oneself till realisation of the emptiness of all phenomena (dharmas) is attained, thereby becoming a fully enlightened Buddha.<\/p>\n
Of the four stages towards minimal enlightenment above, being an An\u0101g\u0101mi or Arahant are the best options. However, if one is to became an An\u0101g\u0101mi or Arahant, one would have to renounce lay life along the path, or as a result. As part-time cultivators burdened with much samsaric hassles, it\u2019s just not possible for now. Even if I were to cultivate full-time with my dull mind, it would be a wonder if I can see the Three Universal Characteristics clearly. I know these might seem like bad excuses, but I’m not going to gamble when it comes to my next rebirth.<\/p>\n
Just as I was worrying about my next and final destination, I stumbled upon Pureland Buddhism, which not only presents a swift path out of Samsara, but also a fairly easy method of practice – that is based largely on Faith (in Amitabha Buddha\u2019s merits and vows), Aspiration (of wanting to to reborn in his Pureland) and Practice (of mindfulness of his name). Pureland Buddhism was extensively encouraged and endorsed by the historical Shakyamuni Buddha and Buddhas of all directions, and is especially recommended for this Dharma-ending age, when average human capacities are considered too dull for enlightenment.<\/p>\n
Beings reborn in Pureland will not only be able to learn directly from Amitabha and his assembly, but from Buddhas of all directions too. Unlike an An\u0101g\u0101mi, with one lifetime towards enlightenment of an Arahant, full enlightenment of Buddhahood is one lifetime away! Beings in Pureland are also adorned by Amitabha\u2019s 48 vows – actualised by his boundless merits which he shares with us via various skilful empowerments. To name a few, one will have the divine ear – for hearing teachings of at least a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddhas and remember them all (Vow 7). One will have supernormal power of travelling anywhere in an instant, even beyond a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha-lands (Vow 9). One will be able to expound the Dharma with the all-knowing wisdom (Vow 25). One will acquire eloquence and wisdom in upholding sutras and reciting and expounding them (Vow 29). The list goes on…<\/p>\n
Speaking for myself, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that the Buddha taught such a wondrous method for beings like me. We just need to connect to Amitabha Buddha enough to deserve to be born in his presence. Pureland is certainly a spiritual paradise created out of perfect Compassion and Wisdom – a perfect school to train even ordinary beings like you and me to be warrior Bodhisattvas who re-enter Samsara to save others like ourselves and more. Amitabha\u2019s Pureland is the ultimate skillful gateway, which all beings are encouraged to enter – from the person on the street to Bodhisattvas on the brink of Buddhahood. As long as one reaches Pureland, one will be at the stage of non-retrogression. Even if one who wishes to leave early to guide beings in accordance with their original vows, one will not experience suffering and karmic consequences of unenlightened beings. If great Bodhisattvas and Arahants are encouraged to go to Amitabha’s Pureland, who am I not to go!<\/p>\n
On a side note, I can\u2019t agree more with the 9th Pureland Patriarch Master Ouyi, who taught this – \u2018\u65e0\u59cb\u5984\u8ba4\u6709\u5df1\uff0c\u4f55\u5c1d\u5b9e\u6709\u5df1\u54c9\u3002\u6216\u672a\u987f\u609f\uff0c\u4ea6\u4e0d\u5fc5\u4f5c\u610f\u6c42\u609f\u3002\u4f46\u4e13\u6301\u51c0\u6212\uff0c\u6c42\u751f\u51c0\u571f\uff0c\u529f\u6df1\u529b\u5230\uff0c\u5fc5\u609f\u65e0\u5df1\u4e4b\u4f53\uff0c\u609f\u65e0\u5df1\uff0c\u5373\u89c1\u4f5b\uff0c\u5373\u6210\u4f5b\u77e3\u3002\u2019 (From beginningless time mistakening there is a self, where indeed is that self? If there\u2019s no sudden realisation to that, there\u2019s no need to seek it deliberately. But by upholding pure morals, aspiring to be reborn in Pureland, and practising deep till there is strength, one will certainly realise there is no form of self. Realising non-self, one will see the Buddha and become a Buddha.) Amituofo!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A friend remarked that in this Dharma-ending age, he was surprised that a recent Pureland retreat was not as well…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[42,33,41,106],"class_list":["post-2601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mix","tag-amitabha-buddha","tag-meditation","tag-pure-land","tag-rebirth","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}