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PURE-LANDZENZENPURE-LAND

Lettersfrom

PatriarchYinKuang

TranslatedbyMasterThich

Thi`enTam,etalForrestG.Smith,consultingeditor

SUTRA

TRANSLATIONCOMMITTEEOFTHEUNITEDSTATESANDCANADA

NewYork-San

Francisco-Toronto

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Notetothereader.ThisisanelectronicversionofthebookPure-LandZen,ZenPure-Land(secondedition1993),whichisatranslation

ofselectedpassagesfromthelettersofElderMasterYinKuang,theThirteenth

PatriarchofPureLand.TheoriginalChinesetitlesareYinKuangFaShih

WenChaoandYinKuangTaShihChiaYenLu.

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ExceptforthetwopicturesofMasterYinKuang,nothinghasbeenaddedorchanged.However,thenotestothelettersandtheGlossary

preparedbytheVanHienStudyGroupaswellastheAppendix(The

PracticesandVowsoftheBodhisattvaSamantabhadra)wereleftout,butwillhopefully

beaddedlateron.

T.G.,May2005

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reprintedanddonatedforfreedistributionbyTheCorporateBodyoftheBuddhaEducationalFoundation,Taipei,Taiwan,R.O.C.

Contentsp.3

p.5p.8AbouttheauthorPrefaceIntroductionThePureLandTradition

p.17TranslationsLettersfromPatriarchYinKuang25lettersonGeneralBuddhism,

ZenandPureLand,PureLandPractice

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ThesupremeandendlessblessingsofSamantabhadrasdeeds,Inowuniversallytransfer.Mayeverylivingbeing,drowningandadrift,Soonreturntothe

LandofLimitlessLight!

TheVowsofSamantabhadra

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Abouttheauthor

ThelifeofthePureLandPatriarchYinKuang(1861-1940)coversamosteventfulperiodforEastAsia

andparallelstheSino-JapaneseWar,theChineseRevolutionof1911andtwoworld

wars.

Therevolutionof1911thattoppledtheManchudynastyand

establishedtheRepublicofChinaalsobroughtinitswake

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anumberofproblemsfortheBuddhistsangha[clergy].Followingthepoliticalrevolution,anintellectualclimatewasusheredinthatwasunfriendlytothe

interestsofBuddhism...TheattackandcriticismagainstBuddhism...resultedin

anumberofdiscriminatorymeasures,suchasspecialtaxesandcontributionsbeinglevied

ontemples,monasteriesbeingappropriatedforuseasbarracksand

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policestations,tenantsontemplelandsbeingencouragednottopayrent,andBuddhistimagesbeingdestroyed...(KennethChen,BuddhisminChina,p.

455ff.)

Againstthisbackdrop,twoeminentmonksrosetoleadthe

resurgenceofBuddhism:MasterTaiHsu,whowasinstrumentalintherevivalof

theMind-OnlyschoolandMasterYinKuang,latertobecome

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theThirteenthPatriarchofPureLand.

Themonkmainlyresponsibleforinstillingnewlifeandmeaningto...[thepracticeofBuddha

RecitationandchantingofsutraswasMaster]YinKuang...who,afterhis

conversiontoPureLandpietism,concentratedonlivingapurereligiouslifebased

onfaith,devotionandholiness...[Master]YinKuangcarried

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onhisteachingsmainlyintheprovincesofKiangsuandChekiang,wherehegainednumerousfollowersanddisciples...Theseeffortsby[Master]Yin

KuangandhisfollowersbroughtaboutanextensiverevivalofthePureLand

school.LotusSocieties,Nien-fo[BuddhaRecitation]Societies,andothersofasimilarnature

sprangupalloverChina.(Ibid.)

Thecompendium

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ofMasterYinKuangslettersexcerptsofwhicharetranslatedinthisbookrepresentsabroadcross-sectionoftheMastersthoughtand

formsaprizedcollectionofinspirationalwritingscherishedthroughouttheMahayanaworld.Scarcely

aChinesetemplecanbefoundanywherewithoutseveraldifferenteditionsofthese

letters.

DieuPhungMinhTh`

anh

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P.D.LeighFestivalofAmitabhaBuddhaShepherdParkHartford,CT:1992

3

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PatriarchYinKuang(1861-1940)

4

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Preface

AfterthedemiseofthehistoricalBuddha,Histeachingsspreadintwomaindirections,southward(Theravadatradition)andeastwardinto

China,Vietnam,Korea,Japan(Mahayanatradition).InEastAsia,theseteachingsdevelopedinto

tendifferentschools,severalofwhichremainedimportanttothisday:Zen,Tantric

andPureLand.PureLandisbyfarthemost

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widespreadformofBuddhisminEastAsia.

Alltheseschoolsteachthesamebasictruth:Donotwhatisevil,dowhat

isgood,keepthemindpure.Truetothisspirit,thePureLand

approachissimpleandstraightforward.ThroughmindfulnessoftheBuddha(i.e.BuddhaRecitation),

thepractitionercancalmhismindandachievesamadhiand

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wisdom.ThusreborninthePureLand(i.e.,inhispureMind),hewilleventuallyattainBuddhahood.Thisisalsothecoreteaching,the

veryessence,ofZenandallotherMahayanaschools.AsD.T.Suzukihas

pointedout,thepsychologicaleffectsoftherepetitionoftheholynameare

closetotheeffectsofZenmeditation.

This

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notwithstanding,themainemphasisofthePureLandschoollieselsewhere.PureLandprovidesasafetynet,arefugeoflastresortforeveryone,

throughthecompassionofAmitabhaBuddhathroughHisVows.Takentogether,these

twoconceptsofthePureLandasMindandasatranscendental

landeffectivelybrought...withinthereachofall

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menthedeliverancetaughtbySakyamuni(Allan

A.Andrews).Butwhydowehavetopurifythemindandseekdeliverance?It

isbecauseinthewastelandofBirthandDeath,subjecttothethree

poisonsofgreed,angeranddelusion,weallundergosufferingtheultimate

sufferingbeing,ofcourse,death.Echoingthisconclusion,awell-known

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AmericanprofessormadethisobservationaboutthemotivationofWesternBuddhists:

Probablythemajorityofnon-OrientalswhobecomepracticingBuddhistsdoso

becauseofanoverridingneedforrelieffromsuffering.Sometimesthesufferingis

physical,butmoreoftenitisemotionalandoftenpsychosomatic.Theindividualpracticing

meditation,chanting,oranykindofBuddhistself-cultivationismotivated

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byaneedforsymptomaticrelief,mitigationofanxietyanddepression,reductionofhostility...(EmmaMcCloyLayman,BuddhisminAmerica,p.269)

ThisispreciselywhyBuddhaSakyamuni,whenpreachingtheFourNobleTruths

toKaundinyaandhisfriends,taughtthemfirsttheTruthofSuffering.The

lettersofMasterYinKuangaddressthisissuesquarely.If

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youaresufferingandifyourealisticallydiscoverthatyouhaveonlyaveragemotivation,fortitudeandself-discipline,thenPureLandisforyou.Pure

Landisaboutsufferingandtheliberationfromsuffering.

5

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.

ThisbookconsistsofexcerptsofselectedlettersbythePatriarchYinKuang[...].Eachlettercanbeconsidereda

unitinitself[...].Pleasenotethatinthistext,theexpressionsBuddha

RecitationandBuddhasnamereferspecificallytoAmitabhaBuddha.[...]

Here,

then,arethelettersofthePatriarchYinKuang.We

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hopetheWesternreaderwillenjoyandbenefitfromthem,asseveralgenerationsofEasternreadershave.AsaZenMasterhaswrittenin

anothercontext,readthemonce,readthemtwiceandlookforthesame

thingthatBodhidharmabroughttoChina:lookfortheprintoftheMind.

VanHienStudyGroupFestivalofSamantabhadraNew

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York:1992

6

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Thereshallbenodistinction,noregardtomaleorfemale,goodorbad,exaltedorlowly;noneshallfailtobein

hisLandofPurityafterhavingcalled,withcompletefaith,onAmidaBuddha.

HonenShonin(asquotedinPureLandBuddhistPainting)

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Introduction

ThePureLandTradition

ThegoalofallBuddhistpracticeistoachieveEnlightenmentandtranscendthecycle

ofBirthandDeaththatis,toattainBuddhahood.IntheMahayana

tradition,thepreconditionforBuddhahoodistheBodhiMind,theaspirationtoachieve

Enlightenmentforthebenefitofallsentientbeings,oneselfincluded.1

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Sincesentientbeingsareofdifferentspiritualcapacitiesandinclinations,manylevelsofteachingandnumerousmethodsweredevisedinorderto

reacheveryone.Traditionally,thesutrasspeakof84,000,i.e.,aninfinitenumberof

methods,dependingonthecircumstances,thetimesandthetargetaudience.Allthese

methodsareexpedientsdifferentmedicinesfordifferentindividualswith

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differentillnessesatdifferenttimesbutallareintrinsicallyperfectandcomplete.2Withineachmethod,thesuccessorfailureofanindividuals

cultivationdependsonhisdepthofpracticeandunderstanding,thatis,onhis

mind.

A)Self-power,other-power

Throughouthistory,thePatriarchshave

elaboratedvarioussystemstocategorizeDharmamethodsandthesutras

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inwhichtheyareexpounded.Oneconvenientdivisionisintomethodsbasedonself-effort(self-power)andthosethatrelyontheassistanceofthe

BuddhasandBodhisattvas(other-power).3

Traditionally,mostBuddhistschoolsandmethodstake

theself-powerapproach:progressalongthepathofEnlightenmentisachievedonlythrough

intenseandsustainedpersonaleffort.4Becauseofthededicationand

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effortinvolved,schoolsofthisself-power,self-efforttraditionallhaveadistinctmonasticbias.Thelaityhasgenerallyplayedonlyasupportiverole,with

themostspirituallyadvancedideallyjoiningtheOrderofmonksandnuns.Best

knownofthesetraditionsareTheravadaandZen.

Paralleltothis,

particularlyfollowingthedevelopmentofMahayanathoughtandtherise

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oflayBuddhism,amoreflexibletraditioneventuallyarose,combiningself-powerwithother-powertheassistanceandsupportprovidedbytheBuddhasandBodhisattvas

tosincereseekersoftheWay.Mostrepresentativeofthistraditionarethe

EsotericandPureLandschools.However,unliketheformer(orZen),PureLand

doesnotstressthemaster-disciplerelationshipandde-emphasizestherole

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ofsub-schools,roshis/gurusandrituals.Moreover,themainaimofPureLandrebirthintheLandofUltimateBlissthroughthepowerof

AmitabhaBuddhas

8

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Vowsisarealisticgoal,thoughtobeunderstoodatseverallevels.ThereinliestheappealandstrengthofPureLand.5

B)PureLandinaNutshell

PureLand,likeall

Mahayanaschools,requiresfirstandforemostthedevelopmentoftheBodhiMind,6the

aspirationtoattainBuddhahoodforthebenefitofallsentient

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beings.Fromthisstartingpoint,themaintenetsoftheschoolcanbeunderstoodattwomainlevels,thetranscendentalandthepopular

dependingonthebackgroundandthecapacitiesofthecultivator.

i)

Initspopularform,i.e.,forordinarypractitionersinthisspirituallyDegenerateAge,

sometwenty-sixcenturiesafterthedemiseofthehistoricalBuddha,

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PureLandinvolvesseekingrebirthintheLandofAmitabhaBuddha.ThisisachievedwithinonelifetimethroughthepracticeofBuddhaRecitationwith

sincerefaithandvows,leadingtoone-pointednessofmindorsamadhi.

