念佛三昧寶王論 2.11

2.11

I reply: “Rebirth with merely a single thought-moment, abiding in the stage of non-retrogression—this is correct. As the Buddha said, slandering the Buddha, defaming the sūtras, striking a monk, reviling an elder, the five heinous deeds, and the four grave offenses—all are accomplished by a single thought-moment of evil karma, and one falls into the Avīci Hell as swiftly as an arrow shot. Now, being mindful of the Buddha and being born in the Pure Land is likewise accomplished by a single thought-moment of good karma, and one immediately ascends to Sukhāvatī. Just as in bending one's arm, the five aggregates of the preceding thought-moment perish and the five aggregates of the succeeding thought-moment arise, like a wax seal stamping clay: when the seal is broken, the impression is formed. Not even two thought-moments are needed; how could it require reaching ten thought-moments? Striking a monk and reviling an elder, though not among the actual heinous sins, belong to the category of the five heinous deeds. Furthermore, as for a single thought-moment, it is as a sūtra says: ‘The novice monk who craved curd gave rise to a single thought-moment of craving, and was later born as a worm in curd.’ Again, the wife of the elder Mahāsārthavāha sat facing a bright mirror, enamored of her own body; when an ocean gale wrecked the ship, she was born as a worm inside her former corpse, frolicking back and forth without leaving that place. These were all a single thought-moment, not ten thought-moments. Furthermore, the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra explains that with a single thought-moment of buddha-mindfulness, all attain rebirth. The Contemplation Sūtra speaks of ten thought-moments for good reason: because someone afflicted by illness is emaciated and weak, with feeble strength and inferior mind, they require ten recitations of Amida to assist their mindfulness. If the mind is robust and not bewildered, rebirth occurs in a single thought-moment, just as planting a hair-thin seedling can grow to a girth of a hundred spans.”