The Truth of Rebirth in the Pure Land

Those who attain rebirth in the highest rank of the superior grade, upon reaching the Pure Land, immediately behold the Buddha. They freely travel to the ten directions without needing to be enclosed within a lotus flower, instantly beholding and making offerings to all the Buddhas of the ten directions. Rebirths of other grades all require being enclosed within a lotus palace, where they gradually subdue afflictions and allow their evil karmic seeds to wither. Amitabha Buddha is most skilled in dealing with such beings who have afflictions and will create evil karma given the opportunity. He places them alone within a lotus palace, giving them absolutely no chance to commit evil deeds. Of course, they also cannot create good karma. They can only allow their past karmic seeds to slowly wither and diminish until they themselves no longer harbor any intention to create karma. When their minds become pure and their virtuous roots deepen profoundly, then they can emerge from the lotus palace to meet Amitabha Buddha face to face, or Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, or Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, or a manifestation body of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. They receive teachings directly, thereby attaining clarity of mind and enlightenment.

Observe the treatment of those reborn in the middle and lower grades as described in the Contemplation Sutra. A wise person would consider whether it is worth going. Even descending into hell and then emerging to practice would be many times faster than dwelling alone in a lotus palace in the Pure Land for twelve great kalpas. Although hell is extremely painful, the speed of attaining Buddhahood after emerging is much faster than in the Pure Land. The key lies in what each individual truly seeks.

Those of the lowest grade, lowest rank, dwell within a lotus flower in the Pure Land for twelve great kalpas – not twelve great kalpas of the Saha world. Calculate with a computer just how long an eon that truly is. Such a long time is indeed very enjoyable, but eating dumplings every day would eventually become tiresome; once accustomed, it feels indifferent.