ThedevoteesofthisschoolveneratedAmitabhaBuddhaandsoughtnotoutrightNirvana

butrebirthinthe...PureLandofAmitabha,also

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calledSukhavati.Inthatidyllicenvironment,nonewnegativekarmicaccumulationswouldbecreatedandallexistingoneswouldevaporate.Nirvanawouldbetherefore

justashortstepaway.(J.Snelling,TheBuddhistHandbook,p.133-4.)

Thus,atthepopularlevel,thePureLandofAmitabhaBuddhais

anidealtrainingground,anidealenvironmentwherethepractitioner

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isrebornthanksbothtohisowneffortsandthepowerofAmitabhaBuddhasvows(other-power).7Nolongersubjecttoretrogression,havingleftBirth

andDeathbehindforever,thecultivatorcannowfocusallhiseffortstoward

theultimateaimofBuddhahood.ThisaspectofPureLandistheform

underwhichtheschoolispopularlyknown.8

ii)

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Attheadvancedlevel,i.e.,forcultivatorsofhighspiritualcapacity,thePureLandmethod,likeothermethods,revertstheordinary,deludedmindto

theSelf-NatureTrueMind.9Intheprocess,wisdomandBuddhahoodareeventually

attained.ThisisexemplifiedbythefollowingadviceoftheeminentZenmaster

ChuHung(Jap.Shuko),oneofthethreeDragon-Elephantsof

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16th-17thcenturyChina:

Rightnowyousimplymustrecitethebuddha-namewithpurityandillumination.Puritymeansrecitingthebuddha-namewithoutany

otherthoughts.Illuminationmeansreflectingbackasyourecitethebuddha-name.Purityis

sammata,stopping.Illuminationisvipasyana,observing.Unifyyourmindfulnessofbuddhathroughbuddha-name

recitation,andstoppingandobservingarebothpresent.(J.C.Cleary,

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PureLand,PureMind.)

AsstatedinBuddhismofWisdomandFaith(Section18):

Ifwehavetherootsand

thetemperamentofMahayanafollowers,weshouldnaturallyunderstandthatthegoalof

BuddhaRecitationistoachieveBuddha-hood...Whyisitthatthe

goalofBuddhaRecitationistobecomeaBuddha?

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Itisbecause,aswebeginreciting,thepast,presentandfuturehavelosttheirdistinction,marksexistbuttheyhavebeenleft

behind,formisemptiness,thoughtisthesameasNo-Thought,therealmof

theOriginalNatureapartfromthoughtoftheTathagatahasbeenpenetrated.This

stateisBuddha-hood;whatelsecoulditbe?

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Thishigh-levelformofPureLandispracticedbythoseofdeepspiritualcapacities:whenthemindispure,theBuddhalandis

pure...torecitetheBuddhasnameistorecitetheMind.Thus,

attheadvancedlevel,PureLandisZen,ZenisPureLand.10

Initstotality,PureLandreflectsthehighestteaching

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ofBuddhismasexpressedintheAvatamsakaSutra:mutualidentityandinterpenetration,thesimplestmethodcontainstheultimateandtheultimateisfoundin

thesimplest.11

C)Faith,VowsandPractice

Thesethree

factorsarethecornerstonesofPureLandBuddhism.Iftheyarepresent,rebirth

inthePureLandisachieved.Faithmeansfaithin

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AmitabhaBuddhasVowtorescueallwhoreciteHisname,aswellasfaithinonesownSelf-Nature,whichisintrinsicallythesameas

His(torecitetheBuddhasnameistorecitetheMind).Vowsare

thedeterminationtobereborninthePureLandinonespure

Mindsoastobeinthepositionto

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saveoneselfandothers.PracticegenerallymeansrecitingtheBuddhasnametothepointwhereonesMindandthatofAmitabhaBuddhaarein

unisoni.e.,tothepointofsinglemindedness.Samadhiandwisdomarethen

achieved.

PleasenotethatallBuddhistteachingsareexpedients,dividingthe

oneandindivisibleTruthintomanyparts.Faith,Vowsand

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Practice,althoughthree,arereallyone.Thus,itcanbesaidthatrebirthinthePureLanddependsonthreeconditionsortwoconditions

(FaithandVows)orevenonecondition(Faith),astheonecontainsall

andalliscontainedintheone.Theformulatobeuseddepends

ontheaudienceandthetimes.Theaimisto

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enablesentientbeingstoachieverebirthinthePureLandasasteppingstonetowardBuddhahood.

D)TransferenceofMerit

Central

tothePureLandtraditionisthefigureoftheBodhisattvaDharmakara,the

futureAmitabhaBuddha,whocametoexemplifytheBodhisattvaidealandthedoctrine

ofdedicationofmerit.12Thismerittransferenceisthesource

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ofthevow-power,orother-power,inPureLandBuddhism.

TheMahayanaideaoftheBuddhabeingabletoimparthispowerto

othersmarksoneofthoseepoch-makingdeviationswhichsetofftheMahayanafrom

so-called...originalBuddhism...TheMahayanistsaccumulatestocksofmeritnotonly

forthematerialoftheirownenlightenmentbutforthe

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general

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cultivationofmeritwhichcanbesharedequallybytheirfellow-beings,animateandinanimate.ThisisthetruemeaningofParinamana,thatis,

turningonesmeritovertoothersfortheirspiritualinterest.(D.T.Suzuki,tr.,

TheLankavataraSutra,p.xix.)

Therationaleforsuchconduct,which

onthesurfaceappearstoruncountertothelaw

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ofCauseandEffect,maybeexplainedinthefollowingpassageconcerningoneofthethreePureLandsages,theBodhisattvaAvalokitesvara(KuanYin):

Someofusmayaskwhethertheeffectofkarmacan

berevertedbyrepeatingthenameofKuan-Yin.Thisquestionistiedup

withthatofrebirthinSukhavati[thePureLand]and

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itmaybeansweredbysayingthatinvocationofKuan-Yinsnameformsanothercausewhichwillrightawayoffsetthepreviouskarma.Weknow,

forexample,thatifthereisadark,heavycloudabove,thechances

arethatitwillrain.Butwealsoknowthatifastrong

windshouldblow,thecloudwillbecarriedawaysomewhere

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elseandwewillnotfeeltherain.Similarly,theadditionofonebigfactorcanalterthewholecourseofkarma...

Itisonlybyacceptingtheideaoflifeasonewhole

thatbothTheravadinsandMahayanistscanadvocatethepracticeoftransferenceofmerit

toothers.WiththecaseofKuan-Yinthen,bycalling

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onHernameweidentifyourselveswithHerandasaresultofthisidentificationHermeritsflowovertous.Thesemeritswhich

arenowoursthencounterbalanceourbadkarmaandsaveusfromcalamity.

Thelawofcauseandeffectstillstandsgood.Allthathashappened

isthatapowerfulandimmenselygoodkarmahasovershadowed

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theweakerone...(LectureonKuanYinbyTechEngSoonPenangBuddhistAssociation,c.1960.Pamphlet.)

Thisconceptof

transferenceofmerit,whichpresupposesareceptivemindonthepartofthe

cultivator,isemphasizedinPureLand.However,theconceptalsoexists,albeitin

embryonicform,intheTheravadatradition,asexemplifiedinthe

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beautifulstoryoftheVenerableAngulimala.13

E)FaithandMind

FaithisanimportantcomponentofPureLandBuddhism.14However,

wisdomorMindalsoplaysacrucial,iflessvisible,role.Thisinterrelationship

isclearlyillustratedintheMeditationSutra:theworstsinner,guiltyofmatricide

andparricide,etc.maystillachieverebirthinthePure

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Landif,onthevergeofdeath,heconcentratesontheBuddhasnameonetotentimeswithutmostfaithandsincerity.

Thispassagecanbeunderstoodattwolevels.Atthelevelofeveryday

life,justastheworstcriminaloncegenuinelyreformedisnolongera

threattosocietyandmaybepardoned,thesinneronce

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trulyrepentantmay,throughthevow-powerofAmitabhaBuddha,achieverebirthinthePureLandalbeitatthelowestgrade.Thus,PureLand

offershopetoeveryone;yetatthesametime,thelawofCause

11

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andEffectremainsvalid.

AtthelevelofprincipleorMind,astheSixthPatriarchtaughtinthePlatformSutra:

Afoolishpassingthoughtmakesoneanordinaryman,whileanenlightened

secondthoughtmakesoneaBuddha.

Therefore,oncethesinnerrepents

andconcentratesontheBuddhasnamewithutmostsincerityand

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one-pointednessofmind,forthatmomenthebecomesanawakenedpersonsilentlymergingintothestreamoftheSagescanEnlightenmentandBuddhahood

thenbethatfaraway?15AstheMeditationSutrastates:theLandof

AmitabhaBuddhaisnotfarfromhere!16

VanHienStudyGroup

/1992FestivaloftheBodhisattvaKuan-Yin

(1)

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Seethefollowingpassage,bythelatefounderoftheBuddhistLodgeandBuddhistSociety(London),onthetruegoalofallBuddhistpractice:

IntheWest,theneedforsomeguidanceinmind-developmentwasmadeacute

...byasuddenspateofbookswhichwere,whateverthemotiveof

theirauthors,dangerousintheextreme.Nowordwassaid

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inthemofthesolerightmotiveformind-development,theenlightenmentofthemeditatorforthebenefitofallmankind,andthereaderwas

ledtobelievethatitwasquitelegitimatetostudyandpracticemindfulness,

andthehigherstageswhichensue,forthebenefitofbusinessefficiencyand

theadvancementofpersonalprestige.Inthesecircumstances,Concentrationand

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Meditation,...wascompiledandpublishedbythe[British]BuddhistSociety,withconstantstressontheimportanceofrightmotive,andamplewarningof

thedangers,fromaheadachetoinsanity,whichlieinwaitforthose

whotriflewiththegreatestforceonearth,thehumanmind.(ChristmasHumphreys,

TheBuddhistWayofLife,p.100.)

(2)

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Sinceeverymethodisanexpedient,adaptedtoaparticulartargetaudience,eachoneisperfectandcompleteforagivenpersonorgroup

atagiventime.SeealsothefollowingpassagefromD.T.Suzuki:Buddhist

theologyhasafinecomprehensivetheorytoexplainthemanifoldtypesofexperience

inBuddhism,whichlooksocontradictorytoeachother.In

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factthehistoryofChineseBuddhismisaseriesofattemptstoreconcilethediverseschools...Variouswaysofclassificationandreconciliationwere

offered,and...theirconclusionwasthis:Buddhismsuppliesuswithsomany

gatestoenterintothetruthbecauseofsuchavarietyofhuman

charactersandtemperamentsandenvironmentsduetodiversitiesofkarma.

