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1) Amitabha Sutra Recitation 2) Pure Land Buddhism 3) Death and Dying
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GOlNGHOM匹
TOT}-l匹
PUR脰LAND
•20IoPureLandCollcgePressPublishcdz0Io
Somerightsrescrved.
Nopartofthisbookmaybealteredwithoutpermissionfromthepublisher.Reprintingisallowedfbrnon-profituse.Fortbelatestedition,[email protected]·
TheAmitabhaSutraisfTomMind-sealoftheBuddhas、whichis
translatedbyj.CCleary•I9g6byRcv.LokToandLeeTsu-kuPublishedI9g7,Secondedition
SectionsTwoandThreearefTomI〃O〃eL旋r伽αP〃加Lα〃dBⅡM伽阪〃γ
byVenerablcW/ulingAmitabhaPublications,Chicago,6o刃z
•zoo7byAmitabhaPublicationsCoverimage•Shantiyana|Dreamstime’com
ISBN:078-0-98o7II4-2-4
I,I斗I〕I2 4了678
PoralistofPureLandcentersandAmitabhaBuddhistSocieties,
pleasevisitwww·purelandcollege·oIg.au
TheCorporationRepublicofHwaDzanSocicty2F.,No.刃〕-I,Scc.4.HsinYiRoad,Taipei,Taiwan
Tel:(886)-2-2754-7I78Fax:(886)-2-Z7,4-7262E-Mail:hwadzan@hwadzan·tw
﹣一
CoNTENTs
L
Pa「tOne
A〃﹞/fabba5α〃aRecitatioⅡI
OrderofPracticeSession]
PurityVerse7PraiseoftheLotusPoolAssembly8BuddhaSpeakstheAmitabhaSutra9PraisctoAmitabhaBuddhaz4
W/ishfbrRebirthintothePureLand25
RepentanceVerse26PourGreatVowsz7DedicationofMeritz8
ThrecRefUgesz9
Pa「tTwo
Pu『elahdP『incipIesandP『actice
PureLandBuddhism],
Chanting4ICultivation43TheFiveGuidelines6]CareofDharmaMaterials8o
VisitingaBuddhistCenter8I
Pa「tTh「ee
DeathaⅧdDγing8,
GuidelincsfbrSpiritualAdvisorsLivingW/ill94
IResolveI•z
87
]]
PartOne
AmitabhaSutra
Rccitation
」
ORDERoFPRAcTIcESEssIoN
ThefollowingpracticesessionisbasedontheAmitabhaSutrarecitationsessionthatispracticedinmanyAmitabhaBuddhistSocieties.
Tbbeginthesession)eitherholdthisbookuporplaceitonatableandholdyourhandsintheb6Zα嗯positionHandsarethusheldfbrtheremainderofthe
sessionexceptwhereindicatedduringthed加/加肋α
Sα”bv(八﹚fbrhezangand(-)fbrhandsatwaist
levelNoVbowonce,dothreeprostrat1ons’andbowonemoretimeIfyouareunabletodoprostrat1ons,youcandoallbows.
YbumavnowlightsomeincenseifvouwishUPonlightingtheincense)fanitgentlywithvourhand(donotblowonit)toputoutthefIamcandallowtheincensetoburndownslowlγRaisethcincenseand
holditclosetoyourfbreheadwiththeincensepointedtowardstheBuddha.Then,placetheincenseintheholder.
Next,changethewaterinthewatercontaine正Pour
thewater1ntoanothercontainerfbrotheruses,like
drinkingorwateringplants.Donotdrinkoutofthewaterconta1neritselfPourfreshwaterintothe
containerandreturntothegongzhuαSavthePurity
引
」
V℃rscwhileholdmgtheconta1nerinbothhandswitb
vourthumbsandfirstandsecondfingers.After
completingtheverse,raisethecontainertoyourfbrehead,say‘Amituofb’’tent1mesandthenplacetheconta1nerbackonthegongzhuoinfrontofthe1ncenseholder.
Next’readthePraiseofthcLotusPooI
AsseInbly.Aftercompletingthepra1se,begintorec1tetheAmitabhaSutraDonotanalVzcthe
wordsOurgoalhere1stofbcussingle-mindedlyonrecitingthetext.AsGreatMastcrYinguangsaid’“Withouttry1ngtofindthemean1ngofthesutra,>ustreciteitinonestrctchfrombeginmngtoend”Thepurposeoftherecitation1stoclcarthemindofallwanderingthoughts,discriminations,andattachmentssothatwemaVattaInpur1tyofmindI/henourmindsbecomemorepure’ourunderstandingwiInaturallvbecomemoreprofbund
Afterthesutra,wereadthePraisctoAInitabha
Budd1mtopayourrespcctstoAmitabhaBuddhafbrhiscompass1onatevowstohelpallbeingsAfterthepraisc,wechant‘‘AmituOfb’,fbraprcdcterminedlengthoftimcV〈尼thenvowtoattainrebirthintheⅨ℃stemPureLandbyreadingtheWishfbrRcbirthintothcPureI俄㎡d
Next,wesaytheRcpentance﹨℃rsetocxpressour
斗
deepregretfbrhavingharmedinnumerablcbeingsthroughoutallourlifbtimesW℃thenreadtheIbur
Great\bwstotransfbrmourrepentanceintovowsto
helpallbeingsendtheirsu碓ring.AftCrthat,wereadtheDedicationofMeritto
passonthegoodnessthathasrcsultedfromour
chantingtohelpallbeingsendsuffbringandatta1nlastinghappiness.Tbconcludethesess1on’wereadthe
ThreGRc拉gcS‧
ThesessionmaybedoneindividuallyorinagroupIfinagroup,thebellmasterbeginsthepra1se,sutra,andsoon’bysayingthefhsttwowords.Othersthen>oinin.Readthrougbffombeginningtoend,butdonotreadthepageheadings.
『
」
PuRITYVERsE
Maythetranquilit)<puritXandimpartiality
symbolizedbvthiswaterbeattainedby㎡
allbeings.
MaytheylearnoftheW℃sternPureLand,
vowtoberebornthere,andachievethat
rebirthtofbreverleavesuffCringbehindand
attainlastinghappiness.
7
」
PRAIsEoFTHELoTusPooLAssEMBLY
Amidstthesea-vastlotuspoolassemblX
mavAmitabhaBuddhatogetherwith
AvalokitesvaraandMahasthamaprapta,
sittingonthelotusplatfbrms,leadbeingsto
ascendthegoldenstairwayThesesageshave
thegreatvowstohelpallbeingsleavethcmundaneworld.
Homagetothesea一vast】otuspoolassemblyof
BodhisattvasandGreatBodhisattvas.(#<imc5)
8
BuDDHASPEAKsTHEAMITABHASuTRA
(八)Homagetothcsea﹣vastlotuspool
assemblyofBuddhasandBodhisattvas.(]timcs)
BclM!aste『:BuddhaSpeaks
Everyon筐:TheAmitabhaSutra
ThushaveIheard:OnceBuddhawasinthe
landofShravasti)inthegardenofJetaand
Anathapindika.Hewasaccompaniedbytwelvehundredandfiftygreatbhikshus,allof
themgreatArhats,wellknowntoeveryone.Amongthemwerehisleadingdisciples,such
figuresastheEldersShariputra,Mahamaudgalyayana,Mahakasyapa,Mahakatyayana,andMahakausthila’Revata,
Suddhipanthaka’Nanda,Ananda,Rahula,
Gavampati,Pindola-bharadvaia’Kalodayin,Mahakapphina’Vakula,andAniruddha…{and
otherssuchasthese},allgreatdisciples.AlsopresentweretheBodhisattvas-Mahasattvas:
q
Maniushri’PrinceoftheDharma;the
BodhisattvaAiita’theInvincible;the
BodhisattvasGandhahastinandNityodyukta,
andothersuchgreatBodhisattvas.Also
presentwasShakra’thekingofthegods)
alongwithcountlessnumbersofheavenlybeings,makingupagreatassembly(-)
AtthattimeBuddhasaidtotheElder
Shariputra:‘‘WCstofhere,pastahundredbillionBuddha-lands,thereexistsaworld
calledUltimateBliss.Inthislandthereisa
BuddhacalledAmitabha,whoisteachingthe
Dharmarightnow
{Shariputra’>whyisthislandcalledUltimateBliss?Itiscalled‘(UltimateBliss,,becausethe
sentientbeingsinthislandarefreefromthe
myriadsuff℃ringscommontomankind,and
onlyknoweverykindofioy
Furthermore{Shariputra>,thislandiscalled‘‘UltimateBliss,,becauseitissurroundedby
I•
sevenringsofrailings,sevenlayersofnetting,andsevenrowsoftrees,allmadeofthefbur
preciousiewels.
Moreover{Shariputra},theLandofUltimate
Blisshaspondsofseveniewelsfilledwiththewatersofeightvirtues.Thebottomofeachof
thepondsispuregoldensand,andthe
steppedwalkwaysthatleadup仕omallfbur
sidesofeachofthepondsaremadeofgold,silver,lapislazuli,andcrystal·Abovethepondstherearetowerswhichareadorned
withsilverandgoldandlapislazuliandcrystalandmotherofpearl)redagateandcarnelians.
InthepondstherearelotusHowersasbigascartwheels:blueonesshiningwithbluelight,vellowonesshiningwithyellowlight,redones
shiningwithrcdlight’andwhiteonesshiningwithwhitelight,eachemittingasubtlepurefragrance.
{Shariputra,}theLandofUltimateBlissis
II
completewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.
Andthereismorc{Shariputra}-celestial
musicisconstantlyplayinginthisBuddha-
land,andthegroundismadeofpuregold.Heavenlvflowersraindownatallhoursofthe
¢
dayandnight.Inthemorningthesentient
beingsofthislandfilltheirrobeswithmultitudesofwondrousHowersandmake
offCringstohundredsofbillionsofBuddhasinotherworlds.W/henitismealtime,theyreturntotheirownland…toeat,and{to}
circumambulatetheteachingassembly
{Shariputra}theLandofUltimateBlissis
completewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.
Andthereismorestill{Shariputra}-inthislandtherearebirdsofallsortsofwondrous
variegatedcolors:whitecranes,peacocks,orioles)egrets,kalavinkasandiivaniivas.AllthesebirdsbringfbrthharmonioussongsdayandniRht.TheirsonHscommunicatesuch
勺~
I
BuddhistteachingsastheFiveRoots,theFive
Powers,theSevenFactorsofEnlightenment,
theEightfbldPath,aswellasotherteachings.
VVhensentientbeingsinthislandhearthe
singingofthebirds,theybecomemindfhloftheBuddha,mindfi1loftheDharma,mindfhl
oftheSangha.
|Shariputra,!donotthinkthatthesebirdswerebornasbirdsduetokarmicretribution
fbrpastmisdeeds.W/hynot?InthisBuddha-land,theThreeEvil…lPaths}ofExistencedo
notex1st·
{Shariputra,}inthisBuddha-landeventhenamesoftheEvil…lPaths>ofExistencedonot
ex1st,muchlesstherealities.Allthesebirds
arethecreationsofAmitabhaBuddha,
fashionedinordertosingthesoundsoftheDharma.
{Shariputra,}inthisBuddha-landthereisasliRhtbreezethatstirstherowsofieweltrecs
﹃﹃囫
I
•
andiewelnetting’sothattheyemitsubtlewondroussounds,likehundredsand
thousandsofmelodiesplayingallatonce.All
thosewhohearthesesoundsspontaneouslybecomemindfUloftheBuddha,mindfhlof
theDharma,andmindfhloftheSangha.
{Shariputra,ltheLandofUltimateBlissiscompletewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.
