集諸經禮懺儀 2.312

2.312

Question: When one recites, is mindful of, reverently bows to, and contemplates Amitābha Buddha, what merit and benefit are there in this present life? Answer: If one recites [the name of] Amitābha Buddha a single time, one can extinguish the grave transgressions of birth and death spanning eighty kotis of kalpas; reverently bowing and being mindful [of him] and so forth are also likewise. The Sūtra on the Ten Rebirths says: "If there are sentient beings who are mindful of Amitābha Buddha and aspire to be reborn [in his land], that Buddha will dispatch twenty-five bodhisattvas to protect the practitioner—whether walking, sitting, standing, or lying down, whether by day or by night, at all times, and in all places—not allowing evil ghosts and evil spirits to take advantage of them." Furthermore, as the Contemplation Sūtra says: "If one recites, reverently bows to, and is mindful of Amitābha Buddha, aspiring to be reborn in that land, that Buddha will dispatch countless transformation buddhas and countless transformation Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta bodhisattvas to protect and keep in mind the practitioner. Furthermore, together with the aforementioned twenty-five bodhisattvas and others, they will surround the practitioner in hundreds and thousands of layers. Regardless of walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, at all times and places, whether by day or by night, they will never leave the practitioner." Now, since there is such supreme benefit to rely upon, it is hoped that all practitioners will each sincerely seek rebirth. Furthermore, as the Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra says: "If I attain Buddhahood, and sentient beings of the ten directions recite my name down to ten times, if they should not be reborn [there], I shall not attain supreme awakening." That Buddha has now attained Buddhahood in the present world; one should know that his original vows and grave pledges are not in vain, and sentient beings who recite and are mindful will certainly attain rebirth. Furthermore, as the Amitābha Sūtra says: "If there are sentient beings who hear tell of Amitābha Buddha, they should uphold his name, whether for one day, two days, or up to seven days, with single-minded recitation of the Buddha without distraction. When their life is about to end, Amitābha Buddha together with the assembly of sages will appear before them. When this person dies, their mind will not be deranged, and they will immediately attain rebirth in that land." The Buddha told Śāriputra: "Seeing this benefit, I therefore speak these words. If there are sentient beings who hear this spoken, they should make an aspiration, desiring rebirth in that land." Further below it states: "Buddhas in the eastern direction as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, and buddhas in each of the southern, western, and northern directions, as well as the zenith and nadir, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, each in their own lands extend their tongue features covering the trichiliocosm, speaking sincere words: 'All you sentient beings should believe in this sūtra protected and kept in mind by all buddhas.' What is meant by 'protected and kept in mind'? If there are sentient beings who recite and are mindful of Amitābha Buddha, whether for seven days or one day, down to a single recitation or up to ten recitations and a single thought-moment, they will certainly attain rebirth. Because they confirm this matter, it is called the Sūtra Protected and Kept in Mind." Further below it also states: "If one recites [the name of] the Buddha and attains rebirth, one is constantly protected and kept in mind by buddhas as numerous as sixty thousand Ganges sands; therefore it is called the Sūtra Protected and Kept in Mind." Now, since there are these augmented vows to rely upon, why do you children of the Buddha not exert your minds and depart?