遊心安樂道 1.45

1.45

As for the Treatise on Rebirth, it clarifies five causal practices. As that treatise says: "If a good man or good woman cultivates the practices of the five gates of mindfulness to completion, they will ultimately attain rebirth in the land of Sukhāvatī and see that Amitābha Buddha. What are the five gates of mindfulness? First, the gate of prostration; second, the gate of praise; third, the gate of making vows; fourth, the gate of observation; fifth, the gate of pariṇāmanā. How does one perform prostration? With bodily action, one prostrates to Amitābha Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Samyaksambuddha, for the sake of being reborn in that land. How does one perform praise? With vocal action, one praises, reciting that Tathāgata's name, in accordance with that Tathāgata's signs of light and wisdom, and in accordance with the meaning of that name, wishing to practice in true accord with reality. How does one make vows? With the mind, one constantly makes vows, single-mindedly and exclusively focusing, to ultimately attain rebirth in the land of Sukhāvatī, wishing to practice śamatha in true accord with reality. How does one perform observation? With wisdom, one observes, right-mindedly contemplating him, wishing to practice vipaśyanā in true accord with reality: first, observing the merits of the Buddha's land; second, observing the merits of the Buddha; third, observing the merits of the bodhisattvas' adornments. How does one perform pariṇāmanā? Not abandoning all suffering sentient beings, one's mind constantly makes vows, placing pariṇāmanā foremost, so that one can accomplish the mind of great compassion." The detailed explanation is as stated there; the causes and conditions for rebirth are briefly stated thus.