Ⅸ『hatdovouthink﹛Shariputra﹜:whyisthisBuddhacalledAmitabha?
{Shariputra’}thelightofthisBuddhaisinfinite,andshinesonalllandsthroughouttheuniversewithoutobstruction.Thusthis
BuddhaiscalledAmitabha.Also{Shariputra>,theli允-spanofthisBuddhaandhispeopleis
aninfinitenumberofimmeasurableeons,and
soheiscalledAmitabha.
{Shariputra,>AmitabhaBuddhaattainedenlightenmentteneonsago.
I4
Moreover{Shariputra>,thisBuddhahasinnumerabledisciples)allofwhomareArhats,whosenumbersareincalculable.Amitabha
alsohasafollowingofinnumerableBodhisattvas.
{Shariputra’}theLandofUltimateBlissiscompletewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.
{MoreoverShariputra,}noneofthesentientbeingswhoarebornintheLandofUltimateBlisseverfallbackintoalowerrealm.Manv
引
amongthemhaveonlyonemoreli比timeto
gobeforeBuddhahood.Theirnumberis
incalculable:theycanbespokenofasinnumerable.
{Shariputra’}whensentientbcingsheartheseteachings,theymusttakeavowtobebornin
thislandWhyso?SothattheycanbetogetherwithalltheseBeingsofSuperiorGoodness.
<Shariputra,}onecannotbeborninthisland
I5
\
throughminorgoodroots…goodfbrtune』
andcausalconnections.Shariputra,}iftherearegoodmenorgoodwomenwhohearofAmitabhaBuddha,andrecitehisname
singlemindedlyandwithoutconfhsion,fbr
onedavortwodaysorthreedavsorfburdavs
orf]vedaysorsixdaysorsevendays,then
whenthesepeopleareabouttodie,Amitabha
Buddhaandhiswholeassemblywillappear
befbrethem.I/hentheyareabouttodie,
theirmindsbeingunifiedandnotchaotictheywillattainrebirthinAmitabha,sLandof
UltimateBliss.
{Shariputra,}Ihaveseenthisbenefit,andsoIspeakthesewords.Ifsentientbeingshear
whatIsa)(theymustmakeavowtobeborninthatland
{Shariputra,}rightnowIamextollingthebenefitsoftheinconceivablevirtuesof
AmitabhaBuddha.(/\)Intheeastern
I0
directiontherearealsocountlessother
Buddhas,likeAkshobhyaBuddha,theBuddhaMarksofthePolarMountain’theBuddha
GreatPolarMountain,theBuddhaLightofthePolarMountain’andtheBuddha
Wbndrous\/bice.Eachofthem…{teachesin
hisownlandwiththetruthfUlnessofa
Buddha}andcoversawholecosmos,speaking
thesesincerewords:‘‘allofyousentientbeings
shouldbelievethissutraextollinginconceivablevirtues,whichallBuddhas
protectandkeepinmind,,
{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthesoutherndirectiontherearecountlessotherBuddhas,
liketheBuddhaLampoftheSunandMoon,
thcBuddhaLightofRenown,theBuddha
GreatBlazingShoulders,theBuddhaLampofthePolarMountain’andtheBuddhaInfinite
Vigor.Eachofthem…<teachesinhisown
landwiththetruthfUlnessofaBuddha}and
﹃∕
I
coversawholecosmos,speakingthesesincere
words:‘‘allofyousentientbeingsshould
believethissutraextollinginconceivable
virtues,whichallBuddhasprotectandkeepinmind.,,
{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthewesterndirectiontherearecountlessotherBuddhas,
liketheBuddhaInfiniteLif℃,theBuddha
InnumerableCharacteristics,theBuddha
InnumerableBanners,theBuddhaGreat
Light,theBuddhaGreatIllumination,the
BuddhaJewelAppearance’andtheBuddha
LightofPurityEachofthem…{teachesinhisownlandwiththetruthfUlnessofa
Buddha}andcoversaWholecosmos,speaking
thesesincerewords:‘‘allofvousentientbeings
shouldbelievethissutraextollinginconceivablevirtues,whichallBuddhas
protectandkeepinmind.,,
{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthenorthern
I8
directiontherearecountlessotherBuddhas,
liketheBuddhaBlazingShoulders,the
BuddhaSupreme\/bice,theBuddhaHardto
Iniure’theBuddhaBornoftheSun’andthe
BuddhaNettedLight.Eachofthem…{teachesinhisownlandwiththetruthfUlness
ofaBuddha}andcoversawholecosmos,
speakingthesesincerewords:‘‘allofyou
sentientbeingsshouldbelievethissutra
extollinginconceivablevirtues,whichall
Buddhasprotectandkeepinmind.,)
{Shariputra,>intheworldsofthenadirtherearecountlessothcrBuddhas,liketheBuddha
Lion,theBuddhaRepute’theBuddhaLight,{theBuddhaDharma,}theBuddhaDharma
Banner,andtheBuddhaUpholdingtheDharma.Eachofthem…{teachesinhisown
landwiththetruthfhlnessofaBuddha}and
coversawholecosmos’speakingthesesincere
words:‘‘allofyousentientbeingsshould
I0
believethissutraextoIngmconceivablevirtues,
whichallBuddhasprotectandkCepmmind.,,
{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthezeniththerearecountlessotherBuddhas,liketheBuddha
PureVbice,theBuddhaSoiournerKing’the
BuddhaIncenseFragrance,theBuddha
FragrantLight,theBuddhaGreatBlazing
Shoulders,theBuddhaBodyofMulticolored
JewelFlowerGarlands,theBuddhaSalaHee
King,theBuddhaPreciousFlowerVirtue,theBuddhaSeesAllIfuths,andtheBuddhaLike
thePolarMountain.Eachofthem…{teaches
inhisownlandwiththetruthfhlnessofa
Buddha}andcoversawholecosmos,speakingthesesincerewords:‘‘allofyousentientbeings
shouldbelicvethissutraextoInginconceivable
v1rtues,whichallBuddhasprotectandkeepinmind.,’(╴)
{Shariputra’}wbydoyouthinkthisiscalledthesutrathatisprotectedandkeptinmind
Z0
byalltheBuddhas?
<Shariputra’}iftherearegoodmenorwomen
whohearthis…{sutra},upholditandhearthe
namesofalltheseBuddhas,thesegoodmen
andwomenwillbeprotectedandkeptin
mindbyalltheBuddhas,andwillnot
retrogressalongthepathofSupreme,Per企ct
Enlightenment.Therefbre{Shariputra,}allof
youshouldfaithfhllyacceptwhatIsayandwhatalltheBuddhashavesaid
{Shariputra’}allthosewhohavevowed’orare
vowing,orwillvowtobeborninthelandofAmitabhaBuddhareachthelevelwherethev
donotretrogressfromSupreme,Perfect
Enlightenment.Thevarealreadyborn,arenowbeingborn,orwillbcborninthatland
Therefbre,{Shariputra,>allgoodmenand
women,iftheyhavefaith,mustmakeavowtobeborninthatland
{Shariputra,}iustasIamnowextollinRthc
I7=
」
inconceivablevirtuesofalltheBuddhas,all
thoseBuddhasarelikewiseextollingmyinconceivablevirtues,withthesewords:(/\)
“SakyamuniBuddha(-)isabletocarrvoutamostdifficultandraretaskIntheSaha
Wbrld,theWbrldofEndurance,inanevil
worldoftheFiveCorruptions-the
corruptionoftheage,thecorruptionof
views,thecorruptionofaffIictions’the
corruptionofsentientbeings,andthe
corruptionoflife-heisabletoachieve
Supreme,Perf℃ctEnlightenment,andto
expoundthePureLandteaching,whichall
beingsinallworldsfindhardtobelieve.,,
{Shariputra,}knowthenthatinthcmidstof
thisevilworldoftheFiveCorruptions,Iam
abletocarryoutthisdiHiculttask,attain
Supreme,PerfectEnlightcnment’and
expoundthePureLandteaching,whichisso
hardfbrbeingsinallworldstobelieve.Thisis
ZZ
indeedmostdi伍cult!
W『henBuddhaHnished…﹛teachingthissutra﹜,
Shariputraandallthemonks,gods,humans,
asurasandotherswhohadbeenlistening’
havingheardwhattheBuddhasaid)reioicedandfaithfhllyacceptedit.Theyallbowedinhomageanddeparted
AmitabhaSutraspokenbyBuddha
UProotallKarmicHindrancesfbrRebirthintothePureLandDharani
NAMOAHMEEDOHPOHYEH
DOHTOHCHAYDOHYEH
DOHDEEYEHTOH
AHMEELEEDOHPOHPEE
AHMEELEEDOHSHEEDANPOHPEE
AHMEELEEDOHPEECHIALA占NGDEE
AHMEELEEDOHPEECHIALANGDOH
CHAYMEENEECHAYCHAYNAH
CHIHDOHCHIA『爪硯SOPOHHO
(Dhararli#timeS)
﹃1〃
勺=
PRAIsEToAMITABHABuDDHA
AmitabhaBuddha,allingoldencoloB
withfbrm,fbaturesandradianceuneqUalled,
whitecurlswindinglikcthefiveSumeru
Mountams,andpurpleeyesasclear
asthefburg7eatseas.InhisauraaretransfbrmedBuddhasin
countlessmillions,andtransfbrmed
Bodhisattvas,also,inlimitlessnumber;
fbrty-eightvowshemadetoenlightensentient
beingsandtoenableallninegndestoreachtheothershore.
HomagetothemostcompassionateoneoftheW℃sternParadise,AmitaBuddha.
Amituofb(chantastimcaIows)
24
W/IsHFoRREBIRTHINTHEPuRELAND
Ⅸ℃wishtobebornintheⅨ℃sternPureI刮nd
withlotusblossoms,innineorders’asparents.
VVhenthelotusblossomsfl1I%wcshallseethe
Buddhaandbeenlightenedwiththeabsolute
truth’withnevefretrog字essiveBodhisattvasas
compan1ons.
Z『
REpENTANcEVERsE
Allevilactionscommittedbymesincetimeimmemorial,
stemmingfiomgreed,angeI}andignorance,arisingfrombod)(spcech’andmind’
Ideeplyrepenthavingcommitted.
Z0
FouRGREATVow「s
Sentientbeingsareinnumerable;
IvowtohelpthemallAfflictionsareinexhaustible;
Ivowtoendthemall
Ihystopracticeareboundless;Ivowtomasterthemall
Enlightenmentisunsurpassable;Ivowtoattainit.
Z7
L
DEDIcATIoNoITMERIT
MavthemeritsandvirtuesaccruedfiDmthis
practiceadomtheBuddha,sPureLand,
repaytheIburKindsofKindnessabove,
andrelievethesuffbringofthoseintheThreePathsbelow
Mayallthosewhoseeandhearofthis
bringfbrththeheartofunderstandingand
compassion,andattheendofthisli允beborn
togetherinthelandofUltimateBliss.
