釋氏要覽 3.363

3.363

A verse in the fifteenth chapter, "Bhadraśrī Bodhisattva," of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra states:
"Again he emits a light called 'Seeing the Buddha,'
This light awakens those who are about to perish,
Causing them, in accord with recollection, to see the Tathāgata,
And at the end of life to attain rebirth in his pure land.
Seeing one facing death, he urges them to recite the Buddha's name,
And shows them the venerable image to gaze upon with reverence,
Causing them to deeply take refuge in the Buddha—
Therefore he is able to accomplish this radiance."
What is called "ten recitations" means ten recitations of the name of Amitābha Buddha (The Guan jing says: One who at the end of life encounters a good friend who teaches him to utter ten recitations of Amitābha Buddha will attain rebirth in the ninth grade. A question in the Shiyi lun says: "Sentient beings create immeasurable evil; how can it be that with the completion of ten recitations at the end of life, they immediately attain rebirth and transcend the karmic fetters of the three realms?" Answer: "Sentient beings create evil with an intermittent mind; reciting the Buddha's name at the end of life is with an uninterrupted mind. Because the wholesome mind is fierce and sharp, and because it relies on the power of the Buddha's vows.")