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ThisisplainlydepictedandtaughtbytheBuddhahimselfwhenhesaysthatthesamewater

12

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drunkbythecowandthecobraturnsinonecaseintonourishingmilkandintheotherintodeadlypoison,andthat

medicineistobegivenaccordingtodisease.Thisiscalledthedoctrine

of[skillful]means...(TheEasternBuddhist,Vol.4,No.2,p.121.)

(3)Thecrucialroleofother-powerinBuddhist

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cultivationisemphasizedintheLankavataraandAvatamsakaSutras,amongothers.(4)SeethefollowingpassagefromD.T.Suzuki:Jiriki(self-power)isthe...

[wisdom]aspectofenlightenmentandtariki(otherpower)isthe...[GreatCompassion]aspect

ofthesame.By[wisdom]wetranscendtheprincipleofindividuation,andby

[GreatCompassion]wedescendintoaworldofparticulars.The

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onegoesupwardswhiletheothercomesdownwards,butthisisourintellectualwayofunderstandingandinterpretingenlightenment,inwhosemovementhoweverthere

isnosuchtwofolddirectiondiscernible.(TheEasternBuddhist,Vol.3.No.4,

p.314.)

(5)Historically,therootsofPureLandgoback

toAncientIndia,albeitthetraditionwasnotemphasizedthere:

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AlthoughacultdedicatedtoAmitabhaBuddhaworshipdidariseinIndia,pietytowardthisBuddhaseemstohavebeenmerelyoneofmany

practicesofearlyMahayanaBuddhism.(ElizabethtenGrotenhuis,inJojiOkazaki,PureLand

BuddhistPainting,p.14.)

Note:AnearlyformofBuddhaRecitation

canbefoundintheNikayasofthePaliCanon:

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IntheNikayas,theBuddha...advisedhisdisciplestothinkofhimandhisvirtuesasiftheysawhisbody

beforetheireyes,wherebytheywouldbeenabledtoaccumulatemeritandattain

Nirvanaorbesavedfromtransmigratingintheevilpaths...(D.T.Suzuki,

TheEasternBuddhist,Vol.3,No.4,p.317.)

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Fordetails,seeGlossary,PureLandSchool.

(6)SeethefollowingpassageonBodhisattvapractice,fromthePracticesandVowsof

theBodhisattvaSamantabhadra:Becauseoflivingbeings,theybringforthgreatcompassion.From

greatcompassiontheBodhiMindisborn;andbecauseoftheBodhiMind,

theyaccomplishSupreme,PerfectEnlightenment.(AvatamsakaSutra,ch.40.See

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Appendix.)

(7)ThetextofthePrimal(Eighteenth)Vowisasfollows:If,aftermyobtainingBuddhahood,allbeingsintheten

quartersshoulddesireinsincerityandtrustfulnesstobeborninmycountry,

andiftheyshouldnotbebornbyonlythinkingofmefor

tentimes...mayInotattainthehighestEnlightenment.

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(MeditationSutra,quotedbyElizabethtenGrotenhuis,op.cit.,p.15.)

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(8)ProfessorAllanA.AndrewshasnotedthattherearetwolevelsofthePureLandpractice,whichhaveco-existedinChinasince

thefourthcentury,beginningwiththefirsttwoPatriarchs:Hui-yanused[BuddhaRecitation]

toachieveprajnawisdombyhisownself-efforts.Tan-luanconsidered[BuddhaRecitation]

thebestpracticeforsalvation,thatis,forrebirth,because

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[it]istheeasiestpracticethroughthepowerofAmidascompassionatevows.(NembutsuintheChinesePureLandtradition.InTheEasternBuddhist,Vol.

3,No.2,p.40.)

Pleasenotethatunderstandingthedual

natureofthePureLand,asMind-Onlyandasaseparateentity,requires

meditationandrecitationnotintellectualreasoning.

In

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secularwesternthought,awarenessofpsychologicalprojectionasasourceofsupernaturalbeinghasservedtodemythologizedemons,goblins,angelsandsaintsandrob

themoftheirpower.TheBardoThodol[TibetanBookoftheDead],however,

speaksofthedeitiesasprojectionsbutneverasmereprojections.Thedeities

arepresentandmustbedealtwithreligiously...not

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justbyintellectualinsight.(D.G.DaweinThePerennialDictionaryofWorldReligions,p.93.)

(9)Fordetails,seeBuddhismofWisdom

andFaith,section29.Theordinary,deludedmind(thought)includesfeelings,impressions,conceptions,

consciousness,etc.TheTrueMindisthefundamentalnature,theOriginalFace,Reality,

theBuddhaNature,etc.TheTrueMindistothe

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ordinarymindwhatwateristowavesthetwocannotbedissociated.Theyarethesamebuttheyarealsodifferent.Allmethods

ofcultivationaimatcalmingthewaves,restoringthewatertoitsoriginal

stillness.Thesurfacethenbecomesamirror,reflectingeverything.Thisiswisdomor

Enlightenment.

Thepracticeofmeditation(samatha/vipasyana),inone

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formoranother,isthebasisofcultivationinallBuddhisttraditions,includingPureLand.

(10)SeethefollowingpassagefromD.T.

Suzuki:WeobservethateventheextremelydevotionalformofBuddhistlifeas

revealedinthe[PureLand]beginsinitslaststageofspiritualrest

...toapproachtheZentype.Indeedhereliesthe

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unityofBuddhistexperiencethroughoutitsvariedexpressions.(D.T.Suzuki,TheEasternBuddhist,Vol.4,No.2,p.121.)

(11)TheAvatamsaka

Sutrateachestheinterpenetrationofalldharmasthesmallestdharmacontainsthe

largestandviceversa.Asamodernexample,asinglecomputerchipcan

containnumerousbooks.Thisteachingisclearlyexpressedinchapter

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26ofthesutra,whichdescribesthelastphasesofpracticeofaBodhisattvabeforefinalBuddhahood.Inthatchapter,itistaughtthat

ateachandeverystage,theactionsoftheBodhisattvanevergobeyond

BuddhaRecitation:14

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Thisisasummaryofthetenthstageofenlighteningbeings,calledCloudofTeaching...Whateveractstheyundertake,whetherthroughgiving,

orkindspeech,ofbeneficialaction,orcooperation,itisallneverapart

fromthoughtsofBuddha[BuddhaRecitation],theTeaching,theCommunity...(ThomasCleary,

tr.,TheFlowerOrnamentScripture[AvatamsakaSutra],Vol.II,p.

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111.)

(12)Seethefollowingpassage:The[LongerAmitabhaSutra]...whichwasinexistencebeforea.d.200,describesadiscourseoffered

bytheBuddhaSakyamuni...inresponsetoquestionsofhisdiscipleAnanda.

SakyamunitellsthestoryoftheBodhisattvaDharmakara,whohadforeonspast

beendeeplymovedbythesufferingofsentientbeingsand

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whohaddeterminedtoestablishaLandofBlisswhereallbeingscouldexperienceemancipationfromtheirpain...Inthepresenceofthe

eighty-firstBuddhaofthepast,Lokesvararaja,Dharmakaramadeforty-eightvowsrelatingtothis

Paradise,andpromisedthathewouldnotacceptenlightenmentifhecouldnot

achievehisgoals...When,aftercountlessages,Dharmakaraachieved

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enlightenmentandbecameaBuddha,theconditionsofhis[18th]vowwerefulfilled:hebecametheLordofSukhavati,theWesternParadise,wherethe

faithfulwillbereborninbliss,theretoprogressthroughstagesofincreasing

awarenessuntiltheyfinallyachieveenlightenment.(ElizabethtenGrotenhuis,inJojiOkazaki,Pure

LandBuddhistPainting,p.14-15.)

(13)Thelife

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storyoftheVenerableAngulimalaisoneofthemostmovingaccountsintheTheravadacanon.Afterkillingninety-ninepersons,Angulimalawasconvertedby

theBuddha,repentedhisevilwaysandjoinedtheOrder:Onedayas

hewentonhisroundforalmshesawawomaninlabor.

Movedbycompassion,hereportedthispatheticwomanssufferingto

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theBuddha.Hethenadvisedhimtopronouncethefollowingwordsoftruth,whichlaterbecameknownastheAngulimalaParitta(Mantra)...Sister,

sincemybirthintheAryaclan[i.e.,sincemyordination]Iknow

notthatIconsciouslydestroyedthelifeofanylivingbeing.Bythis

truthmayyoubewholeandmayyourchildbe

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whole.

Hewenttothepresenceofthesufferingsister...andutteredthesewords.Instantly,shedeliveredthechildwithease.

(NaradaMahaThera,TheBuddhaandHisTeaching,p.124.)

(14)

FaithisanimportantelementinallBuddhisttraditions,butitisparticularly

soinPureLand.Seethefollowingpassagefromthe

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AvatamsakaSutra:Faithisthebasisofthepath,themotherofvirtues,Nourishingandgrowingallgoodways...Faithcanincreaseknowledge

andvirtue;Faithcanassurearrivalatenlightenment.(ThomasCleary,tr.,TheFlower

OrnamentScripture,vol.1,p.331.)

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(15)Thisistrueatthelevelofnoumenonorprinciple.Atthelevelofphenomena,thereareinfinitedegreesofEnlightenment,from

thoseofthesagestotheSupreme,PerfectEnlightenmentoftheBuddhas.(A

Buddhaisonewhoiscompletelyenlightenedatalltimes.)(16)Thestrength

andpervasivenessofPureLandteachingaresuchthatits

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mainpractice,BuddhaRecitation,isfoundinotherschools,includingtheTantricandZenschools.InPureLand,BuddhaRecitationispracticedforthe

purposeofachievingrebirthintheLandofAmitabhaBuddha.IntheTantric

school,theimmediateaimistodestroyevilkarmaandafflictionsandgenerate

blessingsandwisdominthecurrentlifetime.InZen,the

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koanofBuddhaRecitationismeanttoseverdelusivethoughtandrealizetheSelf-NatureTrueMind.Theultimategoalofallthreeschoolsis,

ofcourse,thesame:toachieveEnlightenmentandBuddhahood.16

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LettersfromPatriarchYinKuang

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Fromalldelusions,karma,anddemon-states,Amidallworldlypaths,Iwillbefreed,Asthelotusdoesnottouchthewater,As

sunandmoondonotstopinspace.

TheVowsof

Samantabhadra

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Letter1

TurnAfflictionsintoBodhi1

Sincewelastmet,sixyearshavegonebyinaflash.During

thattime,notonlyhavethesnowanddewundergonechange,thedestiny

ofournationhasbeenprofoundlytransformedaswell.Theevanescenceoflife

istrulysomethingwealldeeplymourn!

I

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ampleasedtolearnfromyourletterthatyouhavenotneglectedyourPureLandpractice.However,youindicatedthatyouarenotat

peaceinbodyandmind.Couldthisbetheresultoffinancialdifficulties

orchronicillness?