28
THREEREFUGES
TbtheBuddhaIreturnandrel%returning
fromdelusionsandrelyinguponawarenessand
understanding.(Oneprostration)
TbtheDharmaIreturnandrelXreturning
fromerroneousviewsandrelyinguponproper
viewsandunderstanding.(Oneprostration)
TbtheSanghaIreturnandrelXreturning
frompollutionanddisharmon}<andrelying
uponpurityofmindandtheSixHarmonies.(rhrceprostratlonsan(loncb0w)
Zg
TbrmsUsed
bow:abowfi·oInthewa1stwithhandsinhezanghezang:handstogetherandheldinfrontofchestatlevclof
one,sheart
gongzhuo:atableuponwhicbweplaceBuddhaimage,conta1nerofwateI]1ncense,f>owers,etc.
prostrat1on:afl1llbowtothefloor
Acknowledgements
W℃wishtoexpressourappreciationtoJCClearvandalsototheSutraTfanslationComm1tteeoftheUmtedStatesand
Canada,fbrthistranslationofthed加如肋αS㎡湎‧Tbesutra
appearsinthesecondeditionofM〉’巾eα/q/叻eB〃‘鉍鯽,tbetranslationofMasterOuyi﹚scommentaryonthed”加肪αs〃〃涿‧
Forthesakeoflavoutandeascinsingle-mindedchantingwithoutdistract1ons,wehavetakenthelibertyofremov1ngthequotemarksaroundeachofthenamesoftheBuddhasofthesixdirectlons.
Ⅸ℃alsothanktheSutra尸IfanslationConⅡn1tteeofthe
UnitedStatesandCanadafbrtheirtranslationofthe‘‘Praise
toAmitabhaBuddha”and‘‘WishfbrRebirthintothePure
Land﹚,,bothofwhicharefromtheB〃【i扔㎡L㎡〃唔﹚/,SecondEdition,I09]·
]O
PartTWo
PurCLand
PrinciplesandPrac亡icc
PuRELANDBuDDHIsM
W/iththewisbtohelpaIbeings,mayallmythoughts,words,
andactionsbevoidofattachmentandego.Maytbeyarisefromcompassionandwisdom·Maytheybeimbuedwithpatienceandloy.
Once,theBuddhawasaskedifhewasagodTheBuddbarepliedthatno,bewasnotagodThenwasheanangel?No.Aspirit?No.Thenwbatwasbe?TbeBuddharepliedtbatbewasawakened.SincetheBuddha,byhisownassertion,isnotagod,wedonotworsbipbim·W/erespectandaregratefUltohimfbrteacbingusmanydiffbrentmetbodstohelpusfindthewaytobeliberatedfTomthecycleofbirth,death’andrebirth,andlikehim’tobecomeperf℃ctlyenlightened
OneoftbemetbodstheBuddhataughtisPureLandBuddbism.TboughstillinitsfbrmativeyearsintheW/est,PureLandBuddhismiswidelypracticedinAsiaanditsrootsextendallthewaytoancientIndia.
Ⅸ「egeneraⅡythinkintermsofonlyoneBuddha:
]5
Sakyamuni,Wholivedaboutz5ooyearsago.But,sinceanysentientbeingcanawakenandinnumerablenumbershave,thereare1nnumerableBuddhas.
SalWamuniBuddba,afterhisenlightenment’eXplainedthathesawnotonlyhispastlifbtimesbutalsobowtbefUturewouldunfbld·
SakyamunisawpeopleinourtimehavingmoreafHictions,worries,andwanderingthougbts.Ourdeep-seatedbadhabitshavingbecomeevenmoreentrenchedoverthousandsoflifbtimeswouldmake
liberatingourselvessolelybyourowneffbrtsalmostimpossible.Heknewtbattoendone,sproblemsandattainlastinghappinessmanypeoplewouldneedtbehelpofanotherBuddha:Amitabha,theBuddhaofInfiniteLightandInfiniteLifb·
AlmostalloftheteachingsbySakyamuniweretheresultofhisbeingaskedaquestion.Inadeparturefromthenorm,andknowingWhenthetimewasright,SakyamuniinitiatedtheteachingthatintroducedAmitabhaandhispurelandThisspontaneousteachingbySakyamuniiswbatmakesthisteachingsospecial.
Inthisteaching’SakyamunirecountedbowtbebodhisattvaDharmakara,afterwitnessingtbe
]6
suffbringofsentientbeings,spcntf]veeons(anincrediblylongperiodoftime)studyingalltheBuddhalands.DharmalKarathenmadefbrty-eightvows,thefUlfiImentofwhichwouldcreatetheW/esternPure
LandofUltimateBliss.Hedeclaredthathewouldnot
attainBuddhaboodunlesshisvowsfbraperfbctpureland,whereaIbeingswouldadvancealongtheBuddhistpatbandneveragainfallbackintosamsara,wereaccomplisbedOncethesevowswereaccomplished,DbarmakaraBodhisatIabecame
AmitabhaBuddba·HeisnowspeakingtheDharmainhispurelandandhelpingallWhoaretrulysincereintheirvowstobereborntbere.
VVitbhelpfromAmitabha,wedonothavetorelysolelyonourselvestoattainenlightenmentaswewouldwitbothermetbods.InPureLandBuddbism,
werelyonthecompassionateBuddhasandbodhisattvastobelpus.Thus,relianceonselfandonanotherarecombinedaswerequestbywayofourmindfUlcbantingthatAmitabhaBuddha,tbroughthestrengthofhisvows,belpustobereborninhisPureLandaswebreatheourlastbreathinour
presentbody.Amitabbaalsovowedthatonceweattainthis
]7
rebirth,wewiIalwaysprogressinourpracticeandlearning.W/ewiIbeabletocontinueourpracticeinlIisPureLand,or,wbenwechoose,returntothis
andotherworldstohelpothers,withoutbeingaffbctedbyunfavorableenvironmentsorourfbrmerbadhabits·Ifwewisb,wewiIbeabletodotbis
befbreweattainsupremeenligbtenment.DuetoAmitabbaBuddha,smeritsandvirtues,
andthegoodnessofallthebeingsthere,bisPureLandhasinnumerablewondersandadvantages,allofWhicbarisefTomthegreatvows,deeds,andpurityofalltbebeingsthere·Throughhisvows,Amitabhahelpsallbeingscreatetbecausestoplanttherootsofgoodness·W/ithbisdeeds,hecreatestbeconditionsfbrbeingstoaccumulatemerits.I/ithbispurity,hehascreatedaperfbctland--onethatisfreefromanger,andintolerance.Itisalandofpeace,serenity,andeqUality.Incomparison,ourworldisoneofdelusionandsuffbring,fIIedwithworry
Forcountlesspeople,PureLandpracticeisthemostsuitablefbrseveralreasons.First’itisrelatively
easytopracticeinalmostanyenvironment:alone,withotherpractitioners,orevenamidthel1ustleandbustleofeveIydaylifb’Second,therearenodifBcult
]8
entry﹂levelcriteria‧Evenifone,sabilitiesand
knowledgearemodest’withbelief;vows,andpractice,wewiIberebornintbePureLand·
Beliefmeansthatweneedtobelieveintbe
Buddhasandtheirteachings,andincausality.I/eneedtobelieveinourselvesandthatwehavethe
sametruenatureastbeBuddha.W/eneedtobelieve
tbatbylivingamorallif℃andbeingmindfUlofAmitabhaBuddhawewillbebornintotheW/estern
PureLandandbecomeaBuddbainonelif℃time.
Andthird,duetothevowsofAmitabba,
achievementtbrougbthismethodcanbeattainedmorequicklyandmoreeasilytbanwithotherpractices·VVecanunderstandthisbetterthrougbananalogy·W/ecometoariverthatwewishtocross.﹃Ⅸ∕ecanswimacrossbutourbaggageisveryheavyand
tbewateristreacherouslydeepAlternatively’wecangetonaboatthatwill
quicklyandsafdytakeus’andourbaggage,totbeothershore.Symbolically,the‘‘othershore,,istbeachievementofenlightenment.Thebaggagewecarryisourdeep-seatedbadhabitsandnegativekarmasaccumulatedoveruncountablelif℃times,and
theboatisAmitabhaBuddhaIscompassionatewill.
]9
Thetickettoboardtbeboatisbelie丘thesincere
vowtobereborninthePureLand,andpractice,whichincludesleadingamorallif℃andmindfUlly
chanting‘‘Amituofb·,,
4O
CHANTING
TbesimplestwaytopracticePureLandisbychanting‘‘Amituofb,,,whichisAmitabhaBuddbamCbineseJt
doesnotmatterWhetherwecbantinChineseoranyotherlanguageaslongaswedoitproperly.Wγbenwechant,thesoundof‘‘Amituofb,,arisesinourminds·
Andasweutter“Amituofb,,,ourmindsconcentrateon
andembracetbatsound.I/bilechanting,dososincerelyandcontinuously.
Asonekeepschantingandtbemindfbcusesontbesoundof‘‘Amituofb,,,erranttbougbtsarereplacedwithpuretboughts·Inthisway,wealsocreatelessnegativekarma.AfterAmitabhaBuddhahasbeeninourmindcontinuouslyfbralongtime,ourtruenature-ourBuddha-nature-willgraduallybeuncovered
Itissimilartoacbildremembcringadearlylovedone:amotber,fatber)orsomeoneelse.Thedearlylovedoneisalwayswitbhim,alwaysinhisbeart.Likewise)heisalwaysinthedearlylovedonelsheart╴andneverfbIgotten‧Inasimilarway,
Amitabbaisalwaysthinkingofus,waitingfbrustoreacbouttobimsothathemayrespondtous.
4I
AmitabhaBuddhaistbewiseandcompassionateteacherwhounderstandseverything,andwhoisalwaysthinlKingofus,lif℃timeafterlifbtimeafter
lifbtime.W/earetbestudentswboaretrymgtolearnandtopracticeJustasagoodteacberlistenstothecallsfbrhelpfromastudentlookingfbrtherightanswers,ifwehaveunwaveringbeliefWowtobereborninthePureLand’andsincerelypractice’AmitabhawiIrespond.AIwehavetodoischanthisnamemindfully.
I/henwechanttothepointofsingle-mindednesswithtbesolethougbtof“Amituofb’’’wesuccessfUllyfbrmaconnectionwithhim-infact,webecomeonewitbbim.InthatinstantweareintbePureLand╴╴
fartothewestanddeepwithinus.Aswebreatheourlastbreathinthisworld,ifwecanfbrmthis
connection,fbrmthisonenesswith‘‘Amituofb,,,wewillattainournextrebirtbintheW/esternPureLand
andleavesuffbringbehindAndoncethere,wewillhavealltbetimeweneedtocontinueourpracticeandlearning,fbrwewillbeinthecompanyofAmitabhaBuddhaandallthebodhisattvas.TheywiⅡ
helpuslearnallthewaystowiselyandcompassionatelyhelpotberbeings.
4Z
CuLTIvATIoN
Ourpracticeofchanting‘‘Amituofb,,canbedoneanyWhereanytime·Butifwewisbtohaveaspecialplacefbrpracticeinourhome,wefirstneedtodecideWberewewouldlikeittobe.Aseparateroomisideal,butwhenthisisnotpossibleaqUietandcomfbrtablespotwilldoiustaswell.Itisalsoadvisabletochooseasettimeintbeday,perbapsearlyinthemorningwhenthemindisstillrelativelycalmoratnightasyouarewindingdownfromalongdayandwisbtoletgoofanythingtbatistroublingyou.
Ⅸ∕hensettingupyourgD〃gz加0(thetablewhere
youplacetheBuddhaimage,incense,andotberpracticeaids)’placeonlyobiectsthatrelatetoyourpracticeonit’noteverydayobiects.ApartfromcreatingarespectfUlatmosphere,thiswillbebenefIcialtoyourconcentration.Youcanuseabookshelfifspaceislimited;however,itisbesttonotplaceob}ectsothertbanDharmamaterialsor
boolKsabovethissbelfJfthegongzbuoneedstobeplacedinyourbedroom,donotplaceitatthefbotbutrathertothesideofthebed
4]
AsimplearrangementwouldbetoplaceastatueorpictureofAmitabhaBuddhaaloneoraccompaniedbytwobodbisattvasontbegongzhuowithacleancontainerofwaterinfrontofAmitabha.
