Cultivating the Contemplation Sutra Ensures Rebirth in the Pure Land

In the Dharma Ending Age, if one practices according to the contemplations described in the Sutra on the Contemplation of Amitāyus, the attainment will be swift and secure. If there exists a relatively detailed treasure map of the Pure Land to serve as a guide for visualization, we can progress from the First Contemplation all the way to the Sixteenth Contemplation. Upon achieving the Third Contemplation, rebirth in the Pure Land is guaranteed. This is far more reliable and certain than merely foreseeing the time of death. Moreover, the meditative concentration attained will never be lost, and one will forever receive the blessings of the Buddha's power. When the Third Contemplation is achieved, the meditative concentration becomes exceptionally profound, the karmic obstacles leading to the three lower realms are eradicated, one will never again fall into the three evil destinies due to karmic hindrances, and the meditative concentration will never regress. Therefore, rebirth is assured.

Upon achieving the Seventh Contemplation, one will inevitably attain genuine enlightenment of the mind. With the Buddha's power blessing, intellectual understanding is impossible; only genuine realization can occur. Rebirth in the Pure Land yields supremely magnificent karmic results. The meditative concentration cultivated through one's own efforts, due to karmic forces and ignorance, can regress when encountering conditions. However, the meditative concentration blessed by the Buddha's power will never regress. This is the state from the Third Contemplation onwards.