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Letters from
Patriarch Yin Kuang
Translated by Master Th´ ich Thi` ˆ en Tˆ am, et al
Forrest G. Smith, consulting editor
New York - San Francisco - Toronto
Note to the reader. This is an electronic version of the book "Pure-Land Zen, Zen Pure-Land" (second edition 1993∗ ), which is a translation of selected passages from the letters of Elder Master Yin Kuang, the Thirteenth Patriarch of Pure Land. The original Chinese titles are Yin Kuang Fa Shih Wen Ch'ao and Yin Kuang Ta Shih Chia Yen Lu. Except for the two pictures of Master Yin Kuang, nothing has been added or changed. However, the notes to the letters and the Glossary prepared by the Van Hien Study Group as well as the Appendix (The Practices and Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra) were left out, but will hopefully be added later on. T.G., May 2005
reprinted and donated for free distribution by The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
p. 3 p. 5 p. 8 About the author Preface Introduction The Pure Land Tradition Translations Letters from Patriarch Yin Kuang
25 letters on General Buddhism, Zen and Pure Land, Pure Land Practice
p. 17
The supreme and endless blessings of Samantabhadra's deeds, I now universally transfer. May every living being, drowning and adrift, Soon return to the Land of Limitless Light!
The Vows of Samantabhadra
. and Buddhist images being destroyed . Leigh Festival of Amitabha Buddha Shepherd Park Hartford. (Ibid.. and others of a similar nature sprang up all over China.. The attack and criticism against Buddhism .. monasteries being appropriated for use as barracks and police stations...) Against this backdrop... the Chinese Revolution of 1911 and two world wars. such as special taxes and contributions being levied on temples. an intellectual climate was ushered in that was unfriendly to the interests of Buddhism .D. where he gained numerous followers and disciples . who. who was instrumental in the revival of the Mind-Only school and Master Yin Kuang. Nien-fo [Buddha Recitation] Societies. two eminent monks rose to lead the resurgence of Buddhism: Master T'ai Hsu. (Kenneth Ch'en. The monk mainly responsible for instilling new life and meaning to .. The revolution of 1911 that toppled the Manchu dynasty and established the Republic of China also brought in its wake a number of problems for the Buddhist sangha [clergy]. p. [the practice of Buddha Recitation and chanting of sutras was Master] Yin Kuang . Following the political revolution. resulted in a number of discriminatory measures.. tenants on temple lands being encouraged not to pay rent. Diˆ eu Phung Minh Tha `nh P.About the author The life of the Pure Land Patriarch Yin Kuang (1861-1940) covers a most eventful period for East Asia and parallels the Sino-Japanese War..) The compendium of Master Yin Kuang's letters – excerpts of which are translated in this book – represents a broad cross-section of the Master's thought and forms a prized collection of inspirational writings cherished throughout the Mahayana world. [Master] Yin Kuang carried on his teachings mainly in the provinces of Kiangsu and Chekiang. concentrated on living a pure religious life based on faith. devotion and holiness ... These efforts by [Master] Yin Kuang and his followers brought about an extensive revival of the Pure Land school. after his conversion to Pure Land pietism.. Lotus Societies. Scarcely a Chinese temple can be found anywhere without several different editions of these letters. CT: 1992 3 . 455ff. later to become the Thirteenth Patriarch of Pure Land. Buddhism in China.
Patriarch Yin Kuang (1861-1940) 4 .