LookingattheimageofAmitabba,youwouldplaceAvalokitesvaraBodbisatIaontherightsideandMahasthamapraptaBodhisatIaontheleftside.IfyouhavediHicultyinobtaininganimage,youcancontactoneofthesocietieslistedatthebackoftbis
booktorequestapicture.Ifitisnotpossibletoobtainastatueorotherimages,youmaysimplywrite‘‘AmitabhaBuddha,,onapieceofpaperandplaceitbehindtbecontainerofwater’
Ifyouareinasituationwhereeventhisisnotpossible,iustfbcusquietlyonyourpractice.MotIationiswhatisimportant.Asincerewishtocbant,toimproveonesel丘andtobelpothers’isthe
mostimportantrequirementfbrpractice.
SymbolismandUse
TheimageoftheBuddhasymbolizesourtruenature,thesamenatureastbatofallBuddbas.Theimagesofthcbodhisattvassymbolizeunderstandingand
牛4
practice.Mal1asthamaprapta,alsoknownasGreatPowerArrivedBodhisattva,symbolizeswisdomandAvalokitesvara,alsoknownasGreatCompassionBodhisattva,symbolizescompassion..Wisdomandcompassionarecomplementaryandneedtobeusedtogether·
Ifusingastatueyoucanplaceitonastandorboxtoelevateitabovetheotherobiects.ThestatueandbodbisatIaimagesareplacedatthebackofthegongzhuotofbrmthefbcalpoint.
W/aterrepresentspurityandstillness.Ourmindsneedtobeaspureandcalmaswateraswellasvoidofgreed,anger,andignorance.Thiswillenableustointeractwithothersandsituationswithasereneand
nondiscriminatorymind,whichviewingeverythingimpartially,reflectseveIythingclearlybutnon-iudgmentally’likeamirror.
I/hensettingupyourgongzhuo,useanewcuporglassfbrthewater.Trytouseaclearglasscontainer,asseeingthewaterwiIremindyouofwhatitsymbolizes.Placethecontainerinthecenterofthegongzhuoandchangetbewaterregularly.Tbetraditionaltimetocbangetbewaterisinthemoming.Ifthisdoesnotfitintoyourmorning
45
routine,youcaninsteadchangethewaterWhenyoudoyourdailychanting
Incensesymbolizesselfdisciplineandtrainingwhicbwillawakenourwisdomandcompassion·W/henlit,tbeincenseistransfbrmedfrom
sometbinghardandunyieldingintothefragranceoftbeDbarma,thetruthtbatteachesushowtoend
su仳ringandtbusfindlastinghappiness.Placetheincenseholderinfrontoftbewater·
Flowersrepresentcausality.Oureverythought,word,anddeedarecausesthatwillbearresults.Ifwe
wishtohavegoodresultswemustfirstplanttheseedtocreatethecause·Also,flowerscanserveto
remindusofimpermanencefbrasbeautifUlasHowersare,tbeirbeautyisshort-lived.Nothinglastsfbrever.Everythingisimpermanent·
FlowersmaybeplacedatthefbotoftheBuddbaimageortotheside·Apottedplantorsilkflowerscanbeusedinsteadofcutflowers.Changetbem
wbentbeyarenolongersuitablefbrthegongzhuo·Candlessymbolizewisdomandbrigbtness
iIuminatingtbedarknessofignorance’iustasasinglelitcandlecaniIuminatearoomthatbasbeendarkfbr
thousandsofyears·Thecandlealsorepresentstheact
46
ofgivingasitgivesofitselfsothatotbersmaysee.Acandlemaybeplacedoneachsideofthe
gongzhuoarrangement.Forsafbty,youmayuselampsinsteadofcandles‧Also,therearesmaⅡ
battery-operatedcandlesthatserveasasafb,yetfitting,alternat1vetocandles.
PormsofPractice
Tobeginourpractice,weputourhandstogether,palmtopalminfrontofourheart·Fingersarealsoplacedtogetberwithoutanyspacebetweenthem.Eyesarefbcusedonthetipsoftbemiddlefingers.Elbowsareslightlyben仁Thebeadistiltedslightly
down.Thismovementisusedtoexpressrespectandiscalledbe2α叫inChinese‧BesidesbeingUsedto
symbolizethemindwitlIoutwanderingthoughts,itisalsousedtoexpresstheonenessofthetruenature.
ItistraditionaltobeginpracticewithasimpleceremonythatincludesbowingtotbeBuddha.Bowing,alsocalledprostrating,isourwayofshowingrespectandcanservetopurifythethreekarmasofbody’speech’andmindwhenitiscombinedwithchanting.Sincethispracticecanbe
47
difHcultphysicallyfbrpeoplewhoareunaccustomedtotbemovements,itisacceptabletodoastandinghalfbowinsteadofafUIbowtothefloor.
VVhenreadytobeginapracticesession,doahalfbow,threefi1llbows,andahalfbow.BotbfbrmswiⅡ
beexplainedindetailinfbIowingsections.I/itbthisbowing,wepayrespecttotheBuddhaandmentallypreparetobeginourcbanting.Havingdonetbis,wemaynextligbtanincensestickifconditionsallow,andthentakeupourposition·
Sitting
Assumeacomfbrtablepositiononameditationcushionorstool,oronacbair.Useacusbion,eitber
onthef>oororyourcbair,thatisslantedsothebackisslightlyhigherthantbefrontofthecushionThiswillinclineyourpelvisfbrwardandprovidebettersupport.W/bensittingonthefloorwithacushion,youmaydosoinafl1llorpartiallotusposition,oryoumaycrossyourlegs.IfthispositionispainfUl,itmaybemorecomfbrtabletouseameditationstoolorbighercushion.Sittingonthestoolandplacingone,slegsunderitinasimulatedkneelingpositionis
48
tbeusualposition.Ifsittingonacbair,placebothfbetflatontheflooraboutafbotapart.
Tositinalotusposition,sitontbecusbionandplacethetopofyourleftfbotonyourrightthighNext,placeyourrightfbotonyourlefttbightofbrmastableseat.Thebackandshouldersshouldbeerect
butrelaxedIftbisistoodifHcult,asitisfbrmany
people,trythehalflotusposition,inwhichyouraiseonlyonefbotontoathigh’andresttheotberundertheoppositethighOrsitcross-legged·Pleaserememberthatitisnotnecessarytofbrceyourselftositinanunfamiliarpositionthatistoophysicallydemanding.
TrytodeterminewhetheryourdiscomfbrtissimplytheresultofsittingstiIinadiffbrentpositionfromwhatyouareusedto,orduetotakingupapositionthatisiusttoodifHcultorpainfUl.Itismoreimportanttofbcusonsubduingourpointless,wanderingthoughtsthanonsubduingbodiesthatarenotusedtosittinginunfamiliarways.
Holdyourhandsonyourlapwiththebackoftherighthandrestingonthepalmofthelefthand,andwiththumbtipsslightlyraisedandlightlytouching.Eyesmaybelightlyclosedorslightlyopen.Ifyou
49
fCeldrowsyWhenyoureyesareclosed,opentbemslightly.Postureisveryimportant,sosituprightcomfbrtablywitboutslumpingorleaningfbrwardHoldtheheadataslightdownwardtiltwiththechinpullediniustalittle.Inthisposition,beginchanting“Amituofb’,aloudorsilently.
Breatheinthroughtbenose,pullingtheairdownintothedeepestpartoftbelungswhiledistendingtbediapbragmandthenslowlybreatheouttbroughthenose.BreatbingshouldbenaturalTrytouseyourdiapbragmtopuItheairdeeperintoyourlungsinsteadofbreathingshallowbInsilentchanting,thetipoftbetonguelightlytouchesthebackoftbeupperteeth,andteetbandlipsareheldasusualShouldersarelevelandelbowsareheldslightlyawayfromyoursides·
IfyouarenotyetaccustomedtosuchpracticeandeXperiencediscomfbrtsuchaslegcramps’slowlymoveyourlegsintoapositioninwhichyouaremorecomfbrtable·ItisbesttolKeepinitialsessionssbort:tentofifteenminutes.Sessionsmaybegraduallylengthenedasyoubecomemoreusedtothepractice·ItisbettertodoashortperiodofchantingthannotdoitatallYoumayusewalkingorbowingtocalm
5O
bothmindandbodybefbreyoubeginyoursitting.Continueyourchantingasyouvarythephysicalfbrmsofpractice.
W/alking
VVecanpracticewalkingindoorsoroutdoors.ThispracticeisexcellentfbrmindfUlnessaswellasfbrcalmingdownbothmindandbody.W『eareusually
sowrappedupinrusbingfromoneplacetoanotberthatbefbrewecansitquietlyweneedtogentlyslowourselvesdown.Thus,itisoftenhelpfUltobeginalongerchantingsessionwithwalkingbecausetbishelpstomakethetransitionfromhurriedeverydayact1v1t1estoourpract1ce.
Unlikeourusualwalkingasameanstogetfromoneplacetoanother,oftenqUicklyandwithoutanyrealsenseofWhereweare,ourpracticeofwalkingWhilechantingisslowanddeliberate.W/hilewedonotbecomeabsorbedinoursurroundings,wedoremainawareofwbereweareandwhatishappeningaroundus.Ideally,weremainalertbutarenotdistractedbyactivitiesaroundus.
Ifyourareafbrwalkingislargeenough,youcan
夕I
walkinacircle.W『hilewalkingslowly,beawareof
liftingandplacingyourfbetuponthefloorortheearthInsteadoftheusuallmrriedimpactontbesurfacewearewalkingon’tbefbotshouldgentlytouchitKeepbodymovementssmoothandlithe,aswithtaichimovements.Duringthispractice,handsareheldatslightlylowerthanwaistlevelinfrontofus,withthebackoftberighthandrestingontbepalmoftheleftandwithourthumbtipslightlytouching.W/alkcloclKwise,asthishasbeentbecustomsincethetimeoftheBuddha.
Therearetwobasicfbrmsofourwalking.Inthefasterfbrm,liftyourrightfbotoffthefloor,orground,andmoveitfbrwardandplaceitonthefloorasyouchant‘‘A),(pronouncedas“ah”).ThenrepeatthemovementwitbyourleftfbotasyouclIant‘‘mi,,(pronouncedas‘‘me”).Stepagainonyourrightfbotasyouchant‘‘tuo,,(pronouncedas‘‘tuaw,,)andthenontheleftfboton“f○”﹙pronouncedas‘‘fa﹨爪/,﹚.Inthe
slowermethod,steponyourrightfbotasyoucbant(‘A,,andslowlyshiftyourweightfromyourheeltoyourtoesasyouchant(‘mi.,,Thensteponyourleftfboton“tuo,,andslowlyshiftyourweightfromyourheeltoyourtoesasyouchant‘‘fb·,,
52
Inbothfbrms,allmovementsshouldbe
deliberateandcarefi1lWγhileweusuallysteponthe
rightfbotfirst,peopleatotbercentersmigbtstepontheleft,soifyouattenddi仳rentcentersyouwill
needtoseehowtheydotheirwalkingmeditation.Duringthewalking,ourchantingmaybedone
aloudorsilentlytoourse】ves.W『hetheraloudor
silent,listentoandfbcusonthesoundofyour
chanting.W/alkingmaybeusedtobreakuplongerperiodsofsittingorastlIesolefbrmofpractice.Duringretreatsorregularchantingsessions,somecentersusewalkingmeditationmoreoftensinceiteffCctivelycountersthedrowsincssandstiffilessthatcanarisefromprolongedperiodsofsitting·
Prostrating
W/ebownottoworshipbuttopayourrespectstotheBuddhafbrteachingus,torecognizetheBuddha-naturetbatisinhimandinallbeings,andtopracticehumilitybytoucbingthefloorwithourhead
Ifwearefbcusedandsincereinwhatweare
doing’wewiIbecleansingthcthreekarmasofbody’
,]
speech,andmind.Forexample,aswebow,ourbodywillbemovingaswechant,andwitheacl1bow,wewillpuri0someofournegativekarmawehadcreatedthrougbourfbrmeractions·Aswethink“Amituofb’”wewillpurif)/someofourevilkarmacreatedbyourpasttboughts.Aswechant“Amituofb’﹚﹚wewiⅡpuri吋someofourpastbarmfUl
speechInourchanting,wepronounceeachsyllableclearlyanddistinctlysotbatwehearthechantwbetheritisvoicedorsilent.RegardlessofWhetherwechantwhenwalking,sitting,orbowing,ourfbcusingontbeBuddl1a,snamewilldecreaseoureverydayworries.Eventually’tbeywiIbeeliminated
Tobeginbowing,standwithyourfbetpointingsligbtlyoulwardina‘‘V’’andyourheelsaf℃wincbes
apart.Placeyourhandsinthehezangposition,lookdownatthetipsofyourmiddlefingers,andsligl1tlytiltyourheaddown.Keepingyourneckstraight,slowlybendfbrwarduntilyouhavebentoveralmostfbrtydegrees·Then,bendatthekneesand,wbileboldingyourlefthandintbesamepositionatcbestlevel’moveyourrightbandtowardthefloorsothatitwiIsupportyouasyourbendingkneescompleteloweringyoutotheground.