Ifyousufferfinancialhardship,Isuggestyou

retreatastep.Youshouldreflectthus:althoughthereare

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manyinthisworldmorefortunatethanI,thosewhoarelesswelloffarehardlyfewinnumber.Ishouldseekonlyto

escapehungerandcold;whydreamofrichesandhonor?

Moreover,

ifyouarecontentandatpeacewithyourcircumstancesandsurroundings,you

caneventurnafflictionsintoBodhi(Enlightenment),nottomention

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griefintopeaceandjoy!

Ifyousufferchronicillness,youshouldreflectdeeplythatthisbodyistheverysourceof

suffering,developarevulsiontowarditandstrivetocultivatethePureLand

path,determinedtoachieverebirthintheLandofUltimateBliss.TheBuddhas

viewsufferingastheirteacher,thusachievingUltimateEnlightenment.Likewise,

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youshouldconsiderillnessasmedicine,toescapeBirthandDeath.

Youshouldrealizethathumanbeingsareboundbyallkinds

ofkarmicafflictions.Withoutthesufferingsofpovertyandillness,theywill,by

nature,pursuetheworldofsightandsound,fameandprofit,findingit

difficulttoletgo.Whowouldthenwillinglyturnaround

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towatchandponderthestateofperditiontocome?

ThesageMenciusoncesaid:

Thosewhowillbeentrusted

withgreattasksshouldfirstendurehardshipbothinbodyandmind,suffering

hungeranddestitutionorfailureintheirundertakings.Onlythenwilltheybe

abletoforgetheircharacter,developpatienceandenduranceand

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attainoutstandingabilities,beyondthekenofthemultitude.

1LettertoTengPo-cheng.(Chineseed.Vol.I,p.37)

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Therefore,youshouldrealizethathumancharacterisusuallyforgedinadversity.Ifadversitycannotbeavoided,youshouldremainatpeaceand

practiceforbearance.

Moreover,inspeakingofgreattasks,thesageMencius

wasreferringmerelytomundaneundertakings.Evenso,enduringhardshipisnecessaryfor

successhowmuchmoresowhenlowlybeingssuch

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asourselvesundertakethegreatdualtaskofachievingBuddhahoodandrescuingsentientbeings!Ifyouarenottestedtoacertainextentby

financialhardshipanddisease,yourworldlydelusionswillknownoboundsandyour

PureLandpracticewillbedifficulttoperfect.WithyourMind-mirrorclouded,you

willrevolveformanyeonsintheevilrealms

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notknowingwhenyouwilleverachieveliberation!

Theancientshavesaid:

Ifitwerenotforaperiodof

penetratingcold,theplumblossomcouldnever

developitsexquisiteperfume!

ThisisthemeaningofwhatIsaidearlier.

.

YoushouldpersevereinrecitingtheBuddhas

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name,toeradicatepastkarmaswiftlyandavoiddevelopingamindofafflictions,resentingtheHeavens,blamingyourfellowbeings,consideringthelawof

CauseandEffectasafairytaleandrejectingtheBuddhasandtheir

teachingsasineffective.Youshouldknowthatfromtimeimmemorial,wehaveall

createdimmeasurableevilkarma.AstheAvatamsakaSutrastates:

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Ifevilkarmahadphysicalform,theemptyspaceofthetendirectionscould

notcontainit.

Thus,how

canhaphazard,intermittentcultivationpossiblyannihilateallafflictionsandobstructions?

Sakyamuni

BuddhaandAmitabhaBuddha,outofcompassionforsentientbeingswholackthe

strengthtoridthemselvesofevilkarma,specificallytaughtthe

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eradicatingpastkarmaandachievingpeaceandtranquilityofbodyandmind.

.

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Ifillnessandsufferingbecomeunbearable,inadditiontorecitingtheBuddhasnamemorningandnightanddedicatingthemeritstowardrebirthin

thePureLand,youshouldcallwholeheartedlyupontheBodhisattvaKuanYin(Avalokitesvara).

WithHersilentvowtorescuesentientbeings,theBodhisattvaappearsthroughoutthe

worldsofthetendirections.Ifintimeofcrisis,

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apersoncankeeprecitingHernameandrevereHer,Shewillrespondaccordingtothecircumstances,enablinghimtoescapesufferingandachieve

happiness.

.

AlthoughBuddhaRecitationissimple,itis

verydeepandencompassing.Themostimportantthingistobeutterlysincere

andearnest,foronlythenwillyourthoughtsmergewith

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thoseofAmitabhaBuddhaandwillyoureaptruebenefitsinthisverylife.Ifyouarelazyandlax,lackingeventheleast

bitofreverenceandawe,youmaysowtheseedsoffutureliberation

butyoumuststillbeartheinconceivableevilkarmastemmingfromdisrespectand

over-familiarity.Evenif,thankstoresidualmerits,youescapethe

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evilrealms,youwillstillfinditdifficulttojointheOcean-WideLotusAssembly!

Nowadays,therearequiteanumberofscholars

whostudyBuddhism.However,almostallofthemsimplyreadthewordsof

thesutrasandcommentariesseekingargumentsandrationalizationstoprovethattheyare

versedintheDharma.Thosewiththesincerityanddevotion

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tocultivateaccordingtotheDharmaarefewindeed!IhavealwayssaidthattoreaptherealbenefitoftheDharma,youshould

approachitwithatrulyreverentmind.One-tenthofreverenceanddevotionannihilates

one-tenthofafflictionsandevilkarma,andincreasesmeritandwisdombyone-tenth

andthisappliestotwo-tenths,three-tenthsortotalreverence

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anddevotion.

Conversely,themorelaxanddisrespectfulyouare,themoreobstructionsandevilkarmayoudevelop,resultinginacorresponding

decreaseinmeritandwisdom.Howsaditis!Whenyoumeetwith

otherlaymen,youshouldcounselthemalongtheselines.Thiswouldbea

greatDharmagift.

.

Ifyou

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canpenetratetheprofound,subtlemeaningofthePureLandmethod,somuchthebetter.However,evenifyouarenotentirelyclearabout

certainaspectsofit,youshouldstillbelievefirmlyinthewordsof

theBuddhasandthePatriarchs.Youmustnotharbordoubts.Todoubtis

toturnyourbackonBuddhaAmitabha,distancingyourselffrom

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Him,makingitdifficulttobeincommunionwithHimandbereceivedandguidedatthetimeofdeath.Theancientshavetaught:

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OnlytheBuddhascantrulyfathomtheultimatemeaningofPureLand;even

thoseBodhisattvaswhohaveachievednearequalitywith

theBuddhascannot

graspitcompletely.

Ifeventhe

highestlevelBodhisattvascannotfullyunderstandthePureLandmethod,howcanwe

expecttoassessitwithourownlimitedmindsand

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capacitieswithoutfallingintoerror?Intelligentpersons,thesedays,maystudytheDharma,butsincetheyhavenotbeeninthecompanyoffully

enlightenedsages,theyalmostalwaysemphasizetheoryandnoumenon(principle)whilerejectingphenomenal

cultivationaswellasthelawofCauseandEffect.Littledothey

realizethatwithoutphenomenalcultivationandbeliefinCauseand

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Effect,theoryandnoumenonceasetoexist.

Therearealsocertainindividualsofgreattalentandability,whosewritingscanastoundthe

gods.However,theiractionsarenodifferentfromthoseofthedullardsin

themarketplace.TherootcauseistheirrejectionofphenomenalcultivationandCause

andEffect.Thisgraveerrorisrepeatedbyotherpeople;

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itisacaseofbetrayingtheDharmawithonesbody(actions).Thedepthofsuchoffensesandtransgressionsisimmeasurable!Witnessingthis,those

endowedwithprofoundwisdomcanonlysighinpityandcompassion...

AnElderMasteroncesaid:

Thosewhoskillfullydiscourseon

MindandSelf-Naturesurelycanneverreject

Cause

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andEffect;thosewhobelievedeeplyinCauseandEffectnaturally

understandtheMindandSelf-Natureindepth.Thisisanatural

development.

TheMasterswordsareatruththathaswithstoodthe

testoftime,aneedleprickingtheheadsofthosewithdelusivewisdom.

Lastautumn,duringyouresteemedbrothersvisitto

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PuToMountain,Ibroughtupthesesincere,respectfulpoints.However,Iwonderwhetherhehastakenthemasthesincere,earnestwordsthey

weremeanttobe?

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Letter2

APureMindinaPureLand2

HowdelightedIwastoreceiveandreadyourletter!

ThesageChuPo-yu,uponreachinghisfiftiethbirthday,lookedbackandrealized

theerrorshewasstillcommittingatageforty-nine.Whennearingseventy,Confucius

expressedthewishtosurvivemuchlongerinorderto

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studytheBookofChangesindepthandthusavoidmajortransgressions.

Thescholarshipofthesesageshadreachedthehighestlevel

ofmindandthought.Todaysscholarsliketostudychapterbychapter,with

fewshowingconcernfortheissueofrectifyingmindandthought.Thus,they

perusebooksalldaylongwithoutunderstandingthetrueintent

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ofthesages,theirwordsandactionsdifferingfromthoseofthesagesasgreatlyasdayfromnightorsquarefromround.There

isnopossiblecorrespondence.Wearenotevenspeakinghereofthetransgressions

ofmindandthought;ifthesetransgressionswereenumerated,thelistwouldbe

endless!

.

Buddhistsutrasteachfollowers

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topracticerepentanceconstantlyinordertotranscenddelusionandachieveBuddhahood.Thus,eventheBodhisattvaMaitreya,whohasattainedthelevelofEqual

Enlightenment,stillpaysrespecttotheBuddhasofthetendirectionsduringthe

sixperiodsoftheday,soastowipeoutdelusionandattain

theDharmaBody.IfthisistruefortheBodhisattva

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Maitreya,whatcanwesayofcommonbeingsfilledwithheavykarmicafflictions?

Ifyoudonotfeelshameandremorse,your

Self-NaturemaybethesameastheBuddhas,butitishiddenby

afflictionsandevilkarmaandcannotmanifestitself.Justlikeapreciousmirror

whichhasbeencoveredwithdustforeons,notonly

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doesitnotreflectlight,evenitsreflectingnatureishidden.Ifyourealizethatthemirroralreadypossessesthenatureofbrightnessand

striveceaselesslytocleanit,thelightreflectedwillgraduallyincreaseuntilit

reachesmaximumradiance.Themirrorcanthenbecome,oncemore,somethingofvalue

intheworld.

2AnotherlettertoTengPo-cheng.

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(Chineseed.Vol.I,p.41)

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Youshouldrealizethatthepotentialforreflectionisinherentinthemirrorandisnottheresultofpolishing.Ifitwere

notso,abrickwouldalsoshinebrightlywhenpolished.Yet,youshould

alsorealizethatalthoughthebrightnessisinherentinthemirror,withoutpolishing,

thedaywouldnevercomewhenitwouldgleam.

