The Contemplative Practice (Vipaśyanā-caryā) Attainment of the Sūtra on the Visualization of Immeasurable Life

In the Dharma-ending age, if one cultivates according to the contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) of the Contemplation of the Immeasurable Life Sūtra, one's attainment will be swift and secure. If there were a relatively detailed treasure map of the land of bliss (Sukhāvatī) to serve as a guide for contemplation, I could lead everyone in contemplating from the first contemplation all the way through to the sixteenth. Upon accomplishing the third contemplation, I guarantee that everyone will certainly be reborn in the land of bliss—far more reliable and secure than foreknowing the time of one's death—and moreover, meditative concentration (samādhi) will never be lost, and the Buddha's power will always bless and sustain you. When the third contemplation is accomplished, the meditative concentration will be excellent, and the karma of the three evil destinies will be eliminated; one will no longer fall into the three evil destinies due to karmic obstructions, and the meditative concentration will not regress. Therefore, rebirth in the land of bliss is certain.

By the seventh contemplation, one will certainly awaken to the true mind with realization, not mere intellectual understanding. With the blessing of the Buddha's power, interpretive awakening is impossible—only realized awakening. Upon reaching the land of bliss, the retribution will be supremely extraordinary.

The meditative concentration cultivated by oneself, because of karma and ignorance, will regress whenever conditions arise. Meditative concentration blessed by the Buddha's power will never regress. Such is the case after the third contemplation.