Japan (Mahayana tradition). mitigation of anxiety and depression. but more often it is emotional and often psychosomatic. If you are suffering and if you realistically discover that you have only average motivation. Tantric and Pure Land.Preface After the demise of the historical Buddha.e. we all undergo suffering – the ultimate suffering being. a well-known American professor made this observation about the motivation of Western Buddhists: Probably the majority of non-Orientals who become practicing Buddhists do so because of an overriding need for relief from suffering.. then Pure Land is for you. reduction of hostility . As D.T. Taken together. within the reach of all men the deliverance taught by Sakyamuni" (Allan A. southward (Theravada tradition) and eastward into China. Sometimes the suffering is physical. the practitioner can calm his mind and achieve samadhi and wisdom. the main emphasis of the Pure Land school lies elsewhere. keep the mind pure. This is also the core teaching. Vietnam. The individual practicing meditation. in his pure Mind). His teachings spread in two main directions. 5 ." True to this spirit. Through mindfulness of the Buddha (i. The letters of Master Yin Kuang address this issue squarely. of Zen and all other Mahayana schools. a refuge of last resort for everyone. subject to the three poisons of greed. these two concepts of the Pure Land – as Mind and as a transcendental land – "effectively brought . taught them first the Truth of Suffering. But why do we have to purify the mind and seek deliverance? It is because in the wasteland of Birth and Death.. chanting. (Emma McCloy Layman. Andrews). Suzuki has pointed out. death. Thus reborn in the Pure Land (i. the very essence. fortitude and self-discipline. Pure Land is about suffering and the liberation from suffering. through the compassion of Amitabha Buddha – through His Vows. several of which remained important to this day: Zen. 269) This is precisely why Buddha Sakyamuni.. Pure Land is by far the most widespread form of Buddhism in East Asia. Korea. do what is good.. anger and delusion.. when preaching the Four Noble Truths to Kaundinya and his friends. of course. the Pure Land approach is simple and straightforward. or any kind of Buddhist "self-cultivation" is motivated by a need for symptomatic relief. he will eventually attain Buddhahood. All these schools teach the same basic truth: "Do not what is evil. "the psychological effects of the repetition of the holy name are close to the effects of Zen meditation. Buddha Recitation).e. these teachings developed into ten different schools. Buddhism in America. Pure Land provides a safety net. Echoing this conclusion. In East Asia." This notwithstanding. p.
We hope the Western reader will enjoy and benefit from them.. [. Please note that in this text. the expressions "Buddha Recitation" and "Buddha's name" refer specifically to Amitabha Buddha. read them twice and look for the same thing that Bodhidharma brought to China: look for the print of the Mind.]..]. are the letters of the Patriarch Yin Kuang.♦ ♦ ♦ This book consists of excerpts of selected letters by the Patriarch Yin Kuang [." Van Hien Study Group Festival of Samantabhadra New York: 1992 6 . as several generations of Eastern readers have.. Each letter can be considered a unit in itself [.. "read them once. then..] Here. As a Zen Master has written in another context..
no regard to male or female.There shall be no distinction. exalted or lowly. none shall fail to be in his Land of Purity after having called. good or bad. with complete faith. on Amida Buddha. Honen Shonin (as quoted in "Pure Land Buddhist Painting") .
that is. A) Self-power..4 Because of the dedication and effort involved. particularly following the development of Mahayana thought and the rise of lay Buddhism. the aspiration to achieve Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. All these methods are expedients – different medicines for different individuals with different illnesses at different times – but all are intrinsically perfect and complete. Most representative of this tradition are the Esoteric and Pure Land schools. The laity has generally played only a supportive role. roshis/gurus and rituals. on his mind.2 Within each method. the main aim of Pure Land – rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss through the power of Amitabha Buddha's 8 . many levels of teaching and numerous methods were devised in order to reach everyone. self-effort tradition all have a distinct monastic bias. to attain Buddhahood.e. the precondition for Buddhahood is the Bodhi Mind. schools of this self-power. most Buddhist schools and methods take the self-power approach: progress along the path of Enlightenment is achieved only through intense and sustained personal effort.Introduction The Pure Land Tradition The goal of all Buddhist practice is to achieve Enlightenment and transcend the cycle of Birth and Death – that is. i. the success or failure of an individual's cultivation depends on his depth of practice and understanding. In the Mahayana tradition. Parallel to this. One convenient division is into methods based on self-effort (self-power) and those that rely on the assistance of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (other-power). However. Pure Land does not stress the master-disciple relationship and de-emphasizes the role of sub-schools.3 Traditionally. Best known of these traditions are Theravada and Zen. Moreover. the times and the target audience. combining self-power with other-power – the assistance and support provided by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to sincere seekers of the Way. depending on the circumstances. with the most spiritually advanced ideally joining the Order of monks and nuns. unlike the former (or Zen). a more flexible tradition eventually arose.1 Since sentient beings are of different spiritual capacities and inclinations. the Patriarchs have elaborated various systems to categorize Dharma methods and the sutras in which they are expounded. the sutras speak of 84. Traditionally. an infinite number of methods. oneself included. other-power Throughout history.000.
