廬山蓮宗寶鑑 8.19

8.19

Repentance Master Ciyun Zunshi of Tianzhu said: "The first four lines praise the Buddha's emission of light: those who see this light are said to 'see the Buddha', which enables them to attain rebirth in the Pure Land at the end of life. The latter four lines praise the cause by which the Buddha cultivated this light: that cause is simply encouraging dying people to practice buddhānusmṛti, and showing them the Buddha's image so that seeing it they give rise to faith; therefore, upon attaining buddhahood, he obtained this light. Now, with this verse, I generally exhort everyone to believe and accept: whenever relatives or anyone else is about to die, first place this image before their bed, let their eyes see it, and exhort them to practice buddhānusmṛti. If pressed by severe pain, or having lacked prior faith and being unwilling to recite, one must also employ various skillful means to encourage them to recite the Buddha's name; down to ten recitations, heavy sins are eradicated, and they are born in the Buddha's pure land. This single benefit is inconceivable. If one can exhort a single person to be born in the Pure Land, even if one does not cultivate oneself, one ought to attain birth in the Pure Land; how much more so when becoming a buddha in the future, being able to emit light that shines on all sentient beings to see the Buddha at the end of their lives! One often sees worldly people, out of affection, gathering their heads together in weeping without thinking of rescuing them; this is called being a bad friend. How bitter! How bitter! Ensnared by worldly affection, one falls into the evil destinies with no time of release, and even compassionate parents and filial sons can do nothing about it." Thinking on this, how could one not exert oneself? It may truly be said: 'I universally vow that all drowning sentient beings / may swiftly proceed to the realm of the Buddha of Immeasurable Light.'