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TheMind-Natureofsentientbeingsissimilar.AlthoughitisintrinsicallyidenticaltothatoftheBuddhas,[itisclouded].Thus,ifsentient

beingsdonotmendtheirways,fromeviltowholesome,andturntheir

backsonworldlyduststomergewithEnlightenment,theirinherentlyvirtuousnaturecannot

appear.Suchamind-consciousness,inherentlypossessingtheBuddhaNaturein

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fullbutbusilycreatingevilkarmaandsufferingmiredinBirthandDeathformanyeonsisnodifferentfromadark

housefilledwithtreasures.Younotonlycannotmakeuseofthetreasures,

youmay,infact,sufferfurtherloss.Isthisnotlamentable?

.

PureLandispreciselythesublimemethod

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enablingthepractitionertoturnhisbackonworldlyduststomergewithEnlightenmentandreturntothesource(theMind).Laymenboundup

inmundaneaffairscannoteasilyfindthetimetoattendretreats,practicemeditation

andrecitethesutras.Thismethodis,therefore,verysuitableforpersonssuch

asyourself.EachonecanpayrespecttotheBuddhas

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andrecitesutrasorBuddhaAmitabhasnameaccordingtoindividualcircumstancesandcapacities,dedicatingthemeritsthusaccruedtorebirthinthePureLand.

Inadditiontoyourregularcultivationsessions,youshouldpracticeBuddhaRecitationwhen

walkingorstanding,recliningorsitting,speakingorremainingsilent,eatingordressing,

throughouttheday,whereveryoumaybe.

When

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veneratingtheBuddhasincleanplaces,youmayreciteeitheraloudorsilently.Indirtyplaces(suchaswashrooms)orincircumstancesthatdo

notcallforreverence(suchassleepingorbathing)youshouldjustrecite

silently.Torecitealoudwhenrecliningisnotonlydisrespectful,itisalso

fatiguingandmayleadintimetoillness.Silentrecitation

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bringsthesameblessingsandvirtuesasoralrecitation,aslongasitisdistinct,earnestandnotsubjecttodistractions.

.

Youalreadyknowthatyoumustconfessyourtransgressionsandpractice

repentance.ThisisverymuchinaccordwiththePureLandmethodbecause

whenthemindispure,theBuddhalandispure.

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However,oncehavingrepented,youshouldchangeyourwaysandpracticewholesomedeeds,lestyourrepentanceconsistofemptywordsbringingnorealbenefit.

Thisisalsotrueifyouwishtobefreeofexternalattachments

inordertoconcentrateonBuddhaRecitationandreach

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one-pointednessofmind.Noextraordinarymethodisrequired:youshouldpastethesingleworddeathonyourforeheadordangleitfromyour

eyebrows,alwayskeepingthefollowingthoughtsinmind:

Sincetimeimmemorial

Ihavecreateduntold,immeasurableevilkarma;ifsuchkarmahadform,the

emptyspaceofthetendirectionscouldnotcontainit.

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Thankstogoodconditions,Ihavebeenreborninahumanbodyandhave,inaddition,hadtheopportunitytoheartheDharma.However,

givenmyevilkarma,ImustnowrecitetheBuddhasnamesinglemindedly,seeking

rebirthinthePureLand.Otherwise,whenmybreathhasceased,[Iam

boundtoendurethesufferingsofhells,hungryghostsand

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animality].Afterrecoveringahumanbody,Iwouldlackintelligenceandbedeluded,pronetocreateevilkarma,unabletoperformgooddeedsreadily.

Innotime,Iwouldsinkdeeperintotheevilrealms.Withmy

residualbadkarmafrompreviouslivesstillnotrepaid,Iwouldcommitnew

evilkarma,constantlyrevolvingalongtheSixPathsthroughouteons

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asnumerousasmotesofdusthopelesslylostintheimmenseseaofsuffering,notknowinghowtoreachliberation.

If

youalwaysreflectonthesepoints,yourcultivationwillbefocussed.Takethe

exampleofthetwonotoriousmenwhoonthevergeofdeath

witnessedthemarksofhellappear,whereupontheyrecited

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theBuddhasnameseveraltimeswithutmostsincerityanddevotion.Immediately,theysawAmitabhaBuddhacomingtoreceiveandguidethembacktothe

PureLand.ThisbeneficialfeatureexistsonlyinthePureLandmethod,out

ofallthecountlessmethodstaughtbySakyamuniBuddhathroughoutHisteachingcareer.

Therefore,IhavealwayssaidthatiftheNineRealms

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ofsentientbeingsdonotpracticethismethod,theycannoteasilyperfectthefruitsofEnlightenment,whileiftheBuddhasofthetendirections

abandonthismethod,theycannotbenefitthemassesfarandwide.

IfyouhaveutmostFaithandcultivateearnestly,seekingescapefromBirthand

Death,theneventhoughyoustillhavenotleftthe

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evil,deludedworld,youwillnotremainlongintheSahaWorldeither.WhileyoumaynothavereachedthePureLandyet,you

willsoonbeanewguestintheLandofUltimateBliss.

Fromnowon,whenyoumeetvirtuouspersons,doyourutmostto

emulatethem;whenyouencounteranopportunitytopracticegood

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deeds,donothesitate.Howcanyouhavethehearttoprocrastinate,lesttheerrorofonemomentleadtotenthousandlifetimesof

regret?Surelythosewithhighaspirationscannottoleratebeingwalkingcorpses,runningaimlessly

whilealiveandsimplydecayingafterdeath,alongwiththegrassandtrees.

Redoubleyoureffortsandexertyourself!

.

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Finally,whilethekeytorebirthinthePureLandissinglemindedness,you,asalayman,stillhaveyourparentsandyourfamily.

Althoughyoushouldnotundulyseekwealthandhonor,youshouldstillfulfill

yourfamilyobligations

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fortocultivatetheDharmaisnottoabandoneverything.Ifyoucouldletgoofeverythingandstillmanagetoprovidefor

yourparentsandfamily,thatwouldbealltothegood.Otherwise,it

wouldbecontrarynotonlytohumanmoralitybutalsototheDharma.

Thisissomethingyoushouldalsorealize.

As

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afilialson,youshouldcounselyourparentsconcerningcultivation,sothattheymaypracticeBuddhaRecitationandseekrebirthinthePureLand.

Iftheycanpracticewithfaith,theywillsurelyachieverebirth.Oncereborn,

theywilltranscendthemundaneandentersagehood,escapeBirthandDeath,join

theOcean-wideAssembly,beclosetoAmitabhaBuddhaandeventually

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achieveBuddhahood.Mundanefilialitycannotbecomparedwithsuchanachievement!

IfanyoneweretoadviseotherstocultivatethePureLand

method,themeritsandvirtuesfromsuchteachingwouldbeentirelyhis.In

thefuture,hewouldsurelyberebornintheupperlotusgrades.

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Letter3

TheTrueMarkVehiclehasnoMarks3

Itisverydifficultindeedtorespondtotheimportant

questionsraisedinyourletter.Why?Itisbecauseyouraspirationsarelofty

whilemyknowledgeislimitedandmeager.Loftinessandmeagernesscannotmeet;therefore,

myteachingwillnotbeappropriatetoyourneeds!

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However,intheTrueMarkSingleVehicle,themarksofloftinessandmeagernesscannotbefound.WithinthisVehicle,whetherthemarksare

loftyorlimiteddependsonhowtheyareconceived.Loftinessandmeagernessalways

possessinfullthenatureoftheDharmaRealm.Moreover,themeagernessto

whichIreferencompassesallthedharmasoftheTen

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Realms.

ThePureLandPatriarchShanTaohassaid:

Ifyouwishtostudymeaning,[understandtheDharma]youshould

studyalldharmas,fromthemundaneleveltotheleveloftheBuddhas.

However,ifyouwanttoengageinpractice,youshouldchooseamethod

compatiblewiththeTruthaswellasyourowncapacities

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andlevelandthenconcentrateonitearnestly.Onlythencanyoureapbenefitsswiftly.Otherwise,evenifyouspendmanyeons,youwill

notbeabletoescapeBirthandDeath.

Thisbeingso,

thereisnobettermethodthantorecitetheBuddhasnamewitha

mindofFaithanVows,seekingrebirthinthePure

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Land.Ifyouwishtogodeeper,youshouldcarefullyperusetheCommentaryontheEssentialPointsoftheAmitabhaSutraandotherPure

Landsutrasandtreatises.

.

Buddhismisanopen

methodwithinthetenDharmaRealmseveryoneshouldpracticeitandanyone

canpracticeit.Becausetheydonotfullyunderstandits

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truenature,someConfucianscholarsblindlycriticizeBuddhism...However,theevilkarmaresultingfrommaligningtheDharmapalesbeforethekarmaofvilifying

itwithonesownbody!Thesedays,someindividuals,mouthingMahayanateachings,

3LettertothelaymanTengHsin-an.(Chineseed.Vol.I,p.44)

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considerthemselvesawakenedtotheWay.Theysay:Iam[intrinsically]aBuddha,whyrecitetheBuddhasname?AfflictionsareBodhi,whatis

theneedtoseverthem?Lust,angeranddelusionareprecepts,concentrationand

wisdom,whyseverlust,angeranddelusion?

Theirwordsareas

loftyastheheavenlyclouds,buttheiractions,uponclose

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examination,areaslowastheunderworld!SuchpersonsmaybeconsideredtheenemiesofBuddhism.Theirevilkarmaistenthousandtimesworse

thanthatofpersonswhomalignBuddhismthroughmereignoranceoftheDharma.

WhiletheireffortsinstudyingtheDharmaarenotentirelywasted,thesecan

onlyconstitutetheseedsofliberationinthefuture.Their

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transgressions,ontheotherhandthevilificationoftheDharmawiththeirbodieswillassuredlyresultinretributionalongtheEvilPaths

forcountlesseonstocome.

YoushouldstudyMahayanasutrasand

commentariestoensurethatyourunderstandingisbroadandcomplete.Asfaras

cultivationisconcerned,youshouldconcentrateonFaith,Vowsand

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recitationoftheBuddhasname.

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Alltheseactionsdemonstratethatyourcultivationinrecentdaysistrulyaimedatself-improvement,unlikethosewhoattempttodeceiveotherswithexternal

displaystoachieverenown.Thisbeingso,nothingcouldbebetter.Itruly

rejoiceinyouractions.

.

Amindofsincerity

andrespectisthekeytoPureLandcultivation.With

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uttersincerityandrespect,eventhoughyouareonlyanordinarybeingwhosevirtuesarenotyetperfected,youwillachieveunimaginableresults!

Conversely,withoutsincerity,bowingandrecitingarenodifferentfromperformingon

stage,singingandprancing.Althoughyoumaybedisplayingtheexternalsignsof

suffering,joy,compassionandotheremotions,theyareallmake-believe

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becausetheydonotspringfromthedepthofyourmind.Anyblessingsorvirtuesthatmayresultarebutdeludedmeritsofthe

humanandcelestialrealms,andthesearepreciselythebasisofevilkarma

andtheseedsofimmensesufferinginthefuture.Youshouldexplainthis

toallyourfriendsandcolleagues,enjoiningthemtocultivate

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sincerely,soastospreadthebenefitswidely...