" Unify your mindfulness of buddha through buddha-name recitation. Therein lies the appeal and strength of Pure Land. for cultivators of high spiritual capacity. though to be understood at several levels. the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha is an ideal training ground. the Pure Land method. leading to one-pointedness of mind or samadhi. Pure Mind. deluded mind to the SelfNature True Mind.7 No longer subject to retrogression. i) In its popular form. wisdom and Buddhahood are eventually attained. (J. we should naturally understand that the goal of Buddha Recitation is to achieve Buddhahood . "stopping. the cultivator can now focus all his efforts toward the ultimate aim of Buddhahood. some twenty-six centuries after the demise of the historical Buddha. Pure Land. The devotees of this school venerated Amitabha Buddha and sought not outright Nirvana but rebirth in the . like all Mahayana schools. "Pure Land" of Amitabha. requires first and foremost the development of the Bodhi Mind.e.Vows – is a realistic goal. Shuko). This is achieved within one lifetime through the practice of Buddha Recitation with sincere faith and vows. having left Birth and Death behind forever.. like other methods. "observing. Purity is sammata. and stopping and observing are both present. Pure Land involves seeking rebirth in the Land of Amitabha Buddha.. the transcendental and the popular – depending on the background and the capacities of the cultivator. (J. for ordinary practitioners in this spiritually Degenerate Age. reverts the ordinary..) As stated in Buddhism of Wisdom and Faith (Section 18): If we have the roots and the temperament of Mahayana followers. The Buddhist Handbook.8 ii) At the advanced level. Nirvana would be therefore just a short step away. In that idyllic environment.) Thus. no new negative karmic accumulations would be created and all existing ones would evaporate. i..6 the aspiration to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. at the popular level. This aspect of Pure Land is the form under which the school is popularly known. This is exemplified by the following advice of the eminent Zen master Chu Hung (Jap. also called Sukhavati. one of the three "Dragon-Elephants" of 16th-17th century China: Right now you simply must recite the buddha-name with purity and illumination. Illumination means reflecting back as you recite the buddha-name. an ideal environment where the practitioner is reborn thanks both to his own efforts and the power of Amitabha Buddha's vows (other-power). From this starting point.e.5 B) Pure Land in a Nutshell Pure Land. p.." Illumination is vipasyana.C.. the main tenets of the school can be understood at two main levels. Snelling. Why is it that the goal of Buddha Recitation is to become a Buddha? 9 . Cleary. Purity means reciting the buddha-name without any other thoughts.9 In the process. i. 133-4.
. as we begin reciting. as the one contains all and all is contained in the one. thought is the same as No-Thought. or other-power. Practice generally means reciting the Buddha's name to the point where one's Mind and that of Amitabha Buddha are in unison – i. to the point of singlemindedness. The Mahayana idea of the Buddha being able to impart his power to others marks one of those epoch-making deviations which set off the Mahayana from so-called .10 In its totality.. Vows and Practice These three factors are the cornerstones of Pure Land Buddhism.. If they are present. Vows are the determination to be reborn in the Pure Land – in one's pure Mind – so as to be in the position to save oneself and others. Vows and Practice... the simplest method contains the ultimate and the ultimate is found in the simplest.. Pure Land reflects the highest teaching of Buddhism as expressed in the Avatamsaka Sutra: mutual identity and interpenetration. which is intrinsically the same as His (to recite the Buddha's name is to recite the Mind). the realm of the Original Nature "apart from thought" of the Tathagata has been penetrated.11 C) Faith. marks exist but they have been left behind. form is emptiness. dividing the one and indivisible Truth into many parts. who came to exemplify the Bodhisattva ideal and the doctrine of dedication of merit. Thus. original Buddhism .12 This merit transference is the source of the vow-power.It is because. the past. are really one. to recite the Buddha's name is to recite the Mind. Pure Land is Zen. The aim is to enable sentient beings to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land as a steppingstone toward Buddhahood. present and future have lost their distinction. at the advanced level. in Pure Land Buddhism.. as well as faith in one's own Self-Nature. Faith.e. Samadhi and wisdom are then achieved. D) Transference of Merit Central to the Pure Land tradition is the figure of the Bodhisattva Dharmakara. the future Amitabha Buddha. This state is Buddhahood. what else could it be? This high-level form of Pure Land is practiced by those of deep spiritual capacities: "when the mind is pure. Zen is Pure Land. although three. it can be said that rebirth in the Pure Land depends on three conditions or two conditions (Faith and Vows) or even one condition (Faith). rebirth in the Pure Land is achieved. Faith means faith in Amitabha Buddha's Vow to rescue all who recite His name. The Mahayanists accumulate stocks of merit not only for the material of their own enlightenment but for the general 10 . the Buddha land is pure . The formula to be used depends on the audience and the times. Please note that all Buddhist teachings are expedients." Thus.
