廬山蓮宗寶鑑 2.31

2.31

When Patriarch Master Yuan established the society at Donglin, monks and laity cultivated together. Those of great wisdom and superior virtue penetrated deeply into dhyāna-contemplation and attained the buddhānusmṛti-samādhi; persons of middling caliber cultivated worship of the Pure Land at the six times of the day, dedicating [merit] toward the West. A Tang poem says: 'Master Yuan alone carved the lotus-flower water clock, / Still in the mountains worshiping at the six times.' Whenever practicing this method, one first sets up a Buddha statue in a clean room, making offerings of incense, flowers, lamps, and candles according to one's means; bathes away dust and defilement, wears clean robes, and every day at sunrise, midday, sunset, early night, midnight, and late night, personally faces the Three Jewels, straightens the body, joins the palms, and faithfully bows toward the West. At each time, beholding the compassionate countenance with one's eyes, recite the holy name of 'Namo Amitābha Buddha' one thousand times, perform forty-eight prostrations to the Buddha, and recite the Western prayer text to make vows and dedication. Practicing the path at the six times—thrice by day and thrice by night—every day, focused, concentrated, and tireless in mindful practice, with resolve and vows firm, one's pure karma will be fully accomplished, and in a future day one will certainly attain rebirth in the middle grade of the middle rank.