無量壽經優婆提舍願生偈註 1.85

1.85

Question: In the section on dedication of merit, Bodhisattva Vasubandhu says, 'together with all sentient beings everywhere, to be reborn in the Land of Peace and Bliss.' To what kind of sentient beings does this refer? Answer: According to the Sūtra of Immeasurable Life spoken at Rājagṛha, the Buddha told Ānanda: 'The Buddha Tathāgatas of the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, all praise the inconceivable majesty and merits of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life. Any sentient beings who hear his name, rejoice with faith, and even with a single thought sincerely dedicate [their merits] wishing to be reborn in that land, immediately attain rebirth and dwell in non-retrogression; excluded only are those who commit the five heinous crimes or slander the True Dharma.' According to this, all ordinary persons outside [the noble path] attain rebirth. Furthermore, according to the Contemplation Sūtra of Immeasurable Life, there are nine grades of rebirth. As for those of rebirth in the lowest of the low grade, there may be sentient beings who commit unwholesome karma, possessing the five heinous crimes, the ten unvirtuous actions, and all unwholesome deeds. Such foolish persons, because of their evil karma, ought to fall into the evil destinies and experience boundless suffering through many kalpas. When such a foolish person approaches the end of life, he meets a spiritual friend who consoles him in various ways and expounds the wonderful Dharma for him, instructing him to be mindful of the Buddha. But this person, oppressed by suffering, has no time to be mindful of the Buddha. The good friend tells him: 'If you cannot be mindful, you should call upon the Buddha of Immeasurable Life.' In this way, with a sincere mind, keeping his voice uninterrupted, he completes ten recitations, calling 'Namo Amitābha Buddha.' Because he calls the Buddha's name, in every recitation the sins of eighty billion kalpas of birth and death are eradicated. After his life ends, he sees a golden lotus flower, resembling the disk of the sun, dwelling before him. In the span of a single thought, he immediately attains rebirth in the Land of Utmost Bliss. Remaining inside the lotus flower for a full twelve great kalpas, the lotus flower then opens (by this he ought to pay for the sins of the five heinous crimes). Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, with voices of great compassion, broadly expound for him the true reality of all phenomena and the Dharma for extinguishing sins. Having heard this, he rejoices and immediately gives rise to the aspiration for bodhi. This is called rebirth in the lowest of the low grade. Proved by this sūtra, it is clearly known that as long as ordinary persons of the lowest grade do not slander the True Dharma and have faith in the causes and conditions of the Buddha, all attain rebirth.