54
W/henyourrighthandtouchesthegroundbringthelefthandtothegroundaswell,butaboutsixinchesaheadoftherigbt.Besuretoplacebothhandsonthefloorsotbeywillbeinfrontofyourheadwhenittouchestbef>oor.VViththissupportofbothhandsontheground,continuebendingyourkneestotbegrounduntilyourkneesareontbefloor.Yourrighthandsbouldbeiustinfrontandslightlyoutsidetheedgeoftherightknee,andthelefthandstillabeadoftberight·Fortbosewithproblemsinthewristorioints)orwhofCelunsteadyduetophysicalconditionsyoumayplacebothbandsdownatthesametimetofbrmabettersupport.
Next,flexyourf℃etsotbatthetopsofyourfbet
arerestingontheHoorandyourtoesarealmosttouchingeachother.Yourlowerlegsandf℃etwill
nowberestingontbefloorandyourbuttockswillberestingonyourlegs.
Moveyourrightbandtoapositionlevelwithyourleftandangleyourbandstowardseachothersoyourlowerarmsandbandsfbrmaninverted‘‘V,,without
thehandstouchingoneanotherandwitbyourpalmsdown.Continueloweringyourupperbodyuntilyourfbrebeadtoucbesthefloor.Atthispoint,slowlyand
55
supplelymakealoosefistwitheacbhandandthenturnyourhandsoversotheyarepalmsupwithfingersverygentlycurledPositionyourhandsasifo仳ringtoholdtbeBuddhawitbyourhands‧Tbisis
thefinalpositionintbefUllbow.Yourfbrehead,fbrearms,knees,lowerlegs,andfbetwillnowberestingonthefloor.KeepyourslightlycurvedbackparalleltotheHoor·Donotpushyourstomachdowntherebypullingthemiddleofyourbackbonedown;keepthebackgentlycurved
Toraiseyourself;repeatthebowinreverseorder.Slowlyturnthehandssotbeyarepalmsdown.Changetbepositionofyourfbetsoyourtoesareonthegroundandyourfbetarereadytosupportyouasyourise.ThenpuIyourrightbandtowardsyourbodyafbotorsoandthiswillhelptostraightenandraiseyourtrunkIfneeded,pullyourlefthandtowardsyourbodyuntilitismorelevelwithyourrightbandtbenusingbothhandspushyourselfup.Continuerisingandstraighteningupuntilyouareagainstandinguprigbtwithpalmstogetberatchestlevel.
Beginwithonlyafbwbows’bowingslowlyandgentlywhilebeingmindfl1lofyourmovements,and
,6
graduallyincreasethenumberyoudαIfpossible’do
thispracticewhileachantingmachineorCDisplaying.YoumayremaininthefUllbowpositionfbrseveralsecondsuntilyoubegintorise·
DedicationofMerits
Uponcompletionofourchanting,wefbrmallydedicateourmeritstobeingbornintothePureLandbyrecitingthefbIowing:
MaythemeritsandvirtuesaccruedfromtbispracticeadorntheBuddha,sPureLand,
repaytheFourKindsofKindnessabove,andrelievetbesuffbringsofthose
intheThreePathsbelow.
Maythosewhoseeandbearofthis,bringfbrthtbeheart
ofunderstandingandcompassionand,attheendoftbislifb,
beborntogetherintbeLandofUltimateBliss.
,7
TheFourKindsofKindnessaretheTbreeJewels
oftheBuddha,theDbarma,andtheSangha;parents;teachers;andallbeings·Attbeinitiallevelofunderstanding,the‘‘ThreePathsbelow,,arethoseofanimals,bungryghosts,andheIdweIers.Inthecycleofrebirth,thesethreearebelowtboseofhumans,
asuras,andheavenlybeingsButatahigherlevelofunderstanding,tbeThree
PathscanbeviewedastheRealmofDesire(our
world),theRealmofPorm(wherethelesserdeities
dwelD,andtheRealmofFormlessness(wberetbe
higherdeitiesdweI).Untilonetranscendsthecycleofrebirth,oneisstiIboundtorebirthwithinthe
hell,hungryghost,animal,human,asura,andheavenlypaths.Yes’evenfbrtboseinthebeavenlyrealms’whereex1stenceistrulywonderfUl,suclIex1stencewillonedayendandsu仳ringwillreturn.
Nianiu
Anothermethodfbrpracticeistouse〃zα叨〃,ormala·Tbesearewornaroundthewrist.Intbis
metbod,werecite‘‘Amituofb,,onceaswegentlymoveeacl1beadtowardsuswitbourtbumb.Aswe
58
practice,ourthoughtswiIinitiallybeonthebeads,butgraduallywewiIbeabletofbcusmorefirmlyonourchanting.TbismetlIodisparticularlyhelpfi1lduringthedaywhenwecanfindsometimetochant,especiallywhenwewishtoreturntotbesenseofserenitythatourchantingbrings,orwhenweencounterstressfUlsituations,andsoon.
Nian}ucomeinsinglewristlengthsofvaryingnumbersofbeadsoralongerlengthofIo8beads.Thislongernianiuwillusuallybavethreesmallerbeadsevenlyspacedalongthestring,andone“mother”beadThetbreesmaIerbeads’usuallyofa
diffbrentcolor,symbolizethefbIowing:theBuddha,wborepresentsawakening;theDbarma,whichrepresentsproperviewsandunderstanding;andtheSangha,Wbichrepresentsharmonyandpuri叮ofmind
Nianiubeadsareoftenmadefromtbeseeds’wood,orrootofaBodbitree,orfromotbernatural
materialslikegemstonesordiffbrenttypesofwood.Naturalmaterialslikewoodandseedsdarkenand
developabeautifUllusteraswepractice.IfthemotherbeadofyournianiuhasaBuddba
image,donotuseitfbryourcbanting·Stopatthe
59
beadbefbreitandreversedirectionsoyouaremovingintbeoppositedirection.InthePureLand
tradition’mostnianjudonotbaveaBuddhaimage,sowecontinueourchantingandpassthemotherbeadinthesamemannerastheotberbeads.
AudioAids
Manypractitionersliketouseachantingmachine,whichisasmallplasticboxthatcontainsacomputerchipThecbipcontinuouslyplayscbantingmusicandaIowsustoalwaysbavethechantingwithus.Althoughwemaynotconsciouslyfbcusonthesoundofthechanting,themachineservesasanexceIentaidtokeepthesoundatleastonalowerlevelofawareness’readytorisetoourconsciousnessWbeneverwcwish
CDsareaverygoodalternativeandtbecontentscanbetransfbrredeasilytoMP]players.CDsmayberequestedfromAmitabhaBuddhistsocietiesandPureLandLearningCenters.ChantMP3scanalsobedownloadedfromwww.amitabha-gaIery.oIg
6O
Ten-recitationMethod
Thissimple,convenient,andeffbctivewaytoprac-ticeBuddhanamechantingisespeciallysuitablef•rtbosewbofindthattheyhavelittletimefbrcultivation.ThechantingbelpsustobemindfUlofAmitabhaBuddbaItbringsusioy.
.Webeginwhenwewakeup.Situpstraightandclearlychant‘‘Amituofb,,tentimeswithacalmandfbcusedmind,aloudorsilently.Werepeatthiseightmoretimesthroughouttheday.Eachtimewechant‘‘Amituofb,,tentimes.Thiscbantingcanbedonebyfbllowingoneoftwoprograms.Pleasecboosetbeonethatistbemostsuitablefbryourcircumstances·
Oneprogramistocbantuponwakingup,befbreandafterbreakfast,bef•reworlK,befbreandafter
lunch,befbreandafterdinner,andbefbreretiring.
Theotherprogramistochantuponwakingup,befbrebreakfnst,befbreandafterourmorning,swork,befbrelunch,befbreandafterourafternoon,swork,befbredinner,andbefOreretiring.
Thekeyisregularity;disruptionofthispracticewillreduceitse仳ctiveness‧W∕henwerecite
consistentlywithoutinterruption’wewiIsoonfbel
6I
anincreaseinourwisdom,serenity,andpurityofmindDiligentpracticeofthismetbodtogetherwithunwaveringbeliefWows,andlivingamorallifbcanensurefUlfillmentofourwishtoreacbtheW/esternensurerulr
PureLand
62
THEFIvEGuIDELINEs
TheFiveGuidelinesfbrmthefbundationandarethe
wayweprogressinourpractice·Theyarefirst,tbeThreeConditions;second,theSixHarmonies;tbird,
theThreefbldLearning;fburtb,tbeSixParamitas;andfifth,theTenGreatVows.VVebeginourpracticewiththefirstguidelineoftheThreeConditionsandgraduallyprogressfromthere.
MasterChinKungextractedtheseguidelinesfromtbefivePureLandsutras,whichconsistof
threesutras,twochaptersfromsutras,andonetreatise.ThePureLandsutrasandtreatiseare:
LTlIeI〉!/﹜〉Z/加L旋M加Z2.Tbed〃Z//∕W﹚αM力Ⅶ
J.Thevk『〃α肱α勿〃s〃rm
午.“SamantabhadraBodhisattvaisConductand
Vows,,fromtheduα加〃zJtz向αS〃力Ⅶ
,.‘‘ThePerf℃ct,CompleteRealizationof
MahastbamapraptaBodhisattva,,fromtheS伽m〃gZ加αS〃rm
6.TbeReb/γrZ﹚T〉℃α妨β
6]
TheThreeConditions
InthebeginningoftheV改『〃α肱α吻〃S〃Zm,QueenVaidehi,havingencounteredoverwhelmingfamilymisfbrtunesandhavingthustrulyexperiencedsuffbring’entreatedSakyamuniBuddha’‘‘Theworldisfilledwithsuffbring.Isn,tthereabetterplace,aworldwithoutevil?Iwishtoberebornthere.,,
Throughhistranscendentalpowers,tlIeBuddbacompassionatelydisplayedalltheBuddhaLandsinthetenquartersoftheuniversefbrbertoobserveandchoosefrom.
AsSakyamuniBuddhaexpected,shechoseAmitabhaBuddba,sW/esternPureLand,alsoknown
astheLandofUltimateBliss,andrequested
SakyamuniBuddhatoteachherhowtoattainrebirththere.
