Excerpts

The Supreme Excellence of Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land

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It is perfectly natural that all Buddhas will create Pure Lands.
It is perfectly natural that all Buddhas will recommend the best.

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[Teachings from Machik Labdron (11th century Tibetan Buddhist yogini, emanation of Yeshe Tsogyel)]: … the Protector Amitabha Buddha [Amituofo] has promised that one may take birth in his pure realm [Pure Land] due to the power of his prayers [based on compassion and merits]. Thus, you should strive with your body, speech, and mind in prayer [e.g. by mindfulness of his name ‘Amituofo’] to be born in the realm of Sukhavati [Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss]. Ridding yourself of doubt [by cultivating faith], uncertainty, and spiritual sloth, with great and swift certainty and enthusiasm bring to mind the splendor and benefits of Sukhavati [as learnt from the Pure Land sutras], and pray. Sukhavati is superior to the realms of other Buddhas in these ways: it is greater because it is possible for ordinary individuals with mental afflictions to be born there. And if you take birth there, all that you wish for is accomplished as soon as you think of it; you are not tainted by even subtle mental afflictions; and you may go from there to the realms of other Buddhas [e.g. their Pure Lands]. Thus, it is superior. Sukhavati is endowed with inconceivable benefits, including the swifter attainment of Buddhahood there than in other pure realms. There is no pure realm within closer reach than Sukhavati, so it is extremely important to strive in prayer to be reborn there. [Sukhavati is also specially praised by all Buddhas.] …

For individuals with mental afflictions, there is a loophole that can enable them to take birth in a Buddha realm. The Protector Amitabha promised that one may take birth in his pure realm due to the power of his prayers [coupled with one’s practice]. Thus, with your body, speech, and mind focus on this goal; it is good to offer prayers from the sutras [e.g. Amitabha Sutra] and hidden treasure teachings [tantras] to be reborn in Sukhavati. Many such prayers are found in each of the four orders of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the Chinese Buddhist tradition. Like prepared food and drink, they are ready to be eaten and drunk…

If we look to the Buddhas, pandits, siddhas and yogis of India, China and Tibet, we find that they all have engaged in a gradual practice of Dharma, by finding and maintaining their own appropriate level of practice. The Buddha taught 84,000 collections of teachings, but he did not say that we should each try to practice them all. Rather, in this vast ocean of teaching, we need to determine what is appropriate for ourselves. We need to seek out which aspect, when put into practice, really alleviates our mental afflictions. The moment you take birth in the pure realm of Sukhavati, you can instantaneously visit any other Buddha realm. Once there, you can listen to Dharma as well as engage in the practice of Dharma in other pure realms. Then you can travel back home to Sukhavati and resume your practice there [after which, you can manifest in Samsara to help liberate other beings]…Continues here: The Importance & Urgency of Pure Land Practice

Related Course:

[PKS] From 3/7: Introduction to Pure Land Buddhism (5th Run):
Understanding Amituofo Via the Amitabha Sutra (by Shen Shi’an)

Related Article:

Can Evil Karma Be Diluted with Buddha Mindfulness?

A Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra & Atiyoga
by Karma Chagme, Commentary by Gyatrul Rinpoche, Translated by B. Alan Wallace

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Please Be Mindful Of Your Speech, Namo Amituofo!

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