We know. xix.cultivation of merit which can be shared equally by their fellow-beings. the addition of one big factor can alter the whole course of karma . the cloud will be carried away somewhere else and we will not feel the rain. that if there is a dark.. which on the surface appears to run counter to the law of Cause and Effect. by calling on Her name we identify ourselves with Her and as a result of this identification Her merits flow over to us. which presupposes a receptive mind on the part of the cultivator. These merits which are now ours then counterbalance our bad karma and save us from calamity. as exemplified in the beautiful story of the Venerable Angulimala.. achieve rebirth in the Pure Land – albeit at the lowest grade. The Lankavatara Sutra. This passage can be understood at two levels. he concentrates on the Buddha's name one to ten times with utmost faith and sincerity. It is only by accepting the idea of life as one whole that both Theravadins and Mahayanists can advocate the practice of transference of merit to others. tr. the sinner once truly repentant may. Pamphlet. With the case of Kuan-Yin then. Thus. guilty of matricide and parricide. yet at the same time. wisdom or Mind also plays a crucial. At the level of everyday life. for example.. the chances are that it will rain.. heavy cloud above.13 E) Faith and Mind Faith is an important component of Pure Land Buddhism. albeit in embryonic form. may be explained in the following passage concerning one of the three Pure Land sages. p. animate and inanimate. The law of cause and effect still stands good. role. This interrelationship is clearly illustrated in the Meditation Sutra: the worst sinner. Pure Land offers hope to everyone.) The rationale for such conduct. may still achieve rebirth in the Pure Land if. the law of Cause 11 . However.) This concept of transference of merit. c. that is. This is the true meaning of Parinamana. on the verge of death. the concept also exists. etc. All that has happened is that a powerful and immensely good karma has overshadowed the weaker one . (Lecture on Kuan Yin by Tech Eng Soon – Penang Buddhist Association. This question is tied up with that of rebirth in Sukhavati [the Pure Land] and it may be answered by saying that invocation of Kuan-Yin's name forms another cause which will right away offset the previous karma. through the vow-power of Amitabha Buddha.. (D. Similarly. the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Kuan Yin): Some of us may ask whether the effect of karma can be reverted by repeating the name of Kuan-Yin. if less visible. 1960.14 However.T. turning one's merit over to others for their spiritual interest. is emphasized in Pure Land. Suzuki. in the Theravada tradition. But we also know that if a strong wind should blow. just as the worst criminal once genuinely reformed is no longer a threat to society and may be pardoned.
No word was said in them of the sole right motive for mind-development. for the benefit of business efficiency and the advancement of personal prestige. which look so contradictory to each other. dangerous in the extreme. for that moment he becomes an awakened person silently merging into the stream of the Sages – can Enlightenment and Buddhahood then be that far away?15 As the Meditation Sutra states: "the Land of Amitabha Buddha is not far from here!"16 Van Hien Study Group / 1992 Festival of the Bodhisattva Kuan-Yin (1) See the following passage. each one is perfect and complete for a given person or group at a given time. This is plainly depicted and taught by the Buddha himself when he says that the same water 12 . At the level of principle or Mind. .T. The Buddhist Way of Life. Various ways of classification and reconciliation were offered... whatever the motive of their authors. 100. and the higher stages which ensue. and ample warning of the dangers. the need for some guidance in mind-development was made acute . was compiled and published by the [British] Buddhist Society. (Christmas Humphreys. Concentration and Meditation. In these circumstances. See also the following passage from D. by the late founder of the Buddhist Lodge and Buddhist Society (London).. on the true goal of all Buddhist practice: In the West. and .... their conclusion was this: Buddhism supplies us with so many gates to enter into the truth because of such a variety of human characters and temperaments and environments due to diversities of karma. the human mind.and Effect remains valid. In fact the history of Chinese Buddhism is a series of attempts to reconcile the diverse schools . as the Sixth Patriarch taught in the Platform Sutra: A foolish passing thought makes one an ordinary man.) (2) Since every method is an expedient. which lie in wait for those who trifle with the greatest force on earth.. p. while an enlightened second thought makes one a Buddha. from a headache to insanity. once the sinner repents and concentrates on the Buddha's name with utmost sincerity and one-pointedness of mind. the enlightenment of the meditator for the benefit of all mankind. Suzuki: Buddhist theology has a fine comprehensive theory to explain the manifold types of experience in Buddhism. adapted to a particular target audience.. Therefore. with constant stress on the importance of right motive. by a sudden spate of books which were. and the reader was led to believe that it was quite legitimate to study and practice mindfulness.