BefbretheBuddhastartedontherequired
practicesfbrrebirth,hetaugbthertopracticetbeThreeConditions,explainingthattheywere“thetruecausesofpureactivitiesofallBuddhasoftbethreetimeperiods.,,ThisimportantstatementteIsusthataIBuddhasofthethreetimeperiodsofthe
past,tbepresent,andthefUture,relyontheThree
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Conditionsasthefbundationfbrtheircultivation
andattainmentofBuddbabood
TheFirstConditionis:
I.Befilialtoandcarefbrone,sparentsz.BerespectfUltoandserveteachers
].BecompassionateanddonotkiIanylivingbeings
午CultivatetheTenVirtuousKarmas‧
Pllysically,wearetorefrainfromkiIing,stealing’andsexualmisconduct.VerbaIy’wearetorefrainfromfalsespeech,harshspeech,divisivespeech,andenticingspeechMentaIy’wearetorefrainfromgivingrisetogreed,anger,andignorance·
TheSecondConditionis:
,.TaketheTbreeRefi1ges6.Abidebytheprecepts7.Behaveinadignified,appropriatemannerTheThirdConditionis:
8.GeneratetheBodbimind
9.BelievedeeplyincausalityIo.StudyandchanttheMahayanasutrasII.Encourageotherstoadvanceonthepathto
enlightenment
6,
TheSixHarmonies
TheSixHarmoniesareguidelinesthatwiIenableustogetalonginasangba,whicbistheBuddhistcommunityoffburormorepeople,monasticorlay,whopracticetheteachingstogetber·TheSixHarmoniesare:
I·Harmonyinhavingthesameviewpoints2.Harmonyinobservingthesameprecepts].Harmonyinlivingtogetber午Harmonyinspeakingwithoutconflict
,·HarmonyinexperiencingDharmabliss6.HarmonyinsharingbenefitsFirstisharmonyinhavingthesameviewpoints,
whicbmeansestablishingconsensusesinagroup·Tbegroupmembersmustupboldthesameprinciplesandmetbodsthattheyarestudyingandpracticingfbrharmoniousgroupcultivation·Ifwewantastablesociety,everyoneneedstogetalongwithoneanother.Onlyharmonycangraduallydrawtogetherandeventuallyminimizethediffbrencesinouropinions,ideas,andwaysoflifeThenequalitycanbeacbieved,andfinally,happiness.
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Secondisharmonyinobservingthesameprecepts·W/henweliveandpracticetogether,weneedtohaverules,orelsetberewiIbedisorder.Therulesinclude
thepreceptssetbytheBuddha,wbichvarydependingonWhetheritisalayoramonasticsangha·Theflmdamentalpreceptsaretbefivepreceptsfbralaysangha,andtbemonkornunpreceptsfbramonasticsangha.InadditiontotheBuddhistprecepts,lawsandlocalcustomsarealsotobeobserved
Tbirdisbarmonyinlivingtogetherasagroup.Tbepurposeofestablisbingacultivationcenteristobelpeveryparticipantinthegroupsucceedintheirpractice·Livingtogetberinagroup,practitionerscansupporteachother·
Pourthisbarmonyinspeakingwithoutconflict.Byreducing’andideallyeliminating,disputes’peoplewillbebetterabletofbcusontheircultivation·
Peoplewbotalktoomuchoftencreateproblemsfbrthemselves.Misunderstandingscanariseastbelistenertakestobeartacarelessremarkoftbe
speaker.Tbus’acarelessspeakerunknowinglyincursmanyenmities,whichgiverisetofUtureretaliation.ThisiswhyitisbesttoiiTalkless;chantthe
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Buddha,snamemore.IIThelesswespeak,thef℃wer
problemswewillhavcItisbesttbatwespeakonlywhennecessary.
FifthisharmonyinexperiencingDharmabliss.W/henwelearnandpracticeaDharmaDoor,thebasicachievementthatweshouldattainishappiness·Ifwefbelunhappyinourpractice,tbenwehaveencounteredaseriousproblem.ThisproblemliesnotintbeBuddha,steachings,butintbewaywepractice·W/emayeitherhavedonesometbingthatgoesagainsttheprinciplesoftheteachingsorappliedtheprinciplesincorrectly.Otherwise’theresultswouldgraduallybecomeapparentaswelessenoursuffbring.Ⅸ『itheachpassingday’wewouldenjoygreaterhappinessandfiseedom.Thisshowsthatweareprogressinginourpractice·Ifwearenotachievingthis,weneedtoreflect,findourmistakes,
andthencorrecttbem.W/ecanthenthustrulybenefitfromourpractice.
Sixtbisharmonyinsharingbenefits.Inthesangl1a’eveIythingissharedfairlyandWheneverpossible’eqUaIyIntbisway’eveIyone,sbasicneedswillbemet.SpecialneedsarealsotobeconsideredUnderstandingthateveIytbinginthesangbaisanoffbring,notbing
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shouldbewastedThiswillinsurethatfUtureneeds
willalsobemet.
TheTbreefbldLearning
TbethirdoftheFiveGuidelinesistbeThreefbld
Learning.Tocounteracttheproblemsofthepeopleinourworldandage,theBuddhataught:
I.Moralselfdisciplinez.Meditativeconcentration
3.InnatewisdomMoraldisciplinecounteractsourhabitsfbr
wrongdoing.Meditativeconcentrationcounteractstbetendencyofourmindstowanderandhavescatteredthoug1ts.W『isdomcounteractslgnorance﹚ourwrong
vIewsandknowledge,andourlackofcorrectknowledgcVVebeginwithmoralselfdiscipline,withtraining·
Onabasiclevel,weabstainfromkiIing;from
stealing;fromsexual,orsensual,misconduct;fromlying;andfromtbetakingofintoxicants.Onabroaderbasis,webehaveinamoralandethicalwayin
everythingwedo.Bynotkilling,wewillreverealllifb,andhave
compassionandrespectfbrallsentientbeings.Byour
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veIyex1stence,wearetakinglives.Aswewa>k,westeponinsects.Toproducetbefbodweeatandthewater
wedrink’mIonsofotberanimalandmicrobiologicallivesaredestroyed.VVecannotstopeatingordrmkingwater,butwecanmakecertamwedonotwaste
anytbing.Understandingourimpactonothers,wecanusewbatweneed,butnomorethantbat.
NotkiIingalsohasamoresubtleaspect:W/eshouldnotkiItheseedsofgoodnessinothersorharmanotberemotionally.W/hileourthougbtsandactionscanbedamagingtoothers,itisourspeecbthatalltooeasilycommitsthisoff℃nse‧Ourcareless,sarcastic,orangrywordscandeeplywoundachild,alovedone,afriend.W尼needtouseourspeechwiselyandspeakfromtbebeartthatwishestohelpothers.
Bynotstealing,wewillrespecttbeproper•ofothersandnottakeoruseanythingwithoutpermissionoftheowner·Thisseemssimpleenough,butthistrainingalsomeansthatwedonottakethatbookwhicbislyingunclaimedinarestaurant.NeitherdowekeeptheextradollarthattheclerkmistakenlygavetousnordowetakethingsfromwhereweworlKfbrpersonaluse.
7o
Bynotcommittingsexual,orsensual,misconduct,wedonotindulgeinsensualpleasures,understand-ingthattodosonotonlyincreasesourattacbmentsandcravings,butoursuffbringaswell.
Bynotlying)wespeaktruthflllly’understandingthepowerthatourwordscanbave.W/echooseourwordswiselyrealizingthatgreatharmcanresultfromill-considered,untrutbfUlspeech
Bynottakingintoxicants,wedonottakesubstancestbataffbctourabilitytotbinkandbehaveclearlyatalltimes,andthatharmourbodies.Remainingclear-headedhelpsustonotharmothersorourselves.
Nextismeditativeconcentration.Inmeditative
concentration,wefbcusourattentiononwbateverwe
choose.Tberearenodistractionsorworries,no
doubtsordrowsiness,nodiscriminationsorattach-
ments:W/eremainunaffCctedbyourenvironmentandmaintainacalm,undisturbedmindInitially’thisstatewiIbringioyandasenseofease.Eventually,itwillenableustoseethingsastheytrulyare.
Ineverydaylifb,wecanconcentrateonwhateverwearedoing·W/ewillbeawareofwhatisbappeningaroundusbutwewillnotbedistractedordisturbed
7I
byit.Indailylifb,wecanpracticemeditativeconcentrationineverythingwedo:whetherweareworking’wateringthegarden,ordrivingourcar·W/ecboosetheobiectoractivityofourattentionandthenremainfbcusedonit.
I/ealsostrivetoattammeditativeconcentration
inourBuddhistpractice.Thepracticeofconcentratingon‘‘Amituofb,,willhelpustobecomeonewitbperfbctcompassion,perf℃cthappiness,and
perfbctpeace·Nolongerwillwefbelthatweneedtoattainperf℃ctiononourownaswerealizethatwe
arealreadyonewithtbatwhichisper化ct.Thirdisintuitivewisdom.Intuitivewisdomisnot
aninteIectualpursuitnorisitameasureofacademicintelligence·Itisknowingandunderstanding,anditarisesfromwithinuswhenourmindsareclearand
calm·
TheSixParamitas
TointeractsuccessfUllywithothers’theBuddhataughtustbeSixParamitas,orPerfbctions.TbefburtboftheFiveGuidelines,theparamitasaretbepracticesofbodbisattvas·TheSixParamitasare:
72
I.Givingz.Preceptobservation].Patience
午Diligence
夕.Meditativeconcentration6.W/isdom
Thefirstparamitaisgiving·Givingcountersgreed,andensuresthatinthefUturewewillhaveampleresourcestocontinuehelpingotbers·Theunderlyingmeaningofgivingislettinggo.
TberearetbreemaiorkindsofgivingTbefirstistbegivingofwealth,beitmaterialresourcesorourtimeandenergy.W/henourgivingbecomesincreasinglyunconditional)wewillbegintofbelmoreliberatedspiritually.Themoreweglveaway)thefbwerpossessionswebavetoworryabout、Soon
wewillrealizethatweneedverylittletobetrulycontent.
Secondisthegivingofteaching·Byteachingotbers,wearehelpingthemtolearnhowtorelymoreonthemse>ves.W/egivematerialresourcestotrytosolveimmediateneeds.But,ifwewanttosolveneedsthataremorefar-reacbing,weteachItisnotnecessarytohaveexceptionalslKills·Simply
7]
teachwhateverwearegoodatandwhatothersarenot.ThehighestfbrmofteachingistheDharma,whicbcanhelppeoplefindlastinghappinessandliberation.
Andtbirdistbegivingoff℃arlessness.Itisto
removetheinsecurities,worries,andfbarsofothers,whetherthe‘‘other,,ishumanornon-human.This
givingcanbethesharingofakindword,thegivingofourstrengthandstability,orourunderstanding.W/henwerelievetheworriesandfbarsofothers,and
helpthemtofbelmoresecure,theywillbeabletofindpeaceandselfrespect.
Tbesecondparamitaismoraldiscipline,Whichcountersworriesandunhappiness,andenablesustocontinueonourwaytoawakening·Inamoreliteralsense,itmeansabidingbytbeprecepts.Inabroadersense,tbesecondperfbctionmeansethicalbehavior,aswefbllowtbecustomsandlawsofwhereverwe
arc.Initially’aswebeginourpracticeofdiscipline’wecanfbcusonrefrainingfromharmingothers.Gradually’webegintodevelopandincreaseourvirtue.Theultimatefbrmofthispracticeistobenefitothers·
74
Tbetl1irdparamitaispatience,wl1ichcountersangerandhatred,andhelpsustoavoidaIgumentsandtoachieveourgoals·W/eneedpatienceinalmosteverythingwedo.Ifweareinschool)weneedpatiencetopersevereinourstudy.Atwork,patiencehelpsustoproperlyaccomplishourtasksAthome)patienceisthefbundationfbrinteractingweIwithfamilymembers·
Patienceenablesustogetalongmoreharmoniouslywiththosearoundus.Forourselves,patienceallowsustorecogn1zeourbadbabitsandtoimproveourselvesbychangingthosehabits.
