What Dharma Is Perfumed in the Lotus Pod After Rebirth?

Original text of the Amitābha Sūtra: 彼国常有种种奇妙杂色之鸟。白鹤孔雀。鹦鹉舍利。迦陵频伽。共命之鸟。是诸众鸟。昼夜六时。出和雅音。其音演畅。五根五力。七菩提分。八圣道分。如是等法。其土众生。闻是音已。皆悉念佛念法念僧。

Explanation: This describes the circumstances of sentient beings cultivating in the land of the world of bliss (Sukhāvatī). In the world of bliss there are constantly various kinds of birds of wondrous, variegated colors—white cranes, peacocks, parrots, śārī birds, and the Kalaviṅka bird of shared life. These birds, throughout the six periods of day and night, produce harmonious and elegant sounds. What they proclaim are the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment. These harmonious and elegant sounds are sung for the sentient beings of the world of bliss who dwell within lotus platforms to hear. After the sentient beings hear them, they will recollect the kindness and merit of the Three Jewels.

Therefore, sentient beings who are reborn in the world of bliss must still cultivate the Four Noble Truths and the auxiliary paths; they must still first become familiarized with the absence of self in the five aggregates (pañcaskandha), laying the foundation for the elimination of self-view (ahaṃkāra-mamakāra-parityāga), and laying the foundation for seeing one's true mind and awakening to the true mind, for the blossoming of the flower to see the Buddha. When we study Buddhism and cultivate in the Sahā world, if we do not study the Āgama sūtras, do not understand the Four Noble Truths, and do not cultivate the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment, can that be acceptable? Cultivating a bit more dharma and understanding a bit more principle will each add a bit more assurance for rebirth in the world of bliss, so that after arriving there, one's cultivation will be even faster. Sentient beings reborn in the world of bliss are divided into Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna practitioners according to their former vows, aspirations, and the dharmas they cultivated. But whether Mahāyāna or Hīnayāna, all must become familiarized with the Four Noble Truths and the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment within the lotus platforms; only after their afflictions have been subdued can they emerge from the lotus platforms, see the Buddha and the bodhisattvas, and hear the dharma—only then will they have the opportunity to realize the fruits and the opportunity to see their true mind and awaken to the true mind.