Is the Western Pure Land Within the Three Realms?

To understand this issue, one must first contemplate these three questions: What are the Three Realms? What are the characteristics of each realm within the Three Realms? And what exists beyond the Three Realms? Then, one should consider the characteristics of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and compare them with each realm within the Three Realms. Only through comparison can the correct conclusion be reached. This line of thinking remains tightly focused on the theme. Students who excel in school essays must maintain focus on the theme, especially during exams; if they deviate from the topic, no matter how well they write, they will fail and might even receive a zero score.

When asking about the characteristics of the Three Realms, one must consider the characteristics of the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm. Then, contemplate the characteristics of the Western Pure Land and compare them with those of the Three Realms. Through this comparison, one can determine whether the Western Pure Land is within the Three Realms or beyond them. This is the logical approach to the question; it is very simple. Of course, this is known through inference (anumāna). Although the result may be correct, even completely correct, it is not known through direct perception (pratyakṣa) and does not constitute realization through direct experience. Direct perception does not require comparison between the two to know. Knowledge through inference is attained by the mental consciousness through comparison. Direct perception not only involves the mental consciousness observing directly in meditative concentration (dhyāna), but also the mental faculty (manas) accompanying the mental consciousness in observation, or engaging in deep contemplation independently, ultimately arriving at a conclusion that accords with reality. Without meditative concentration, none of this can be discussed.

What are the characteristics of the Desire Realm? Firstly, sentient beings within the Desire Realm possess the five aggregates (skandhas) and the eighteen elements (dhātus). There are material phenomena (rūpa-dharma), including the vessel world of mountains, rivers, lands, etc. There are mental phenomena (citta-dharma) comprising the eight consciousnesses. The consciousnesses possess wholesome, unwholesome, and neutral mental factors (caitasika-dharma). There is ignorance (avidyā), greed (rāga), hatred (dveṣa), and delusion (moha), with greed being predominant, causing attachment to all phenomena within the Desire Realm. What are the characteristics of the Form Realm? Sentient beings within the Form Realm possess the four dhyānas and the eight samāpattis, the most fundamental being the first dhyāna. There are material phenomena, including the form body (rūpa-kāya) and the vessel world. There are mental phenomena, which may consist of eight consciousnesses, or seven, six, five, four, or three consciousnesses. Mental factors are of two kinds: wholesome and neutral; there are no unwholesome mental factors. Unwholesome mental factors are subdued and suppressed but not necessarily eradicated. Mental factors associated with concentration are prominent; beings are often in a state of concentration, and afflictions (kleśa) do not manifest.

What are the characteristics of the Formless Realm? As the name suggests, the Formless Realm is formless; it lacks the vessel world's palaces, mountains, rivers, lands, etc., and also lacks a physical body. Only the sixth, seventh, and eighth consciousnesses exist, abiding in the four formless attainments (ārūpya-samāpatti). Mental factors are neither unwholesome nor wholesome; all afflictions are subdued, not necessarily eradicated, and mental factors associated with concentration are even more prominent and evident.

What are the characteristics of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss? Within the Pure Land's realm of Coexistence of Saints and Ordinary Beings, there are Bodhisattvas of all stages beyond the level of Non-retrogression (Avinivartanīya), as well as ordinary sentient beings below the level of Non-retrogression who have not yet realized the Mind or attained the fruits of enlightenment. These sentient beings all possess the five aggregates and the eighteen elements. There are material phenomena, including form bodies, palaces, flowers, trees, lands, rivers, ponds, etc. There are mental phenomena comprising the eight consciousnesses. Mental factors are predominantly wholesome and neutral; there are no unwholesome mental factors. As for the Bodhisattvas and meditative concentration, even the ordinary sentient beings, because they long abide within lotus palaces, have transformed their consciousness; they no longer have unwholesome thoughts and are no longer scattered. They all possess meditative concentration; their minds abide in concentration, single-mindedly contemplating the Dharma. The Bodhisattvas' greed has certainly been subdued or eradicated. Although the greed of ordinary sentient beings cannot be eradicated, it is also subdued.

Given this, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss possesses characteristics of both the Form Realm and the Desire Realm heavens, but lacks the characteristics of the Formless Realm. Therefore, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss belongs within the phenomena of the Three Realms; it is not beyond the Three Realms. Only Arhats after attaining the Nirvana without residue (anupadhiśeṣa-nirvāṇa) are beyond the Three Realms, not within them. Even Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do not go beyond the Three Realms; moreover, they vow not to enter Nirvana until all sentient beings are delivered, thus remaining within the Three Realms forever. This is because beyond the Three Realms, there are no mundane phenomena whatsoever: no material phenomena, no mental phenomena of the seven consciousnesses; the five aggregates and the eighteen elements are all extinguished; only the eighth consciousness remains unextinguished. How could Buddhas and Bodhisattvas extinguish their own five aggregates and eighteen elements and refrain from using the five-aggregate body to deliver sentient beings? Therefore, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and all Buddha lands are within the Three Realms. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are also within the Three Realms, forever abiding together with sentient beings of the five aggregates.