Thefburthparamitaisdiligence,orenthusiasticeffbrt.Itisthejoytbatwebringtoourpracticeandtoallthatisworthwhileinourlives.Itisthetrue
delightthatarisesfromdeepwitbinuswhenwearedoingwhatisWbolesome.ItenablesustokeepgoingwhenwefbeltiredoroverwhelmedItisrefieshingandinspiring·Cultivatingenthusiasticeffbrtcounterslaziness’andbringsioytoourlivesaswefbelasenseofaccomplishmentinfinishingwl1atwehavestarted
Thefifthperf℃ctionismeditativeconcentration.
Ourpracticeandtrainingindisciplineandnot
7,
harmingotherswillreduceandgraduallyeliminateourharmfUlverbalandphysicalbehaviors.OurmindswiIbecomecalmerandlessagitatedI/henourmindsarethussettled,wewiIbebetterabletoconcentrate·
OurconcentrationwilliⅢti刨b「reduceand,then,
graduallyeliminateourdisturbingthoughtsandemotionalbehavior.I/ewillthenga1nmeditativeconcentration,wlIicbwIenableustouncoverour
1nnatewisdomJ}]us’discipline’meditativeconcentIation’andwisdomworktOgetheI}andarecomplementary
Thesixthparamitaiswisdom.W/isdomcountersignorance,andenablesustoknowhowbesttobelpotbersandtoimproveourselves,includingourabilitytogetalongweIwithothers·Thiswisdomisnotthatwhichisgainedthrougbintensestudyandanalysisofmanydiversesub}ects.ThatwouldbeseekingwisdomfiDmexternalsources·Itisourinnate,all-knowingwisdom·
Ifwebegintopracticetheses1xperfbctionsineveniustsomesmallmeasureeveryday)startingwitbtoday’gradually,wewillbegintolookintherigbtdirection,andgraduallywewillawakentotheper比ctgoodness,perf℃ctcontentment,andperfbct
76
ioythatarealreadywithinourtruenature,ourBuddba-nature.
TheTenGreatVows
OnlywhenweapplytheThreeConditions’theSixHarmonies,tbeThreefbldLearning,andtheSixParamitasinourdailylivesarewetrulylearningBuddhism,emulatingbodhisattvas,andbeginningtoresembleabodhisattva.BodhisatIascannotattain
BuddhahoodonlybypracticingtheSixParamitas.TheyalsopracticeBuddha-namechanting·
InthepracticeofBuddha-namecbanting,wecanachieveeitherConstantMindfUlnessofAmitabha
BuddhaorOneMindUndisturbedinMindfUlness,butwecannotachieveOneMindUndisturbedin
Enlightenment.Inotberwords,wehavetomovebeyondthefbundationoftheSixParamitasandprogresstothenextlevelofpractice:theTenGreatVowsofSamantabhadrataughtintheduα加加J娥αM加Z.
ThisDharmadoorleadstoattainmentofOne
MindUndisturbedinEnlightenmentandattainmentofBuddbaboodItispracticedbyDbarmaBody
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Mahasattvas·ThesearegreatBodhisattvaswhohaverealizedtheDbarmaBody;inotherwords’theyhavefreedthemselvesfTomdelusion.Therefbre,itisthe
laststepofourcultivationandcannotbereachedbyskippingtheprevioussteps.VenerableMasterChinKungbassaidthatifwedonotsucceedinourpracticeoftbeSixParamitas,wearenotevenclose
topracticingtheTenGreatVows.Thedistinctivefbatureofthepracticeof
Samantabhadraistbatthisbodhisattvahasamindas
broadastheuniverse.Asaresult,eachofhisten
vowsisultimateandperfbctinitselfTbeTenGreatVowsofSamantabhadraare:
I·TorespectallBuddhasz.TopraiseTathagata(oneofthetennamesfbr
Buddha)
3.Tomakeoffbringsextensively午Torepentkarmicobstacles
,.Toreioiceatother,smeritoriousdeeds6·ToreqUesttheturningoftbeDharmaWheel7·ToreqUesttbeBuddhatoremainintbisworld8·ToconstantlyfbllowtheBuddha,steachings9.ToaccommodateallsentientbeingsIo.TodedicateallmeritsuniversaIy
78
Inconclusion,ourlearningoftbePureLandteachingsisbasedonthef}vePureLandsutrasandonetreatise.
OurPureLandpracticeisbasedontheFiveGuidelines:theThreeConditions,theSixHarmon1es,the
ThreefbldLearning,theSixParamitas,andtheTenGreatVowsofSamantabhadra·
Theseguidelinesareverysimple,veryclear,andnotatallcomplicatedIfwefbllowtbeseguidelinesinourlearningandpracticefbrtherestofourlives,wewilldefinitelysucceedAsanancientsageoncesaid,‘‘Iftenthousandpractice,tentbousandwiⅡ
attainrebirth,,I/ehavetbeprinciplesandtbepracticemetbods·
Howdoweinteractwithpeopleandengageintasksindailylifb?IfwefbllowthesefiveguidelineswewiInotgowrong·
Inaddition’ifwesingle-mindedlypracticeBuddha-namecbantingandseekrebirtbintheW/esternPureLand,allofuswiIsucceed
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CAREoFDHARMAMATERIALs
、Wbetheroneisathomeortraveling,donotplaceDharmamaterialsontbefloorortheseatofachair.
Ifotherspaceistemporarilyunavailable’wemaycarefUllyplaceabookontbearmofasofaorchair.Pre比rably’bookssbouldbeclosedandplacedneatly
ontbehighershelvesofabookcase·W/henturningthepages,dosocarefUllyanddonotturndowntheedgeofthepagetomarkyourplace.Ifusingabookfbrstudy,wemaywriteinitifitisacommonlyprintedbookandhasnointrinsicvalue.
Thebooks,images,andotherDharmamaterialsarenottobetakenintobathrooms·Also,ifpossible,
pleasedonotplacetbemdirectlyonyourbedW「lIen
traveling,tbesebookscanbewrappedinacleanclothandplacedinyourluggage.Thebooksmayalsobeplacedonthecloththatisinturnplacedonabed·
W「henweareinthebathroomorarenotproperly
dressed’chantsilently’However,whencleaningordoingchores,wemaychantaloudSilentorvoicedchantingbringstbesameresult·
8o
VIsITINGABuDDHIsTCENTER
ThefbllowingaresomeguidelinesfbrvisitingaBuddhistcenter·Byadberingtotheseandobservinghowotbersbehave,youwillbecomfbrtablevisitinganycenter.Youcanalsoaskthepersoninchargeifyouareunsureofwbattodo·
I·RefrainfiDmanypracticesotherthantboseoftbecentre·
z.Avoidtalkingloudlyorunnecessarilysoasnottodisturbothers·
].DressinarespectfUlmanneranddonotwearshortskirtsorshorts,see-throughortightclothing·Discreet,loose-fittingclothingisappropr1ate.
4.DonotuseperfUmeandscentedlotions;refrainfromwearinganythingthatcouldmakenoise.
5.Greetotherswitbhezangandaslightbow·6.Removeyourshoesbefbreenteringtbe
cultivationhall.YouwiIusuallyleavetbemoninotherareas,likethedininghall.Itispolitetowearsocks.Alsotrytoremoveyourshoes
8I
inaplacewhereyouwillnotsteponthegroundpriortoenteringthehall.
7.PlaceyourbandsinthehezangpositionandbowtotheBuddhaafteryoustepintothecultivationhall.Iftheroomisnotcurrentlybeingused,youmaymovetoacusbionanddoabalfbow,threefUIbows,andahalfbow.
8.Inmanycentersitiscustomaryfbrmentositontherightsideandwomentositontheleft·IfyouareunsureiftbiscustomisfbIowedatthecenteryouarevisiting’youmightaskabeadoftime·IfthatisnotpossiblefbIowtl1isarrangementtobesafC
9.W/henmovingaroundthecultivationbaI,trytoavoidcrossinginfrontoftbosewhoarechantingorprostrating·
Io·Peoplecometotbecentretopracticeandtolearn.Aquietenvironmentisnecessaryfbrbothpursuits.Inordernottodisturbothers,pleaserefrainfromallunnecessarytalking.Iftalkingisnecessary’dosoqUietly.Pleaserespectotbers,wishesiftheyindicatetheydonotwanttotalk
8Z
II.I/benyougreet,orwnenyougreet,orwr1teto,amonast1c,1t1s
politetousethebonorificofVenerablebefbre
themonastic,sname·Ifyoudonotknowtheirname’youmaysimplyaddressthemasVenerable·IfyouwouldliketousetheChinese,ShifUisChinesefbrteacberandcanalsobeused
8]
PartThree
Dea亡handDymg
GuIDELINEsFoRSPIRITuALADvIsoRs
I.Remindthepatientofthesuffbringofthisworldandthe>oysofthePureLandtohelpstrengthenhisorhervowtoberebomintothere.Thespiritualadvisorshouldalsoenumerateandpraisethepatient,sgooddeeds,merits,andvirtues.Thiswillhelpthepatienttobehappyandfreeofdoubts,certainthatwhenthetimecomestodie,heorshe
wiI,thankstobisorbergooddeeds,vows,andpractice,berebornintotheW/esternPureLandofUltimateBliss.
zltisimportanttoremindthedyingpersonceasethinkingofwealtbandproperty,aswellattachmentstofamilyandfriends·
仍醞
].IfthepatienthaswrittenawiI,verygood,butifnotitisbesttocounselagainstwritingoneatthistime.Theadvisorcanalsoadviseeveryonetorefrainfromgossipanddistractingconversationsastheycouldrekindlethepatient’sattachmenttotbisworld,Whichisdetrimentaltothepatient,sdesiredrebirth
87
斗.W/henrelativesandfriendscometovisit,they
sbouldbediscouragedfrombecomingemotionalinthepatient,spresence.Iftheywishtohelp,theycanstandtotlIesideandcbant‘‘Amituofb,,aloud
ExplaintothevisitorstbatcryingatthistimecoulddistractthepatientfiomtbedesiredrebirthinthePureLand’andresultintbepatientbeingsubiectedtomuchsuffbring.
5·Thepatientshouldbecounseledtopractice
generosityandgiveawaypersonaleffbctstothosewhoneedtbem·Also,thepatientcanpurchaseBuddbaimages,sutras,andotherBuddlIistmaterials,andrequestthattbeyalsobegivenaway‧ThiswiⅡ
belpthepatienttoincreasehisorhermeritsandreducebadkarmas,andthushelptofacilitateagoodrebirth
Thegoodadvisorshouldkeepthesegeneralguidelinesinmind,butbereadytoimproviseaccordingtothesituation.
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SupportiveBuddha-nameCbanting
SupportivechantingbyfamilymembersandDbarma仕iendsiscrucialwhenapatientisontheveIgeofdeathbecause,atthattime,heorsheisweakbotb
mentallyandphysically.Insuchtryingcircum-stances,itbecomesincreasinglydifHculttofbcusonchanting‘‘Amituofb.,,ThisisWhysupport1veBuddha-namechantingissoimportant·
LTobelpfbcusthepatient,sthougbts,respectfUIyplaceastatueorpictureoftbestandingAmitabhaBuddhainfrontofthepatientwbereitcanbeeasilyseen.Placeacontainerofcleanwaterinfrontofthis
imageandsomefresbflowersinavasenearit·Lightlyscentedincense’orevenasmokelessvariety,maybeburned(AstrongfragranceorexcessivesmokemightcausetbepatienttohavedifHcultyinbreatbing.)