Youshouldnotthinkthatthemeritsandvirtuesofrecitingthename

of,orvisualizingoneBuddhaarelessencompassingthanthosereceivedfromreciting

thenameof,orvisualizingmanyBuddhas.YoushouldrealizethatAmitabhaBuddha

istheDharmaRealmTreasureBody.Allthevirtuesof

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theBuddhasinthetendirectionsoftheDharmaRealmarefullyencompassedinAmitabhaBuddha.ThisislikethejewellednetofIndra,

whosethousandsandthousandsofjewelsarefullyreflectedinonejewel,the

imageofonejewelisreflectedinthousandsandthousandsofjewels,and

eachandeveryjewelencompasseseveryother,inperfect,unimpeded

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fashion.

4LettertothelaymanKaoShao-lin.(Chineseed.Vol.I,p.49)

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.

Togreatsageswhohavecultivatedforalongtime,widelyvaryingconditionsandenvironmentsdonotmatter;infact,

themorediversetheyare,themorefocussedthemindsofthesesages

become.Forbeginners,ontheotherhand,ifconditionsandenvironmentsarevaried,

themind-consciousnessgrowsconfusedandunfocussed.Thosewithheavyobstructions

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andshallowwisdommayeven,attimes,beafflictedbydemons.Forthisreason,BuddhaSakyamuniandthePatriarchsallenjoinedustorecite

theBuddhasnamesinglemindedlyuntilachievingsamadhiatwhichtimehundredsof

thousandsofDharmamethodsandcountlesssublimemeaningswillmanifestthemselvesinfull.

ToexemplifythisTruth,theancientshavesaid:

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Tobatheinthegreatoceanistousethewatersofhundredsofrivers...

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Letter5

TheTenThousandDharmashavenoTrueNature5

Fromyourletter,Ilearnedthatinrecentdays

youhaveengagedinearnestcultivation,examiningyourself,mendingyourwaysandfollowing

thepathofthesages,withnodesireforemptyfame.Iam

veryhappyindeed!

Tofollowinthefootsteps

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oftheBuddhasandsagesandescapeBirthandDeath,youshouldfirstdevelopanattitudeofshameandrepentance,abandonevilways,perform

wholesomedeeds,keepthepreceptsandpracticeself-restraint.Youshouldaimforthe

Truthandpracticetoyourutmostability.Otherwisethereisdeceitwithindeceit.

Thus,understandingtheDharmaisnotdifficult;practiceisthe

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realdifficulty!Manyintelligentpersonsmerelyverbalizebutfailtopractice.Theythereforewasteanentirelifetime,spoilingavisittothejewelledmountain

andreturningempty-handed.Whatagreatpity!Theirdeludedthoughtsflareupunchecked

becausetheyarenotearnestinmaintainingcorrectthought.Iftheywouldonly

concentrateononerealm,deludedthoughtswouldbeconvertedinto

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correctwisdom.Therefore,asthesayinggoes:

Ifthekingruleswisely,rebelsandbanditswillbecomelikehisownsons;if

herulesunwisely,evenhisclosestfriendswillturnintoenemies.

.

Ascommonbeings,whoamongusisnot

afflictedbydelusionandevilkarma?However,ifyoutake

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precautionsinyourdailylife,afflictionswillnotflareupwheneveryoumeetwithadversecircumstances.Eveniftheydoarise,youwillbe

awareofanderadicatethem.Theconditionsleadingtoafflictionsarenumerous.Most

powerfulamongthemarewealth,lustandunusualadversities.

Ifyou

realizethatill-gottengainsaremoredangerousthanvenemoussnakes,

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youwillnotdesirethemwhenyouseethem.Ontheotherhand,toassistfellowbeingsispreciselytolaythefoundationfor

ourownfuturemeritandvirtue.Knowingthis,wheneverthoseinneedseek

yourhelp,youshouldnotbestingyandrefuse,developingafflictionsinthe

process.

5AnotherlettertothelaymanKaoShao-lin.

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(Chineseed.Vol.I,p.55)

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Asforlustfulthoughts,whenyoucomeacrosswomenasbeautifulasflowersorpreciousgems,evenwomenofpleasureandcourtesans,you

shouldviewthemasyourownsistersand,withacompassionatemind,seek

torescuethem.Inthisway,youwillnotbemovedbybeautiful

formsorswayedbylustfulthoughts.Withinthefamily,husbands

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andwivesshouldrespectoneanotherasguests...

Whenencounteringadversecircumstances,youshoulddevelopthoughtsofcompassion,forgivingthosewho

donotrealizetheirmistakesandavoidingdisputes.Youshouldthink:inmy

previouslives,Ihavecausedsufferingandhurtsentientbeingsonmanyoccasions.

IfImeetwithadversitytoday,itismerelythe

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repaymentofpreviousdebts.Thinkingthus,youbecomenaturallycontentanddonotdevelopamindofangerandvengefulness.

However,these

methodsareforthoseoflowcapacities.Inthecaseofsageswho

havecultivatedforalongtime,allafflictionsbecometheilluminatingMindStore

thetenthousanddharmashavealwaysbeenwithoutself,

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theadverseorbeneficialconsequencesofallactionsdependontheindividualalone.

.

Faith,VowsandPracticeformthe

cornerstoneofPureLand.Ifthesethreeconditionsarefulfilled,rebirthinthe

LandofUltimateBlisswillbeachieved.Youshouldpayparticularattentionto

FaithandVows,andwishwholeheartedlytoachieverebirthin

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thePureLand...[andnotasacelestialbeingoraDharmaMaster,howeverawakened,asthesearestillwithintherealmof

BirthandDeath].OnlythenwillyourFaithandVowsreachAmitabhaBuddha

sothatHisCompassionateVowmayembraceyou.Inthisconnection,ElderMaster

OuIhassaid:

Achievingrebirthinthe

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PureLanddependsentirelyonFaithandVows,while

thelevelofrebirthdependsonthedepthofpractice.

This

isatruthassolidassteelevenifathousandBuddhas

weretoappearonearth,itwouldnotchange.Onlybyfirmlybelieving

inthistruthwillyouhaveadestinyinthe

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WesternPureLand.

.

Ifyouexperiencedifficultyinreachingone-pointednessofmind,youshouldfocusyourmindandrecite

withcare.Themaincriteriaofsuchconcentrationareuttersincerityandearnestness.

Itisverydifficulttoachieveone-pointednessofmindwithoututtersincerity.However,

sincerityisnotenough.Youshouldnextlistenattentivelyto

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therecitation.Whetherornotrecitationisperformedaloud,itshouldoriginatefromthemind.Itthenproceedsfromthemouthandentersthe

ears(even

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ifyourecitesilently,themarksoforalrecitationstillexistinthemind).Withmindandmouthrecitingclearly,theearshearing

clearlyandthemindthusconcentrated,deludedthoughtswillceasebythemselves.

.

Youhavenowreachedyourfifties.Ifyouwish

toattainliberationinthisverylife,youshouldconcentrate

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onthePureLandmethod.TheDiamondSutraandtheLotusSutrashouldbetemporarilysetaside,untilsuchtimeasyoufullypossess

thePureLandprinciplesandachieveone-pointednessofmindthroughBuddhaRecitation.If

youspendtimestudyingwhileyouaretryingtoengageincultivation,you

maynothavethetimeorenergy.Thus,youwill

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achieveneitherandlosethebenefitsofboth.

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Letter6

Faith,VowsandPractice6

ThetrueintentionofBuddhaSakyamuni,whenHeappearedintheworldto

preachtheDharmaandrescuesentientbeings,wasforallbeingstoescape

BirthandDeathandattainEnlightenmentimmediately.However,becausesentientbeingswereall

ofdifferingcapacitiesandthuscouldnotentirelymeetHis

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transcendentalexpectations,theAll-CompassionateBeingresortedtooneexpedientteachingafteranother,allofthemadaptedtotheindividualcapacitiesofsentientbeings.

Tothoseofthehighestcapacities,theGreatSagetaughtthepath

oftheBuddhas,showingthemtheSelf-Naturedirectlysothattheymightattain

Buddhahoodinonelifetimeasinthecaseof

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SudhanaintheAvatamsakaSutraortheDragonPrincessintheLotusSutra.Tothoseofmoremodestcapacities,theBuddhataughttheBodhisattva,

PratyekaBuddhaandArhatpaths,sothattheymightreachBuddhahoodthroughstep-by-step

cultivation.Tothoseofstilllowercapacities,theBuddhataughttheFivePrecepts

andtheTenVirtues.

.

These

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methods,highorlow,someleadingtoswiftliberation,otherstogradualliberation,arealldifferent.However,theyallrequireself-poweranddeepcultivation

toescapefromthecycleofBirthandDeathandreachtheSelf-Nature.

Ifevenatracedelusionofviewsordelusionofthoughtremains,the

rootsofBirthandDeathcannotbeextirpated.Thisbeing

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thecase,evenifthecultivatorspowersofconcentrationandwisdomareprofound,hewillcontinuetorevolveinthecycleofBirthand

Death.OnlyattheleveloftheArhatsaretherootsofBirth

andDeathcompletelysevered.

However,transcendingBirthandDeathismerely

thesmallfruitoftheArhats;thecultivatormuststill

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aimforthepathofGreatBodhi,relyingonhisVowtoberebornintheworldsofthetendirections.Hemaythen

cultivatethesixparamitasandthetenthousandconducts,inordertoachieve

Buddhahoodandrescuesentientbeings...[Inthismanner,hewillgraduallyachieve

the52differentstagesofBodhisattvahood,uptothelevel

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ofWonderfulEnlightenment,beforefinallyreachingBuddhahood.]

6LettertothelaymanChenHsi-chou.(Chineseed.Vol.I,p.59)

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.

AlthoughBuddhaSakyamuniexpoundedcountlessmethodsthroughoutHisteachingcareer,theyareallbaseduponthevariousstagesofBodhisattvahood

mentionedabove.

Thus,theZentraditionpointsdirectlytotheSelf-Mind,

seeingonesNatureandachievingBuddhahood.Thisisaperfect,directshortcut.However,

wearespeakingherefromtheviewpointoftheinherent

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DharmaBody(thatis,principleornoumenon),bypassingphenomenalcultivationandattainmentgroundedinthelawofCauseandEffect.Ifwewereto

considerthedifferentlevelsofcultivationandachievement,therewouldbenodifference

betweenZenandtheSutraStudiesmethod.

However,inthemidst

ofthisDharma-EndingAge,thereareveryfewgoodspiritual

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advisors,whilethecapacitiesofsentientbeingsarelimited.ItisdifficultenoughtofindsomeonewhoisawakenedtotheWay,notto

mentiononewhohastrulyattainedEnlightenment!Thus,knowingthatsentientbeings

wouldfinditextremelydifficulttoachieveliberationbyrelyingonself-poweralone,

SakyamuniBuddhataught,inadditiontoothermethods,thespecial

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approachofPureLand.Withthismethod,aslongastheirFaithandVowsaretrueandearnest,eventhosewhohavecommittedthe

FiveGraveOffensesortheTenEvilActs,may,onthevergeof

death,whenthemarksofthehellsappear,followtheadviceofa

goodspiritualadvisorandrecitetheBuddhasnameoneto

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tentimes.Then,thankstothecompassionatepowerofAmitabhaBuddha,eventheywillbereceivedandguidedtothePureLandnot

tomentionthosewhopracticewholesomedeedsanddonotcommittransgressions!

