What Dharma Is Cultivated in the Lotus Pedestal After Rebirth?

Amitābha Sūtra Original Text:

That land is constantly inhabited by various marvelous and multicolored birds. White cranes, peacocks, parrots, Śāri, Kalaviṅka, and Jīvajīvaka birds. All these birds, throughout the six periods of day and night, produce harmonious and elegant sounds. Their voices eloquently expound the Five Roots, the Five Powers, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and the Eightfold Noble Path—all such Dharmas. Upon hearing these sounds, the beings of that land all recollect the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha.

Explanation:

This passage describes the circumstances of cultivation for beings in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. In this land, there are constantly various marvelous and multicolored birds, including white cranes, peacocks, parrots, Śāri, Kalaviṅka, and Jīvajīvaka birds. These birds produce harmonious and elegant sounds throughout the six periods of day and night. The content they vocalize pertains to the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment. The harmonious sounds are sung for the beings residing within the lotus calyces in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. After hearing these sounds, the beings recollect the kindness and merits of the Three Jewels.

Therefore, beings reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss must still cultivate the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths and supporting practices. They must first cultivate the understanding of the Five Aggregates as non-self to lay the foundation for eradicating the view of self and for realizing the mind’s nature, blooming the lotus, and beholding the Buddha. In this Saha world, if we study Buddhism and cultivate without learning the Āgama Sūtras, without understanding the Four Noble Truths, and without practicing the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment—is this possible? Cultivating more Dharma and understanding more principles will each add a layer of assurance for rebirth, enabling swifter cultivation after reaching the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Beings reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss are categorized as Mahāyāna or Hīnayāna practitioners based on their past vows, aspirations, and practices. Regardless of whether they are Mahāyāna or Hīnayāna, all must cultivate the Four Noble Truths and the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment within the lotus calyces. Only after subduing afflictions can they emerge from the lotus calyces to behold the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, hear the Dharma, and gain the opportunity to realize the fruits of practice and perceive the true nature of mind.