2.Thosewhocometopracticesupportivechantingshouldrememberthatthepatient,whoisinaweakenedstate,requiresadequatefreshair.Iftoomanypeopleareintheroomatonetime,thepatient
89
mayhavedifHcultybreathingandbecomeagitated,resultinginmorebarmthangoodAlso,peopleshouldpre-arrangetheirchantingtimeandsilentlytaketurns,sotbatthechantingcancontinueuninterruptedEacbsessioncanlastaboutanhour.
].AccordingtoMasterYinguang,thethirteenthpatriarchoftbePureLandschool,theshort
chantingfbrmof‘‘Amituofb,,shouldbeused,sothatthepatientcaneasilyregisterthisnameinthemostsubtleconsciousness,atatimewhenbothmindand
bodyareveryweakItwouldbewisetoaskthepatientwhichoneis
prefbrred-‘‘Amituofb,,or‘‘NamoAmituofb.,,Inthis
way,thepatientcancomfbrtablyandsilentlychantalongwiththegroup.Togocountertothepatient,slikesandbabitsmaydestroyhisorherconcentration.Peopleshouldnotchanttooloudlysoasnottoexpendtoomuchenergyandsbortenthe
timetheycanchant·Ontheotherhand,theysbouldnotchantintoolowavoiceorthesoundmightnotregisterinthepatient,smind.Also,theyshouldnotspeaktooneanotherwhileintheroom.
Chantingsbouldneitherbeoverlyloudorsoft’
9O
tooslowortoofast·Eacbutteranceshouldbeclear
anddistinct’sothatitcanbebeardclearlyandpenetratedeepintothepatient,sconsciousness.Onecaveat:ifthepatientistooweakorisincoma,hemaybavedifHcultyhearingthecbanting.Insuchacase,someonesbouldchantclosetothepatient,seartobelpthepatienttomaintainaclcar,steadymind
牛Ⅸ/ithregardtoinstruments’itisgenerallybetter
tousethesmallhandbeIwithitsclear,limpidsound,asitcanhelpthepatientdevelopapureandcalmmindHowever)thismaynotapplyinallcases.Ifpossible,itisbesttoaskthepatientinadvancewhatisprefbrredIfsomedetailsdonotsuitthepatient,weshouldadapttotbecircumstancesandbeflexible·
AfterthePatientDies
I.Relativessbouldnotcryinthepresenceoftbepatient’especiallyimmediatelybefbreandaftertbedeathDoingsocancausethedyingpatienttodevelopthoughtsofattachmentwhichcanpreventthemuchsoughtrebirthandresultantliberation.
9I
z.Itisvitallyimportantnottotouchormovethebodyofthedeceasedperson.Thus,peopleshouldwaitatleasttwelvehours,andpref℃rablytwenty-
fbur’befbrewasbinganddressingtbebody.
].Familyandfriendsshouldconccntrateonchantinginallearnestnessandwithoutcryingfbratleasttwelvehours.Thisistoallowthepatient,smostsubtleconsciousnessadequatetimetoleavethebody.IMuringthisperiod’anyonetouchesthebodyorcries,thedeceasedmaystilleXperiencefbelingsofpain,sadness,anger,orselfpity,andsinkagainintotherealmsofsuffbring.
4.Duringtheminimumtwelve-bourperiod,(twenty-fburhoursisprefbrable),ifpeoplecanremainchantingnearthedeceased,somuchthebetter.Exceptfbrcbanting,nothingshouldbedone.
,.Funeralarrangementsshouldbesimpleandmodest,withoutunnecessaryexpenses.Onlyvegetarianfbodshouldbeprovidedfbrservingmeatorfishwillburdenthedepartedwithmorekarmicobstacles,makingliberationthatmucbmoredifHcult.Itis
9Z
Inportanttorememberthateventhosewhohave
alreadybeenrebornintothePureLandmaystillbeaffbctedbythebehavioroffnmilyandfriendsactingonbehalfofthedeceased
9]
LIvINGW/ILL
Tomyfamilyandallthoseconcernedwithmycare:I, ,of
beingofsoundmind,makethisstatementasadirectivetobefbIowediffbranyreasonIbecomeunabletoparticipateindecisionsregardingmymedicalcare·
Uponmydeathandtransitionintothenextlifb,Idonotwishtoberebornasaghostorananimal.Idonotwishtosuffbr.Instead,IwishtofbIowAmitabbaBuddhaandtoarriveathisW/esternPure
LandofUltimateBliss.Toallmyfami>yandfriends,IwishtoaslKfbryourassistancesothatImaynotsuffbr,butinsteadremaincalmandpeacefUltopreparefbrmyarrivaltotheW/esternPureLand.
IntheeventthatIshouldsuffbrfromaterminaI
iInesstotheextentthatdoctorsfbreseenopossiblerecovery,Iaskthatnomedicaltreatmentbeundertaken.ShouldIalreadybeinthehospitalattbispoint,Iwishtobecbeckedoutandbroughtbome.Pleasenotifymyassignedfamilymemberor
friend
attelephonenumber(s)and
Oncehome,pleasepositionmeinthemostcomfbrtable,naturalpositioninwhichImayrest.Theassignedfamilymemberorfriendwillleadothersinchanting‘‘Amituofb.,,SbouldIdeclinetotbepointwbereIloseconsciousnessandamnolongerawareofmysurroundings,theassignedfamilymemberorfriendshaIhavefl1llauthorityinmakinganydecisionsregardingmyweI-being.Ifthispersoncannotbecontacted,pleasefindaBuddhistmasterorBuddhistbelievertoaidintbeclIantingof‘‘Amituofb,,untiltheassignedpersoncanbereached
.Withintwenty-fburhourspriortoandaftermydeath,Iwouldliketoaskmyfriendsandfamilyto
complywiththefbIowing;
I·Donottouchormovemybodyorevenmybed
2.Donotchangemyclothing.
3.Donotplacedryiceorothersubstancesonmy
body.Sandalwoodincensemaybeburnedifthereisanyodor.
牛.Donotletabreezeblowdirectlyontomybody.
夕.Donotallowtbescentofalcohol,onions,
scallions,garlic,orcbivestoentertberoom`
6·Donotsmoke,cry,ortallKintheroom·
MypurposefbraskingthisistocreateanatmosphereinwhicbImayremaincalmandatpeace.TheonlysoundIwishtobearis‘‘Amituofb)’,sothathemayescortmetothePureLand
IfIamathomeuponmydeatb,myfamilyshouldtalKeturnschanting‘‘Amituofb,,fbreighttotwenty-fburhours.Atthispoint’IwiIbereadytobemoved’washed,anddressedTlIisperiodofchantingisthebesttimetoassistmetobecahnandpeacefUl.AⅡ
fUneralarrangementscanbemadeafterwards.IfIshouldpassawayinthehospital,pleasefbllowhospitalpolicyandchantasmuchasisaIowed·
Duringmyterminalillnessandwithinfbrty-ninedays
aftermydeatb,allfamilymembersshouldadoptavegetariandiet·IdonotwishfbranykillingtobeassociatedwithmydeathAllfUneralo仳ringsmust
bevegetarianTbeuseofalcoholisstrictlyprobibitedFuneralarrangementssbouldbekeptsimple,andproperBuddhistetiquetteshouldbefbllowed.Idonotwishfbranyunnecessaryexcess.
I/ithinfbrty-ninedaysfbIowingmydeath,IsincerelyaskmyfamilymembersandfriendstoseekmyrebirthintothePureLand,andtoperfbrmgooddeedssuchasgivingofbingstotbeTbreeJewelsoftheBuddha,Dharma,andSangha,printingsutras,helpingtheneedy’andsoon.Tbesegooddeedswillhelpmetoattainadditionalgoodkarma,andfUrtberassistmeinarrivingatthePureLand.Mostimportantisfbrmyfamilytosincerelycbant‘‘Amituofb.,,
InorderfbrmetobenefittbemostandtopeacefUllyarriveatthePureLand,theabovepointsmustbefbllowed.Tbiswillnotonlybcnefitmebutallthoseinvolvedaswell.Inthismanner,IwisbfbreveryonetolearnandtobelieveinBuddbism.Thus,everyone
canarriveattbePureLand,aswell·
Amituofbtoall
Thesedirectionsexpressmylegalrighttorequestorrefl1setreatmenLTherefbre’Iexpectmyfamily’doctor,andallthoseconcernedwithmycaretoregardthemselvesaslegallyandmoraIyboundtoactinaccordwithmywisbes.
SigneDatc
I/itness:Ideclarethattbepersonwhosignedthisdocument,oraskedanothertosignthisdocumentonhisorberbehalMidsoinmypresenceandthatheorsheappearstobeofsoundmindandfreeofduressorundueinfluence·
V/itness
Date
CLosINGTHouGHTs
PureLandBuddhistpracticeisnotconfinedtolearningaboutparticularBuddhistprinciplesandcbantingasutraortheBuddba,snamewbilebowing,sitting,orwalking·Ourpracticeistbedevelopmentofacalmer,purermindsowewilllearntothinkandbehaveasaBuddhaineverythingwedo.
W℃strivetoachievetbismindsetthroughthe
previouspracticesaswellasthroughlessfbrmalpractice·How?Byremindingourselvesdailythatwhileallofushavemanysbortcomings,weshouldonlybeconcernedwithourown·Byunderstandingcausalityandnotblamingothersfbrthedifficultiesinourlives‧Andbyrealizingtbatallbeingssu仳r
andtbatonlywbenweawakencanwetrulyhelpotberstobefreefrompain·
Ultimatel又ourpracticewillenableustobave
loving-kindnessandpatienceheldequallyandioyfUllyfbrall.
IREsoLvE
IresolvenottokiI.
Instead,Iwillrespectand
havecompassionfbrallbeings.
Iresolvenottosteal·
Instead,befbretakingorusinganythingbelongingtoanother,IwiIasktheowner,spermission.
Iresolvenottoengageinsexualmisconduct,
oranysensoryindulgence.
Instead,IwiIdevelopthemind
ofselfrestraintandpurity.
Iresolvenottousefalsespeech.Instead,IwiIspeakthetruthinawisewayand
attherighttime.
IresolvenottouseharshspeechInstead,Iwillspeakwords
tbatbenefitothersandfbsterpeace.
IOZ
Iresolvenottousedivisivespeech
Instead,Iwillspeakwordsthatfbster
harmonyandunderstanding
Iresolvenottouseenticingspeech
Instead,Iwillspeak
sincerelyandtruthfUlly.
Iresolvetorefrainfromgreed
Instead,Iwillopenmyheartand
pract1ceg1v1ng·
Iresolvetorefrainfromanger·
Instead,Iwilldeveloppatienceand
thecompassiontoseethesu仳ringofothers‧
Iresolvetorefrainfromignorance.
Instead,IwiIdisciplinemyselfandcalmmymindsothatIcanactfromwisdom.
I•]
Maythemeritsandvirtues
accrued仕omtbisworkadorn
theBuddha,sPureLand,
repaytbeFourKindsofKindnessabove,
andrelievethesuffbringsofthoseintheThreePathsbelow.
Maythosewhoseeandbearoftbis
bringf•rthtbemind
ofunderstandingandcompassion,
andattheendofthisli化,
beborntogetherintheLandofUltimateBliss.