Master Huijing’s Short Teaching about Pure Land Buddhism (I)
淨土短文 (一)
18. The Three States of Mind and the Ten Recitations constitute the true cause of rebirth in the Pure Land (1/ 2)
The Eighteenth Vow states:“If they are not born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.”
This means that our rebirth is already assured through the fulfillment of Amitabha Buddha’s 18th vow.
The phrase “even ten recitations” encompasses both faith and practice. In other words, faith is included within the “ten recitations.”
● From the perspective of practice, it may refer to as few as ten utterances or even a single utterance of the Name.
● From the perspective of faith, it refers to just one or ten thought-moments of entrusting.
The expression “even ten recitations” covers the entire range of Amitabha-recitation practice—from a lifetime of recitation during ordinary life, to just one recitation or as few as ten recitations at the moment of death.
Master Tanluan interpreted this as “uninterrupted continuity”, meaning that one entrusts oneself continuously to Amitabha’s vow without interruption.
The sutra speaks of “ten recitations” merely to indicate that the karmic act leading to rebirth has been successfully accomplished. Through the power of Amitabha’s vow, even ten recitations are sufficient for the karmic cause of rebirth to be fulfilled. If this were not so, then Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow could not have been achieved.
Furthermore, the teaching of the Fundamental Vow is not merely about being reborn in the future. Rather, our “rebirth is already accomplished and assured.” In other words, upon entrusting oneself to Amitabha’s salvation and exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, one’s rebirth in the Pure Land is already established, even though one physically remains in this world until the end of this life.
(to be continued tomorrow)
18. 三信十念──正因，往生正因。若不生者，不取正覺：得益。 乃至十念含信行之二，即信亦是乃至十念。論其行者，即十聲一聲，言其信者 ，即一念十念。
乃至十念──平生之念佛，至臨終之十念一念。曇鸞釋為「無間相續」。 經言十念者，明業事成辦耳。由彌陀願力故，十念業成。不爾，本願應無作 用。
本願法門不只「往生」，而且已是「生往」。
Namo Amituofo!