Themorediligentlythecultivatorengagesinwholesomeconductandthedeeper

hispowerofconcentration,thehigherhislevelofrebirth

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willbe.HewillseeAmitabhaBuddhasoonafterrebirthandbeabletohearthewonderfulDharma.Therefore,eventhosewhohaveawakened

totheWay,severeddelusionandattainedtheTruthshoulddedicateallmerits

towardrebirthinthePureLand,seekingperfectattainmentoftheDharmaBody

andswiftattainmentofBuddhahood.

.

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Othermethodsdependonthecapacitiesofthepractitioner.Iftheyleadonlytolimitedattainment[suchasArhatship],thoseofhighcapacitiesneed

notpracticethem.Iftheyleadtogreatattainment,thoseoflimitedcapacities

cannotcultivatethem.OnlythePureLandmethodembracespractitionersofallthree

capacities,high,moderateandlow.Supremelyloftybeings,suchas

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theBodhisattvasAvalokitesvara,Mahasthamaprapta,ManjusriandSamantabhadra,cannottranscend

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it,whilethoseoflowcapacities,whohavecommittedtheFiveGraveOffensesortheTenEvilDeedsandhavesowntheseeds

oftheNever-EndingHell,canstillparticipateinit.IfSakyamuniBuddhahad

nottaughtthismethod,themajorityofsentientbeingsintheDharma-EndingAge

couldnothopetoescapethecycleofBirthand

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Death.

.

Despiteitsloftiness,thePureLandDharmaDoorisaveryeasymethodofcultivation.Forthisreason,

notonlydoordinarybeingsfinditdifficulttobelieve,butcultivatorsof

theTwoVehicles(Theravadafollowers)alsoharbordoubts.ThisapplieseventoBodhisattvas

attheexpedientlevel.Onlythosewhohavesownthe

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wholesomeseedsofPureLandinpreviouslivesaswellasthehigherlevelBodhisattvascantrulyhavefirmanddeepFaithinit.

Anewbornprince,whohasnotyetprovenhistalentsand

virtues,isstillabovetheministersinnobilityandhonor,thankstothe

powerofhisroyallineage.Likewise,thosewhopracticeBuddha

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RecitationwithfullFaithandVows,thoughtheymaybeordinarybeings,belongtoalineagesuperiortothatofthedisciplesofthe

TwoVehicles.Thisisbecausetheyhavelearnedtocasttheirearthlyminds

intotheseaofEnlightenmentsilentlyintunewiththewonderfulWay.

ThankstoAmitabhaBuddhaspower,theywillswiftlyattainthe

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levelofnon-retrogression.

IndiscussingthePureLandmethod,youshouldmakeageneralcomparisonoftheeaseanddifficultyofother-power

vs.self-power,asemployedinthisandothermethods,respectively.Otherwise,evenif

youdonotdoubttheDharma,youwilldoubtyourself,andevena

traceofdoubtbecomesanobstacle.Insuchacase,

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evenifyouengageincultivationyouwillnotreapthefullbenefitnottomentionwhatwillhappenifyoudonot

cultivate.Forthisreason,Faithisthefirstcriterion.Youshouldfirmlybelieve

thattheSahaWorldisaplaceofsuffering,theWesternPureLand

arealmofbliss...Asissaidinthe

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SmallerAmitabhaSutra:

Shariputra:WhyisthatlandcalledUtmostHappiness?Thebeingsofthat

landexperiencenosuffering;they

onlyknoweverykindofjoy;thereforeitis

calledUtmost

Happiness.(HozenSeki,Amida-kyo,p.18.)

Youshouldbewaryand

notattempttoreasonwiththemindofanordinary

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being,lestyoumistakenlythinkthatallthewonderful,extraordinaryeventsbeyondcommonunderstandingthatoccurintheWesternPureLandaremythsrepresenting

theMindDharma,ratherthanatrueenvironment.Withthismisunderstanding,youlose

thebenefitofrebirthinthePureLand.Thisisamajorerror,

sobecareful!

.

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OnceyourealizethattheSahaWorldisaplaceofsufferingwhilethePureLandisaplaceofjoy,youshould

developtrue,earnestVows,resolvingtoleavetheSahaWorldandreturnto

theLandofUltimateBliss.SuchVowsarenodifferentfromthoseof

apersonwhohasfallenintoanexcrementpitand

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seekstoescapeswiftly,orofaprisonerwhoyearnsforhisnativevillage.Suchhopesanddesiresshouldbeutterlysincere,becauseyour

ownstrengthcannotfreeyoufromyourpredicament.

Sentientbeingsin

theSahaWorld,facingcircumstancesthataccordorfailtoaccordwiththeir

wishes,oftendevelopthemindofgreed,angeranddelusion,

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createthekarmaofkilling,stealingandlust,andtarnishtheirbright,spotlessSelf-Nature

thisisafilthybottomlesspit.Having

createdevilkarma,theymustenduresufferingthroughmanylifetimesalongtheEvil

Pathsthisisadrawnoutimprisonment.Untoldeonsago,AmitabhaBuddha

madeforty-eightVowstorescuesentientbeings.Oneofthe

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Vows[theeighteenth]stated:

If,aftermyobtainingBuddhahood,allbeingsinthetenquartersshoulddesireinsincerityandtrustfulnessto

beborninmycountry,andiftheyshouldnotbebornby

onlythinkingofmetentimes...,mayInotattainthehighest

Enlightenment.(J.Okazaki,PureLandBuddhistPainting,p.15.)

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AlthoughAmitabhaBuddha,theCompassionateOne,madesuchaVow,ifsentientbeingsdonotseekHishelp,thereislittleHecan

do.However,anyonewhoreciteshisnamewithuttersincerity,vowingtoleave

theSahaWorldbehind,willbewelcomedandescortedtothePureLand.

AmitabhaBuddhahasgreatpower;Hecanrescuesentientbeings

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fromtheexcrementpitandtheprisonofthedefiledworld,guidethemtotheLandofUltimateBliss,andhelpthementerthe

realmsoftheBuddhastoassumetheprerogativesandfunctionsoftheTathagatas

(Buddhas).

.

RebirthintheWesternLandthusrequires,

firstofall,deepFaithandferventVows.Withoutthese

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conditions,evenifyouweretocultivate,youcouldnotobtainaresponsefromAmitabhaBuddha.Youwouldmerelyreaptheblessingsofthe

humanandcelestialrealmsandsowtheseedsofliberationinthefuture.

AnyonewhofulfillstheconditionsofFaithandVowsisassuredofrebirth

inthePureLand.WhenElderMasterYungMingstated

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thatoutoftenthousandwhocultivatePureLand,tenthousandwillachieverebirth,hewasreferringtothosewithfullFaithandVows.

OnceyouhavedeepFaithandearnestVows,youshouldpracticeBuddhaRecitation

asyourprincipalmethod,guidedbyyourFaithandVows.Thesethreecomponents

[Faith,Vows,Practice]arepreciselythemaintenetsofPure

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LandlackofanyoneoftheseconditionswillpreventyoufromachievingrebirthintheLandofUltimateBliss.

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.

TheformofBuddhaRecitationPracticedependsonthecircumstancesofeachindividualthereisnosinglesetway

...Ifthecultivatorisverybusy,havingnofreetime,heshould

setasideaspecificperiodintheearlymorning.Afterwashingup,he

shouldbowthreetimestotheBuddhainfrontof

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hisaltar(ifhehasone).Then,standingerect,heshouldjoinhispalmsandsinglemindedlyrecitethewordsNaMoAmitabhaBuddhaas

manytimesashecaninonestretch,eachstretchcountingasone

recitation.Heshouldrecitethusfortenstretches,andthenutterthefollowing

stanza:

Ivowthat,alongwithotherPure

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Landcultivators,

IwillberebornintheLandofUltimateBliss,

SeeAmitabhaBuddha,escapeBirthandDeath,

Andrescueall,astheBuddhadoes.

Afterrecitingthis

stanza,heshouldbowthreetimesbeforeretiring.

Ifhedoes

nothaveanaltar,hecanfacewestwithpalms

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joined,recitingaccordingtotheabovemethod.ThisistheTenRecitationsMethodwhichElderMasterTzuWenestablishedforrulersandofficialswho

aretoobusywithaffairsofstatetoengageincultivation.Whyrecite

inonestretch?Itisbecausesentientbeingshavescattered,unsettledmindsand

arethusunabletopracticeassiduously.Thisrecitationmethodrelies

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onthebreathtoconcentratethemind.However,thenumberofutterancesisdependentonthelengthofthebreathspan.Thereshouldbe

noeffortorconstraint,asthiswouldleadtofatigue...Sincerecitation

withascatteredmindcannoteasilyleadtorebirthinthePureLand,

thismethodisusefulforfocussingthemind.Whilethe

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recitationsarefewinnumber,thevirtuesaccruedareprofoundandrebirthisassured.

.

Moreover,thepractitionershouldmaintain

avirtuousandforgivingmindinallcircumstances,guardagainstmistakesineach

ofhisthoughts,bewillingtorecognizemistakes,correcthistransgressionsandgladly

performgoodactionsonlythenwillhebein

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accordwithBuddhaAmitabha.Failuretodosoindicatesthathismindisstillobstructedandthusnotconsonantwiththemindofthe

Buddha.Thismakesitdifficultforthetwotointeract.Furthermore,whenbowing,

recitingMahayanasutrasoraccomplishingvariouswholesomedeeds,heshoulddedicateallthe

resultingmeritstorebirthinthePureLand.Heshould

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notdedicateonlythemeritsofBuddhaRecitationitself,whiletransferringincidentalmeritstowardworldlyblessings.Inthelattercasehewouldnotbe

singleminded,makingrebirthinthePureLandverydifficulttoachieve.

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.

ThePureLandmethodisextolledinnumerousMahayanasutras.Theravadasutras,ontheotherhand,donotmentionit

atall.ThosewhoarenotversedintheDharmaandrejectBuddha

Recitationasaself-benefitmethodarespeakingthoughtlessly.Donotlistentothem.

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Letter7

TheBrahmaNetSutraandthePrecepts7

IhavemademyhomeonPuToMountainfor

sometwentyyearsnow,andduringtheentiretimehavenotengagedin

personalcontactwithlaypeople.Recently,whenMasterFuYenvisitedourmountain,

heapproachedmeinthemeditationhutonseveraloccasions

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withinthespaceoftendaystotalkaboutyourfidelityandmoralintegrity,exhibitingdeepconcerneachtime.Ontheseoccasions,Iadvanced

theopinionthatalthoughyourintegrityispraiseworthy,youdonotknowhow

tocultivateproperly.

