釋淨土群疑論 2.43

2.43

Explanation: According to the Bhaiṣajyaguru Sūtra: 'If disciples of the four assemblies constantly cultivate the six fasts, or diligently and single-mindedly practice austerities day and night, vowing to be born in the Western land of Amitābha Buddha, being mindful day and night for one day up to seven days; or if they regret it midway, upon hearing me speak of the merit of the fundamental vows of the Bhaiṣajyaguru Vaiḍūryaprabha Buddha, on the day when their lifespan is exhausted and they are about to die, eight bodhisattvas will welcome their consciousness to attain rebirth in the Pure Land.' This is because this person originally vowed to be born in the West, but later their mind regretted cultivating the prior practice; because they had the obstacle of regret, they could not attain rebirth in the Pure Land. Hearing the name of the Medicine Buddha extinguishes the obstacle of regret, leading the eight bodhisattvas to come and welcome this person and send them back to be born in Sukhāvatī. This reveals that the Vaiḍūryaprabha Buddha, in order to extinguish all obstacles, assists in accomplishing their Western karma and out of compassion enables them to attain rebirth; it is also by the power of the merit of prior strict precept observance and prior cultivation of Western karma that they are born in the West, which is not contradictory in meaning. If they do not hear the name of the Medicine Buddha, then following their regretful mind, they will not be born in the Pure Land. If they have no regret, that person will naturally be mindful of the name of Amitābha Buddha until their final day; why should they discard the Western Buddha's name without reciting it, and instead rely on an Eastern Buddha's name to seek rebirth in Anyang?