3. The Eastern Buddhist. quoted by Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis. and if they should not be born by only thinking of me for ten times . No.) (7) The text of the Primal (Eighteenth) Vow is as follows: If..) Note: An early form of Buddha Recitation can be found in the Nikayas of the Pali Canon: In the Nikayas. and that medicine is to be given according to disease. they accomplish Supreme. p. from the "Practices and Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra": Because of living beings.. but this is our intellectual way of understanding and interpreting enlightenment. Vol.drunk by the cow and the cobra turns in one case into nourishing milk and in the other into deadly poison. the roots of Pure Land go back to Ancient India. (D. piety toward this Buddha seems to have been merely one of many practices of early Mahayana Buddhism. Suzuki: Jiriki (self-power) is the . 2. p..) 13 . The one goes upwards while the other comes downwards. (Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis. 40. op. after my obtaining Buddhahood. No. (Avatamsaka Sutra. ch.) (3) The crucial role of other-power in Buddhist cultivation is emphasized in the Lankavatara and Avatamsaka Sutras.T.. Suzuki. 4.. [wisdom] aspect of enlightenment and tariki (otherpower) is the . all beings in the ten quarters should desire in sincerity and trustfulness to be born in my country. 14. 15. 4. the Buddha .. they bring forth great compassion. This is called the doctrine of [skillful] means . 121. (4) See the following passage from D. p. Vol. "Pure Land School.. [Great Compassion] aspect of the same. No. (Meditation Sutra. cit. p. advised his disciples to think of him and his virtues as if they saw his body before their eyes.. albeit the tradition was not emphasized there: Although a cult dedicated to Amitabha Buddha worship did arise in India. see Glossary.. See Appendix. whereby they would be enabled to accumulate merit and attain Nirvana or be saved from transmigrating in the evil paths .) (5) Historically. and by [Great Compassion] we descend into a world of particulars. 317.. By [wisdom] we transcend the principle of individuation. 3.) For details. Pure Land Buddhist Painting. Perfect Enlightenment. among others. 314. (The Eastern Buddhist." (6) See the following passage on Bodhisattva practice. From great compassion the Bodhi Mind is born... (The Eastern Buddhist. Vol. may I not attain the highest Enlightenment.. in Joji Okazaki.T. 4. p. and because of the Bodhi Mind. in whose movement however there is no such twofold direction discernible.
the Buddha Nature. speaks of the deities as "projections" but never as "mere projections. 93. Suzuki: We observe that even the extremely devotional form of Buddhist life as revealed in the [Pure Land] begins in its last stage of "spiritual rest" . All methods of cultivation aim at calming the waves. for rebirth. the Original Face. (10) See the following passage from D." The deities are present and must be dealt with religiously . 4. The practice of meditation (samatha/vipasyana). p. etc. as Mind-Only and as a separate entity. impressions. not just by intellectual insight." In The Eastern Buddhist.) (11) The Avatamsaka Sutra teaches the interpenetration of all dharmas – the smallest dharma contains the largest and vice versa. 2. the actions of the Bodhisattva "never go beyond Buddha Recitation": 14 . (D. This teaching is clearly expressed in chapter 26 of the sutra. p. 40. Vol. The True Mind is to the ordinary mind what water is to waves – the two cannot be dissociated. The Eastern Buddhist. which describes the last phases of practice of a Bodhisattva before final Buddhahood.(8) Professor Allan A. This is wisdom or Enlightenment. conceptions. deluded mind (thought) includes feelings. The ordinary. is the basis of cultivation in all Buddhist traditions.. Vol. Indeed here lies the unity of Buddhist experience throughout its varied expressions. In secular western thought.. a single computer chip can contain numerous books. which have co-existed in China since the fourth century. restoring the water to its original stillness.T. (D. it is taught that at each and every stage. reflecting everything. As a modern example. consciousness. that is. p.T. Dawe in The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions. Suzuki. however. 3. including Pure Land. Andrews has noted that there are two levels of the Pure Land practice. beginning with the first two Patriarchs: Hui-yan used [Buddha Recitation] to achieve prajna wisdom by his own selfefforts. requires meditation and recitation – not intellectual reasoning.. to approach the Zen type. etc. 2.) Please note that understanding the dual nature of the Pure Land. in one form or another. No.G. awareness of psychological projection as a source of supernatural being has served to demythologize demons. see Buddhism of Wisdom and Faith. The Bardo Thodol [Tibetan Book of the Dead]. No. because [it] is the easiest practice through the power of Amida's compassionate vows. goblins. angels and saints and rob them of their power.. 121.) (9) For details. In that chapter. The surface then becomes a mirror. They are the same but they are also different. T'an-luan considered [Buddha Recitation] the best practice for salvation. ("Nembutsu in the Chinese Pure Land tradition. section 29. The True Mind is the fundamental nature. Reality.
