Aspire to be reborn into the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha
[Infinite Life Sutra]
The Buddha assures us of our rebirth into the Pure land
V150. The Buddha said to Ananda,” living beings who have been born in that Pure land all dwell among those assured of Enlightenment. What is the reason for this? In this Pure land there is not one being who is destined to experience suffering, nor is there one being who’s destiny is undetermined.
V151. “All Buddha’s, Tathagata’s, in the ten directions, as countless as the sands of the Ganges, together praise the inconceivable, divine virtues of Buddha Amitabha.
V152. “All living beings who having heard his name, and praying with devout faith to be born into his land, remembering him even once and sincerely dedicating their merit to that land, with the resolution to be born there, they will upon death be reborn into that land and dwell in the stage of non-retrogression. Excluded are those who have committed the five grave offenses and those who slander the right Dharma.”
The Buddha assures us of our rebirth into the Pure land
V150. The Buddha said to Ananda,” living beings who have been born in that Pure land all dwell among those assured of Enlightenment. What is the reason for this? In this Pure land there is not one being who is destined to experience suffering, nor is there one being who’s destiny is undetermined.
V151. “All Buddha’s, Tathagata’s, in the ten directions, as countless as the sands of the Ganges, together praise the inconceivable, divine virtues of Buddha Amitabha.
V152. “All living beings who having heard his name, and praying with devout faith to be born into his land, remembering him even once and sincerely dedicating their merit to that land, with the resolution to be born there, they will upon death be reborn into that land and dwell in the stage of non-retrogression. Excluded are those who have committed the five grave offenses and those who slander the right Dharma.”
V159. The Buddha said to Ananda,”Those of the lowest class are the gods and humans from the worlds in the ten directions who sincerely wish to be reborn into his land, and although they are unable to do many meritious actions, they still aspire to attain unsurpassed Enlightenment, and single mindedly concentrate on Buddha Amitabha, even if it is for only ten brief moments of thought, with the desire to be born into his land. When they hear the profound Dharma, they joyously accept it with faith without entertaining any doubts, even if they only remember the Buddha just once, sincerely resolving to be reborn into his land, when they are about to die, they will see this Buddha in a dream, and upon dying they will be reborn into his pure land.
V154. When they are about to die, the Buddha Amitabha will appear before them, accompanied by a great host of sages. Then they will follow this Buddha and be reborn into his Pure land. Instantly they are reborn miraculously from within a seven jeweled lotus, and they will dwell in a state of
non-retrogression. They will attain deep wisdom and be able to perform supernatural powers.
V155. For this reason, Ananda, living beings who wish to see Buddha Amitabha in this present life should aspire to attain unsurpassed Enlightenment, should perform meritious deeds, and devoutly wish to be reborn into his land.””Anyone who sincerely desires birth in the Land of Peace and Bliss is able to attain purity of wisdom and supremacy in virtue.You should not follow the urges of the passions,break the precepts,or fall behind others in the practice of the way.
THE CONTEMPLATION SUTRA
V154. When they are about to die, the Buddha Amitabha will appear before them, accompanied by a great host of sages. Then they will follow this Buddha and be reborn into his Pure land. Instantly they are reborn miraculously from within a seven jeweled lotus, and they will dwell in a state of
non-retrogression. They will attain deep wisdom and be able to perform supernatural powers.
V155. For this reason, Ananda, living beings who wish to see Buddha Amitabha in this present life should aspire to attain unsurpassed Enlightenment, should perform meritious deeds, and devoutly wish to be reborn into his land.””Anyone who sincerely desires birth in the Land of Peace and Bliss is able to attain purity of wisdom and supremacy in virtue.You should not follow the urges of the passions,break the precepts,or fall behind others in the practice of the way.
THE CONTEMPLATION SUTRA
Whoever wishes to be born in the western pureland should practice the three acts:(1)Caring for one’s parents,attending to one’s teachers and elders,compassionately refraining from killing,and do the 10 good deeds;(2)Taking the 3 refuges,keeping the various precepts,and refraining from breaking the rules of conduct;and (3)Awakening aspiration for enlightenment(bodhicitta),believing deeply in the law of causality,chanting the Mahayana sutras,and encouraging people to follow their teachings.These 3 are called pure karma.
THE LARGER SUTRA
“You should resolutely do worthy deeds with propriety. Strive to do more good,control ,and purify yourselves,wash away the mental defilements. Be sincere in word and deed,and allow no contradiction between what you think and what you do.Seek your own liberation and then turn to saving others;straight forwardly aspire to be born in the Pure Land and accumulate roots of virtue.However hard you may practice in this life,it can only be for a short while.In the life to come you will be born in the land of Amitayus and enjoy endless bliss there.Being forever in accord with the way,you will no longer be subject to birth nor death you will be free of the afflictions caused by greed,anger,and ignorance”.”People of the world,parents and children,brothers and sisters,husbands and wives,and other family members and kinsmen,should respect and love each other,refraining from hatred and envy.They should share things with others,not be greedy and miserly.Always speak friendly words with a pleasing smile.Do not hurt each other”.”By the power of the Buddha’s Original Vows All who hear his name and desire birth will without exception,be born in his land and effortlessly enter the stage of non-retrogression”
THE LARGER SUTRA
“You should resolutely do worthy deeds with propriety. Strive to do more good,control ,and purify yourselves,wash away the mental defilements. Be sincere in word and deed,and allow no contradiction between what you think and what you do.Seek your own liberation and then turn to saving others;straight forwardly aspire to be born in the Pure Land and accumulate roots of virtue.However hard you may practice in this life,it can only be for a short while.In the life to come you will be born in the land of Amitayus and enjoy endless bliss there.Being forever in accord with the way,you will no longer be subject to birth nor death you will be free of the afflictions caused by greed,anger,and ignorance”.”People of the world,parents and children,brothers and sisters,husbands and wives,and other family members and kinsmen,should respect and love each other,refraining from hatred and envy.They should share things with others,not be greedy and miserly.Always speak friendly words with a pleasing smile.Do not hurt each other”.”By the power of the Buddha’s Original Vows All who hear his name and desire birth will without exception,be born in his land and effortlessly enter the stage of non-retrogression”
What do Buddhists believe 