第9集 — 往生極樂世界比生天容易

In this sutra (the Infinite Life Sutra), the method of cultivation is taught in two chapters, namely, the Three Grades of Rebirth (in the Pure Land) and the Proper Causes for Rebirth (in the Pure Land). Both chapters teach us to develop the bodhi mind (i.e., bodhi resolve) and to single-mindedly concentrate on chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name. We must know that this method is easy, convenient as well as definitive, and the karmic reward is perfect and direct because you will become an Avaivartika bodhisattva ^[1] in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. No deity of the twenty-eight heavens can be compared to their achievement. The king of the Thirty-three Heavens (i.e., Trayastrimsas Heaven) and the kings of the Great Brahman Heaven ^[2] as well as the Heaven of Mahesvara ^[3] had reached the pinnacle of wealth and glory in the Six Realms of the Saha World. No one can surpass them in riches and glory, yet their wisdom, moral conduct and supernatural abilities are far inferior to the bodhisattvas in the lower level of the basic grade of rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Moreover, it is easier to be reborn in the Pure Land than in the heavens. You see, you only need to fulfil the three criteria (i.e., belief, vow and chanting of ‘Amituofo’) to attain rebirth in the Pure Land, but you cannot be reborn in the heaven by fostering belief and vow, and by chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name. You must cease wrongdoings and practise virtues (i.e., the upper-level Ten Virtuous Acts consisting of wholesome thoughts, speech and behaviour) to be reborn in heavens. If you seriously practise the Five Ethical Relationships ^[4], the Five Constants ^[5], the Four Anchors ^[6] and the Eight Virtues ^[7] taught by our Chinese ancestors, and can get eighty to ninety marks out of one hundred, you can attain rebirth in the celestial realms. If you score fifty to sixty marks, you can only be reborn in the human realm. ‘The ocean-like Single-vehicle vows of Amitabha Buddha’ is Amitabha Buddha’s Forty-eight Vows. The Single Buddha-vehicle teaching helps people to become a buddha, so is the Forty-eight Vows. The kindness bestowed upon us by Amitabha Buddha is too great! As Upasaka Xia ^[8] said, we can surely resolve the current catastrophe by practising according to this sutra and by encouraging everyone to chant this Amitabha Buddha’s name.