Lokesvararaja. p. In the presence of the eighty-first Buddha of the past.) 15 . The Flower Ornament Scripture.... called Cloud of Teaching .. and promised that he would not accept enlightenment if he could not achieve his goals . who had for eons past been deeply moved by the suffering of sentient beings and who had determined to establish a Land of Bliss where all beings could experience emancipation from their pain . When. vol. and uttered these words.. (Thomas Cleary. tr.. 331.This is a summary of the tenth stage of enlightening beings. Pure Land Buddhist Painting. or kind speech. After killing ninety-nine persons. p.. Whatever acts they undertake. whether through giving. the Community . Faith can assure arrival at enlightenment. he reported this pathetic woman's suffering to the Buddha. there to progress through stages of increasing awareness until they finally achieve enlightenment.. Dharmakara achieved enlightenment and became a Buddha. or cooperation. 14-15.. (Thomas Cleary. Angulimala was converted by the Buddha. the mother of virtues. (Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis. (Narada Maha Thera. she delivered the child with ease. "Sister. the Western Paradise... repented his evil ways and joined the Order: One day as he went on his round for alms he saw a woman in labor. By this truth may you be whole and may your child be whole. Instantly. tr. p. Nourishing and growing all good ways .. 200. which was in existence before a. 124.. Dharmakara made forty-eight vows relating to this Paradise.e." He went to the presence of the suffering sister . where the faithful will be reborn in bliss. He then advised him to pronounce the following words of truth. describes a discourse offered by the Buddha Sakyamuni . it is all never apart from thoughts of Buddha [Buddha Recitation].) (12) See the following passage: The [Longer Amitabha Sutra] . Moved by compassion. The Buddha and His Teaching.) (14) Faith is an important element in all Buddhist traditions. since my ordination] I know not that I consciously destroyed the life of any living being. the conditions of his [18th] vow were fulfilled: he became the Lord of Sukhavati. Sakyamuni tells the story of the Bodhisattva Dharmakara. 1... See the following passage from the Avatamsaka Sutra: Faith is the basis of the path. after countless ages.d. of beneficial action. 111. p..) (13) The life story of the Venerable Angulimala is one of the most moving accounts in the Theravada canon. II. since my birth in the Arya clan [i.. in Joji Okazaki.. the Teaching. Vol. Faith can increase knowledge and virtue.. The Flower Ornament Scripture [Avatamsaka Sutra]. which later became known as the Angulimala Paritta (Mantra) .. in response to questions of his disciple Ananda. but it is particularly so in Pure Land..
of course. In Zen. the same: to achieve Enlightenment and Buddhahood. the immediate aim is to destroy evil karma and afflictions and generate blessings and wisdom in the current lifetime. Buddha Recitation is practiced for the purpose of achieving rebirth in the Land of Amitabha Buddha. from those of the sages to the Supreme. the koan of Buddha Recitation is meant to sever delusive thought and realize the Self-Nature True Mind. At the level of phenomena. Perfect Enlightenment of the Buddhas. Buddha Recitation. In Pure Land. In the Tantric school.(15) This is true at the level of noumenon or principle. is found in other schools. there are infinite degrees of Enlightenment. 16 . including the Tantric and Zen schools. (A Buddha is one who is completely enlightened at all times.) (16) The strength and pervasiveness of Pure Land teaching are such that its main practice. The ultimate goal of all three schools is.
Letters from Patriarch Yin Kuang .
and demon-states. karma. I will be freed. As the lotus does not touch the water. Amid all worldly paths.From all delusions. As sun and moon do not stop in space. The Vows of Samantabhadra .
pursue the world of sight and sound. those who are less well off are hardly few in number. develop a revulsion toward it and strive to cultivate the Pure Land path. You should realize that human beings are bound by all kinds of karmic afflictions. beyond the ken of the multitude. not only have the snow and dew undergone change.Letter 1 Turn Afflictions into Bodhi1 Since we last met. During that time. Without the sufferings of poverty and illness. thus achieving Ultimate Enlightenment. you should consider illness as medicine. you can even turn afflictions into Bodhi (Enlightenment). 1 Letter to Teng Po-ch'eng. I should seek only to escape hunger and cold. suffering hunger and destitution or failure in their undertakings. the destiny of our nation has been profoundly transformed as well. to escape Birth and Death. The evanescence of life is truly something we all deeply mourn! I am pleased to learn from your letter that you have not neglected your Pure Land practice. Could this be the result of financial difficulties or chronic illness? If you suffer financial hardship. why dream of riches and honor?" Moreover. if you are content and at peace with your circumstances and surroundings. 37) 19 . (Chinese ed. p. However. Who would then willingly turn around to watch and ponder the state of perdition to come? The sage Mencius once said: Those who will be entrusted with great tasks should first endure hardship both in body and mind. Likewise. they will. six years have gone by in a flash. you indicated that you are not at peace in body and mind. by nature. develop patience and endurance and attain outstanding abilities. finding it difficult to let go. I suggest you retreat a step. I. not to mention grief into peace and joy! If you suffer chronic illness. determined to achieve rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. The Buddhas view suffering as their teacher. Vol. Only then will they be able to forge their character. You should reflect thus: "although there are many in this world more fortunate than I. fame and profit. you should reflect deeply that this body is the very source of suffering.
