Q&A

How To Quickly Realise Unsurpassable Equal And Right Bodhi 如何速证无上正等菩提 Why The Swiftest Path To Buddhahood Is Via Āmítuófó’s Pure Land 为何通过阿弥陀佛的净土是成佛的最速之道

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Question: Some think it takes longer to accomplish Buddhahood (成佛) via reaching of Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) Pure Land (净土), which already transcends the cycle of birth and death (超越生死), versus in the Sahā World (娑婆世界) here, which is still in the rounds of rebirth (Saṃsāra: 娑婆;轮回). Is this so?

Answer: The swiftest path to Buddhahood, even for Great Bodhisattvas (大菩萨), is via reaching of the Pure Land, within or at the end of this lifetime, where [1] a Buddha, who represents all Buddhas, as the perfect Dharma teacher possible will be met, unlike the impossibility of sustainably meeting any Buddha in our world now. (There are increasingly many bogus teachers here who confuse instead.)

With the Buddha met, [2] all Dharma Doors (法门) can be directly learnt then, unlike the difficulty of mastering even one single Dharma Door completely in our world now. (This is why there should be special attention on the Pure Land Dharma Door [净土法门], as the Easy Practice Path [易行道], which skilfully leads to all other Dharma Doors.)

Also present in the Pure Land as superior good-knowing (spiritual) friends (善知识) is the immeasurably great community of the [3] Noble Saṃgha (圣僧), with many Bodhisattvas (菩萨) and Arhats (罗汉), who are all enlightened to various extents, unlike the ordinary Saṃgha (凡夫僧) (which is often ‘mixed’ with fake monastics) in our world now.

[1][2] and [3] form the Triple Gem (三宝). After Buddhists take the Threefold Refuge (三皈依), they should not do be satisfied with refuge in theory only, but practically too, by seeking the Triple Gem in its purest forms, thus expediting progress towards Buddhahood, to become one with it.

In fact, according to Śākyamuni Buddha’s (释迦牟尼佛) teachings in ‘The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitā(bha) Buddha’s Fundamental Esoteric Spiritual Mantra’《佛说阿弥陀佛根本秘密神咒经》: https://purelanders.com/shenzhou, mindfulness of Āmítuófó’s name (阿弥陀佛) is mindfulness of the Triple Gem too:

「阿字十方三世佛,
弥字一切诸菩萨,
陀字八万诸圣教,
三字之中是具足。」

’As in the word ”Ā“ are the ten directions’ and three periods’ Buddhas, in the word ”Mí“ are all Bodhisattvas, and in the word ”Tuó“ (Tā) are all 84,000 noble teachings, of these three words (Āmítuó/Amitā) within is (spiritual) completion.

Thus, the essence of the Triple Gem — the Buddhas (佛), the Dharma (法) and the Noble Saṃgha (圣僧) are all within Āmítuófó’s name. To be mindful of Āmítuófó is to take refuge (皈依) in the mind, and in person by the end of this life, to meet the Triple Gem, and become part of it. If reborn directly in his Pure Land (before dying), this seamlessly guarantees progress towards Buddhahood in this one lifetime (一生成佛).

Reaching the Pure Land ensures spiritual non-retrogression (不退转) immediately, ensuring there is only progression. In this world, if without the Pure Land path, no one even dares to claim that there is no more backsliding. We backslide many times within one day, what more within this one life, and from life to life. This is so as in this defiled land (秽土), there are overwhelming distractions, in sharp contrast with the Pure Land, where there are only spiritual supportive conditions (助缘), thus facilitating continual focus and progress.

According to Śākyamuni Buddha’s teachings in ‘The Sūtra On Praises Of The Pure Land With Buddhas’ Protection And Reception《称赞净土佛摄受经》: https://purelanders.com/tang:

「又,舍利子!于此杂染堪忍世界五浊恶时,若有净信诸善男子或善女人,闻说如是一切世间极难信法,能生信解、受持、演说、如教修行。当知是人甚为希有,无量佛所曾种善根。是人命终定生西方极乐世界,受用种种功德庄严清净佛土大乘法乐,日夜六时亲近供养无量寿佛,游历十方供养诸佛,于诸佛所闻法受记,福慧资粮疾得圆满,速证无上正等菩提。」

‘Moreover, Śāriputra, in this mixed and defiled Endurance Land’s Five Defilements’ Evil Period, if there are those with pure faith, all good men or good women, who hear thus said, this Dharma that all in the world have extreme difficulty believing in, able to give rise to faith and understanding, accepting, upholding and expounding it, as taught cultivating practice, it should be known that these persons are extremely rare, through immeasurable Buddhas those who had already planted good roots. These people, at their lives’ end, definitely will be born in the Western Land Of Ultimate Bliss, to receive and use all kinds of meritorious virtues’ adornments of the pure Buddha land, with the Great Vehicle’s Dharma joy. In day and night, during the six periods be close to, for making offerings to Immeasurable Life Buddha, travelling in the ten directions to make offerings to many Buddhas, at many Buddhas’ places hearing the Dharma and receiving predictions, with blessings and wisdom’s provisions swiftly attaining perfection, to quickly realise Unsurpassable Equal And Right Bodhi.’

Thus, as taught to the Buddha’s monastic disciple foremost in wisdom and all in the assembly, those in this Sahā World in this era should treasure the precious Pure Land Dharma Door, even if it seems ‘challenging’ to learn and accept, because it offers the swiftest path to the spiritual perfection of Buddhahood. Due to reasons such as the above and more, all Buddhas of all directions will teach the Pure Land Pure Land path, with particular praise to Āmítuófó, as attested in the above sūtra and the Amitābha Sūtra《阿弥陀经》: https://purelanders.com/sutra.

In contrast, no Buddha in any sūtra urged ordinary (unenlightened) beings like us to stay in this Dharma-Ending Age (末法时期) life after life, where conditions to learn and practise the Dharma purely will keep dimininishing, as substituted by more impure mispresentations of the ‘Triple Gem’. It also does not make sense for any Buddha, with perfect compassion and wisdom, to advocate the Pure Land path if it only slows down the path to Buddhahood. It makes great sense for all Buddhas to advocate it because it is indeed the swiftest path, the most skilful means.

When reborn in this life, if we could not even remember the meaning of one Dharma word possibly learnt in our immediate past lives, how can we ensure we will definitely progress with Dharma-learning in our next life here? Upon reaching of Pure Land, all of the Dharma learnt in all past lives will be remembered, thus expediting progress. Of course, upon return to guide other beings here, all mastered will be remembered too. Thus, the swiftest path to Buddhahood is via Āmítuófó’s Pure Land, as the most highly recommended Dharma ‘school’.

Related Articles:

Top Ten Misconceptions About The Pure Land Teachings
十大对净土教理的误解
https://purelanders.com/2023/02/20/7-top-ten-misconceptions-about-pure-land-teachings

The Fastest Path To Buddhahood Is Via Pure Land
往生极乐是成佛极速之道
https://purelanders.com/2020/01/07/the-fastest-path-to-buddhahood-is-via-pure-land

Should I Worry About Taking A Long Time To Have My Lotus Birth In Pure Land?
需要担心在净土久得莲花化生吗?
https://purelanders.com/2021/12/04/should-i-worry-about-taking-a-long-time-to-have-my-lotus-birth-in-pure-land

The Final One Method For One Lifetime’s Accomplishing Of Buddhahood
一生成佛之末后一着
https://purelanders.com/2022/03/18/319-the-final-one-method-for-one-lifetimes-accomplishing-of-buddhahood

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