無量壽經義記卷下 1.12

1.12

“Exclusively concentrating on mindfulness of Amitāyus” refers to a person of the middle tier of the highest class who aspires to be reborn in that land. Such a person does not necessarily uphold, read, and recite the vaipulya scriptures, but well understands their meaning and drift, and regarding the ultimate truth their mind is not alarmed or shaken. Deeply believing in cause and effect, they do not slander the Mahāyāna. Dedicating these merits, they vow to be reborn in that land. When their life draws to a close, Amitābha, together with Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, and an immeasurable assembly, holding a purple-gold dais, all appear before this person and praise them, saying: “Son of the Dharma, because you practice the Mahāyāna and understand the ultimate truth, I have now come to welcome and escort you!” Together with a thousand transformation-buddhas, they extend their hands at the same moment. The practitioner sees himself seated upon the purple-gold dais, joining his palms and praising the buddhas. In as little as a single thought-moment, he is straightaway reborn in the seven-jewelled pond of that land. After one night, the jewelled lotus flower finally opens. The practitioner's body takes on the color of purple-burnished gold, and beneath his feet is a seven-jewelled lotus flower. The Buddha and bodhisattvas simultaneously emit light illuminating his body, and the practitioner's eyes open in clarity. By virtue of his previous habituation, he is able to hear various sounds that expound exclusively the profoundly deep ultimate truth. The practitioner then descends from the golden dais, bows to the Buddha, joins his palms, and praises the Bhagavat. After seven days, he attains the non-retrograde stage, and is immediately able to fly to the ten directions to make offerings to the buddhas. In the presence of the buddhas he cultivates various samādhis; after one minor kalpa he attains the anutpattika-dharma-kṣānti and receives a prediction directly before him. This is called a person of the middle tier of the highest class.