the plum blossom could never develop its exquisite perfume! This is the meaning of what I said earlier. Therefore. in speaking of great tasks. you should engage in earnest repentance. blaming your fellow beings. seeking the Buddhas' assistance in eradicating past karma and achieving peace and tranquility of body and mind. you will revolve for many eons in the evil realms – not knowing when you will ever achieve liberation! The ancients have said: If it were not for a period of penetrating cold. Even so. the sage Mencius was referring merely to mundane undertakings. Thus. resenting the Heavens. You should know that from time immemorial. we have all created immeasurable evil karma. Moreover. you should realize that human character is usually forged in adversity." Such compassionate action is all-encompassing. you should remain at peace and practice forbearance. your worldly delusions will know no bounds and your Pure Land practice will be difficult to perfect. even our obligations to the Heavens or to our parents cannot be compared to it – not even on a scale of ten thousand to one. enduring hardship is necessary for success – how much more so when lowly beings such as ourselves undertake the great dual task of achieving Buddhahood and rescuing sentient beings! If you are not tested to a certain extent by financial hardship and disease. to eradicate past karma swiftly and avoid developing a mind of afflictions. As the Avatamsaka Sutra states: If evil karma had physical form. specifically taught the method of "relying on the Buddha's power to take their residual karma along to the Pure Land. out of compassion for sentient beings who lack the strength to rid themselves of evil karma. ♦ ♦ ♦ 20 . If adversity cannot be avoided.Therefore. intermittent cultivation possibly annihilate all afflictions and obstructions? Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. how can haphazard. ♦ ♦ ♦ You should persevere in reciting the Buddha's name. With your Mind-mirror clouded. the empty space of the ten directions could not contain it. considering the law of Cause and Effect as a fairy tale and rejecting the Buddhas and their teachings as ineffective.
so much the better. almost all of them simply read the words of the sutras and commentaries seeking arguments and rationalizations to prove that they are versed in the Dharma. subtle meaning of the Pure Land method. the more lax and disrespectful you are. Conversely. How sad it is! When you meet with other laymen. ♦ ♦ ♦ If you can penetrate the profound. Even if. With Her silent vow to rescue sentient beings. the Bodhisattva appears throughout the worlds of the ten directions. in addition to reciting the Buddha's name morning and night and dedicating the merits toward rebirth in the Pure Land. you should call wholeheartedly upon the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin (Avalokitesvara). thanks to residual merits.If illness and suffering become unbearable. To doubt is to turn your back on Buddha Amitabha. resulting in a corresponding decrease in merit and wisdom. it is very deep and encompassing. there are quite a number of scholars who study Buddhism. If you are lazy and lax. you escape the evil realms. This would be a great Dharma gift. and increases merit and wisdom by one-tenth – and this applies to two-tenths. even if you are not entirely clear about certain aspects of it. distancing yourself from Him. for only then will your thoughts merge with those of Amitabha Buddha and will you reap true benefits in this very life. If in time of crisis. However. One-tenth of reverence and devotion annihilates one-tenth of afflictions and evil karma. Those with the sincerity and devotion to cultivate according to the Dharma are few indeed! I have always said that to reap the real benefit of the Dharma. However. a person can keep reciting Her name and revere Her. making it difficult to be in communion with Him and be "received and guided" at the time of death. The ancients have taught: 21 . ♦ ♦ ♦ Although Buddha Recitation is simple. three-tenths or total reverence and devotion. lacking even the least bit of reverence and awe. you should still believe firmly in the words of the Buddhas and the Patriarchs. enabling him to escape suffering and achieve happiness. She will respond according to the circumstances. you should approach it with a truly reverent mind. you may sow the seeds of future liberation but you must still bear the inconceivable evil karma stemming from disrespect and over-familiarity. You must not harbor doubts. The most important thing is to be utterly sincere and earnest. the more obstructions and evil karma you develop. you should counsel them along these lines. you will still find it difficult to join the Ocean-Wide Lotus Assembly! Nowadays.