Ialsosaidthat,timepermitting,Iwould

writealetterofadvicetoyouexplainingthemain

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linesofthePureLandmethod,sothatyoucould,accordingtoyourstrengthandconditions,stepontothePureLandpath.Uponhearing

this,MasterYuFenexpressedhisapprovalandwholeheartedlyrequestedmetodo

so.Thisisthegenesisofmylettertoyoutoday.

.

TheDharmaalreadyexistsinfullin

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themindsofallsentientbeingsbothclergyandlaypersonscanupholdit.However,womenslivesentailmanyrestrictions.Ifyouleave

yournativevillagetotravelafar,youmaywellbesubjectedtooppression

andassault.Therefore,youhadbetterstayhome,keepthepreceptsandrecite

theBuddhasname,determinedtoseekrebirthintheWestern

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PureLand.Thereisnoneedtoleaveyournativeplacetobecomeanun.Extensivetraveltovarioustemplesandotherholyplaces

toseekoutgreatmasterswithwhomtostudythesutrasindepth

shouldbelefttomen.Forwomentofollowthiscourseisnot

advisable.YoushouldstrivetopracticethePureLandmethod,

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recitingtheBuddhasnameassiduously.Ifyousucceedingatheringyoursixfacultiestogetherandengageinpurerecitationwithoutinterruption,youcanattain

samadhiasamatterofcourse,inthisverylife.Why,then,worry

aboutnotreachingthehigherlotusgradesatthetimeofdeath?

Evenifyoudonotreachsamadhi,youwill

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stillachieverebirth[inalowerlotusgrade],bepartoftheOcean-WideAssembly,closetoAmitabhaBuddha.Youwill

7Letterto

thelaywomanHsuFu-hsien.(Chineseed.Vol.I,p.115)

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graduallyreturntotheTrueSelf-Natureandnaturallyunderstandthevariousteachings.Then,justlikeanimageinamirror,youwillappear

intheSahaWorldwithoutleavingthePureLand,torescuesentientbeings

throughoutcountlessexpedients,helpingthemalltoreachthePureLandandattain

theToleranceofNon-Birth(insightintothenon-originationofall

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things).Thiswillnotbeturningyourbackonyourpresentfirmdeterminationtocultivate.Infact,youwilldeservetobecalleda

greenlotusblossom,bornamidfire,atruewomanofcharacter!

.

ThebasisofPureLandisthedeterminationtobe

rebornintheLandofUltimateBliss.Therefore,themotto

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oftheschoolisFaith,VowsandPractice.FaithmeansbelievingthattheSahaWorldisfilledwiththeEightSufferings,whilethePure

Landisarealmofboundlessjoy!

Onceyouhavefirm

Faith,youshouldvowtoleavetheSahaWorld,likeaprisonerdesperate

toleavehisjail,andresolvetoachieverebirthin

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thePureLand,likeatravellerlongingforhisnativeplace.

AssomeonewhohasnotachievedrebirthinthePureLand,

evenifyouwerepresentedwiththejewelledthroneofthegod-kingBrahma,

youshouldconsideritasacauseandconditionofperdition,withouta

singlethoughtoflonging.Likewise,wishessuchasrebirthas

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amale,enteringtheclergyearlyinlife,attaininggreatintelligence,greatspiritualpowers...shouldallbeconsideredtortuouspathsofcultivationwhich

canonlybringyoubacktoyourstartingpoint.Abandonallthesethoughts

andseekonlytoachieverebirthinthePureLandatthetime

ofdeath.Oncereborn,youwillnaturallyescapethecycle

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ofBirthandDeath,transcendthehumanworld,entertherealmofthesages,reachthestageofnon-retrogressionandattainthestageof

Non-Birth.Atthattime,whenyoulookback,youwilldiscoverthatthe

royalthroneinthehumanandcelestialrealms,evenrebirthasahigh-ranking

monk,arebuttiresomeoccurrencesthatlastformanyeons

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withnoliberationinsight.Youwillthenrealizethatcomparedtoyourpresentlotusgrade,thoseaspirationsarenodifferentfromaflickering

flameversusarainbow,orananthillversusamountain!

Thus,

thePureLandpractitionercertainlyshouldnotseektheblessingsandmeritsof

thecelestialandhumanrealms,notevenrebirthasa

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high-rankingmonk.JustatraceofsuchthinkingconstitutesalackofdeepFaithandearnestVows.Suchthoughtsplaceabarrierbetweenyou

andtheVowsofAmitabhaBuddhapreventingyoufromachievingrebirthin

thePureLand.Thisisagreatpity,agreatwaste,indeed!How

couldyouhavethehearttoexchangetheunimaginablysublime

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PureLandformundanehappinesssothatwhenalltheblessingshavebeenexhausted,youwouldcontinuetorevolveinthecycleof

BirthandDeath,draggedbythecurrentofkarmicdelusion,subjecttountold

suffering?

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Ifpoisonismixedwithbutter,thedeliciousbutterbecomeslethal.PracticingPureLandwithouttherightframeofmindbringssimilarharm.

Youmustextirpatesuchwrongthoughtsinordertoenjoyfullythebenefits

ofthePureLandmethod.

.

Oncehavingdeveloped

deepFaithandearnestVows,youshouldholdfastto

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thewordsAmitabhaBuddha.Regardlessoftheoccasion,whetherwalkingorstanding,sittingorreclining,speakingorremainingsilent,movingabout,meditating,dressing,eating,

evenwhenintheprivy,youshouldkeepthewordsAmitabhaBuddhafirmly

inmind.Youshouldexertyourselfuntiltherecitationsareconstantlybeforeyou,

thewholeBuddhaisMind,MindandBuddhaareone

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recitingtotheultimatepointwhereallmundanefeelingsareforgotten.Atthattime,themindbeingempty,theBuddhaappears.

DuringthislifeyoucanattaintheBuddhaRemembranceSamadhiandatthe

timeofdeathachieverebirthintheupperlotusgrades.Cultivationinthis

waymaybeconsideredasexercisingyourabilitiestothe

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utmost.Indailylife,themeritsaccruedfromthesmallestwholesomedeeds,aswellasthevirtuesgarneredfromBuddhaRecitationandSutraRecital,

shouldallbededicatedtorebirthinthePureLand.Allactionsthen

becomepracticeswhichfacilitaterebirthnotunlikederivingsoilfromdustand

sandortheoceansfromtheriversandstreams.The

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depthandbreadthofsuchBuddhaRecitationisimmense.

Youshould,furthermore,developtheBodhiMind,vowtorescuesentientbeingsand

dedicatethemeritsandvirtuesofcultivationtorepaymentofthefourgreat

debtsintheTripleRealm,aswellastosentientbeingsinthe

DharmaRealm.Thiscreatesafar-reachingDharmaaffinitywithall

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sentientbeings,likeoilpouredonfireorrainfallingonnewseedlings,sothatyouwillachieveearlysuccessinyourMahayanapractice.

Ifyoumissthispoint,yourPureLandpracticewillbecomethegrasping,

self-benefitapproachcommontohumansandlowerlevelsages[ArhatsandPratyekaBuddhas].

Whileyourmethodofcultivationmaybesublime,thebenefits

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receivedwillbeextremelylowlevelandlimited.

.

WhenrecitingtheBuddhasname,youshouldgatheryourthoughtstogether.

Recitationoriginatesinthemindandischannelledthroughthemouth,eachphrase,

eachword,clearlyenunciated.Youshouldalsolistenclearly,impressingthewordsin

yourmind.Ifthefacultyofhearingisundercontrol,

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theotherfacultiesarealsoheldincheckandcannotchaseafterexternaldusts.Asaresult,one-pointedness

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ofmindisswiftlyachieved.Thus,theBodhisattvaMahasthamapraptasaidintheSurangamaSutra:

Togatherthesixsensestogether,pure

recitationfollowinguponpurereci

tationwithoutinterruption,thusattainingsamadhi

thisisuppermost.

Likewise,theBodhisattvaManjusritaught:

Hearingwithin,hearingonesNatureonesNaturebecomesthe

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Supreme

Path.

Youcertainlyshouldnotthinkthatoralrecitation[HoldingtheName]isshallow,andfollowothermethods,such

asVisualization,ContemplationofanImageorRealMarkBuddhaRecitation.Ofthe

fourBuddhaRecitationmethods,onlyoralrecitationiswell-adaptedtothecapacitiesof

sentientbeings.Ifone-pointednessofmindismaintained,thesublime

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TruthofRealMarkwillbefullyrevealedandtheextraordinaryrealmoftheWesternPureLandwillappearclearly.

Therefore,you

canachieveRealMarkthroughoralrecitation;youcanseetheWesternPure

Landwithoutengaginginvisualization.Thismethodofrecitationispreciselythewonderful

doortotheWay,themostexpedientpathtoBuddhahood.

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PeopletodaygenerallydonotunderstandtheteachingsunderlyingtheVisualizationorRealMarkmethods.Iftheyfollowthesemethods,theymay

attimesbesubjecttodemons.Thus,thebestapproachistoselect

theeasiestpracticewhichstillleadstothewonderfulfruitofEnlightenment.You

shouldnotattemptashortcutandenduplosingthe

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Way,seekingliberationbutwindingupinperdition.Thatwouldberegrettableindeed!

[AftersummarizingseveralPureLandcommentariestoreinforcethese

points,theMastercontinued.]

Onceyouhavereadthesebooks,you

willhaveacompleteunderstandingofthetenetsofPureLand.Itdoes

notmatterthatyouhavenotreadthesutraswidely.

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WithoutfullyunderstandingPureLandteachings,evenifyoudeeplyunderstandtheentireBuddhistcanonandhaveawakenedcompletelytoSelf-Mind,itwilltake

youuntoldeonstofulfillyouroriginalVowtoescapethecycleof

BirthandDeath.BuddhaRecitationisthepanaceaforalldiseases.Tomiss

knowingaboutsuchawonderfulremedywouldbeacause

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so.Otherwise,whygetsofixatedon

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travel?Allyouneedistohaveanearnest,sinceremind,repentyourtransgressionsbeforeyourhomealtarforsevenconsecutivedaysand

expressthewishtoreceivethepreceptsbyyourself.Ontheseventhday,

youshouldkneelbeforeaBuddhaimageandsayaloud:

Your

disciple,bythenameof,vowstoreceive

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thefivepreceptsandfulfilltheobligationsofalaywoman.Ivowthatfortherestofmylife,Iwillnottakethe

livesofsentientbeings,steal,indulgeinsexualmisconduct,lieortakeintoxicants.

Repeatingthesevowsthreetimesconstitutesreceivingtheprecepts.Themost

importantthingistodosoinanutterlysincere

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frameofmindinwhichcase,thebenefitsandvirtuesofreceivingthepreceptsarethesamewhetheryoudosobyyourself

orthroughamonkornun.

Youshouldnotthinkthat

receivingthepreceptsinsuchamannerisnotinaccordwiththe

Dharma.Youshouldknowthatthemethoddescribedabovefollows

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thewiseteachingofSakyamuniBuddhaintheBrahmaNetSutra.

OnPuToMountain,therearenoprecept