廬山蓮宗寶鑑 8.8

8.8

Regarding the four barriers, School Master Cizhao's Ten Admonitory Gateways to the Pure Land says: "Although an ordinary person has faith and practices buddhānusmṛti, owing to the heavy obstacles of past karma they ought to fall into hell; yet, by relying on the Buddha's power, the heavy is exchanged for the light while upon their bed and pillow. If, owing to the suffering of illness, they repent and awaken in body and mind, they shall be born in the Pure Land. An ignorant person does not comprehend this matter, but instead says: 'Now that I practice buddhānusmṛti, I still suffer from illness,' and in turn slanders Amitābha. Due to this single malicious thought, they go straight into hell. This is the first barrier. Second: although they keep the precepts and practice buddhānusmṛti, their mouths speak of the Pure Land while their minds yearn for Sahā; they do not seek supramundane roots of goodness, but cherish the enduring prosperity of family affairs. Consequently, when afflicted with illness at the end of life, they fear death and cling to life, believing children's advice to summon spirits and invoke ghosts, burn paper money, transform spirit horses, and slaughter living beings. Because this mind is perverse, there is no Buddha to embrace and protect them; due to this, they wander and fall into the three wretched paths. This is the second barrier. Third: whether because their medicine requires wine and meat, or because relatives press and urge them, this person lacks decisive faith and loses their roots of goodness; at the end of life, they are dragged before the King [Yama] to be judged at his discretion. This is the third barrier. Fourth: at the time of the end of life, they contemplate their livelihood, cling to wealth, and yearn for their relatives; unable to let go in mind, they lose right mindfulness. Thus, within their household they fall into the ghost realm, becoming a haunting affliction, or turning into a stingy dog, or taking the form of a snake, guarding their family just as when they were alive. This is the fourth barrier." Hence Judicial Commissioner Yang said: "Without deep craving, one is not born in Sahā; without unified mindfulness, one is not born in the Pure Land." Truly these words are real! All who cultivate the Pure Land must appraise the real and dispel superficial thoughts, focusing contemplation in serene mindfulness to recite Amitābha. Laying down the entire body and mind, if one can only hold firm to this single thought, one can shatter those four barriers, and the lotus terrace of the Pure Land will certainly not be far away. As the saying goes: / With the single phrase "Amitābha" free of other thoughts, / Without wasting the snap of a finger, one reaches the West.