earnest words they were meant to be? ♦ ♦ ♦ 22 . their actions are no different from those of the dullards in the marketplace. but since they have not been in the company of fully enlightened sages. If even the highest level Bodhisattvas cannot fully understand the Pure Land method. However. whose writings can astound the gods. how can we expect to assess it with our own limited minds and capacities without falling into error? Intelligent persons. Last autumn. The Master's words are a truth that has withstood the test of time. a needle pricking the heads of those with delusive wisdom.Only the Buddhas can truly fathom the ultimate meaning of Pure Land. respectful" points. it is a case of betraying the Dharma with one's body (actions).. theory and noumenon cease to exist. However. There are also certain individuals of great talent and ability. This is a natural development. The depth of such offenses and transgressions is immeasurable! Witnessing this. even those Bodhisattvas who have achieved near equality with the Buddhas cannot grasp it completely.. I wonder whether he has taken them as the sincere. may study the Dharma. these days. those who believe deeply in Cause and Effect naturally understand the Mind and Self-Nature in depth. This grave error is repeated by other people. I brought up these "sincere. during your esteemed brother's visit to P'u T'o Mountain. those endowed with profound wisdom can only sigh in pity and compassion . The root cause is their rejection of phenomenal cultivation and Cause and Effect. they almost always emphasize theory and noumenon (principle) while rejecting "phenomenal" cultivation as well as the law of Cause and Effect. An Elder Master once said: Those who skillfully discourse on Mind and Self-Nature surely can never reject Cause and Effect. Little do they realize that without phenomenal cultivation and belief in Cause and Effect.
but it is hidden by afflictions and evil karma and cannot manifest itself. what can we say of common beings filled with heavy karmic afflictions? If you do not feel shame and remorse. even its reflecting nature is hidden. your Self-Nature may be the same as the Buddhas'. something of value in the world. they peruse books all day long without understanding the true intent of the sages. still pays respect to the Buddhas of the ten directions during the six periods of the day. who has attained the level of Equal Enlightenment. even the Bodhisattva Maitreya. the list would be endless! ♦ ♦ ♦ Buddhist sutras teach followers to practice repentance constantly in order to transcend delusion and achieve Buddhahood. 41) 23 . Confucius expressed the wish to survive much longer in order to study the Book of Changes in depth and thus avoid major transgressions. Vol. We are not even speaking here of the transgressions of mind and thought. I. not only does it not reflect light. The scholarship of these sages had reached the highest level of mind and thought. Thus. Thus. Just like a precious mirror which has been covered with dust for eons. If this is true for the Bodhisattva Maitreya. There is no possible correspondence. their words and actions differing from those of the sages as greatly as day from night or square from round. (Chinese ed. When nearing seventy. Today's scholars like to study chapter by chapter. upon reaching his fiftieth birthday. p. once more. if these transgressions were enumerated.Letter 2 A Pure Mind in a Pure Land2 How delighted I was to receive and read your letter! The sage Ch'u Po-yu. so as to wipe out delusion and attain the Dharma Body. The mirror can then become. the light reflected will gradually increase until it reaches maximum radiance. 2 Another letter to Teng Po-ch'eng. looked back and realized the errors he was still committing at age forty-nine. If you realize that the mirror already possesses the nature of brightness and strive ceaselessly to clean it. with few showing concern for the issue of rectifying mind and thought.
This is also true if you wish to be free of external attachments in order to concentrate on Buddha Recitation and reach 24 . Each one can pay respect to the Buddhas and recite sutras or Buddha Amitabha's name according to individual circumstances and capacities. inherently possessing the Buddha Nature in full but busily creating evil karma and suffering – mired in Birth and Death for many eons – is no different from a dark house filled with treasures. without polishing. as long as it is distinct. This is very much in accord with the Pure Land method because "when the mind is pure. you may recite either aloud or silently. lest your repentance consist of empty words bringing no real benefit. a brick would also shine brightly when polished." their inherently virtuous nature cannot appear. eating or dressing. from evil to wholesome. Such a mind-consciousness. When venerating the Buddhas in clean places. you may. Yet. dedicating the merits thus accrued to rebirth in the Pure Land. practice meditation and recite the sutras. if sentient beings do not mend their ways. speaking or remaining silent. ♦ ♦ ♦ You already know that you must confess your transgressions and practice repentance. If it were not so. wherever you may be. reclining or sitting. suffer further loss. In addition to your regular cultivation sessions. earnest and not subject to distractions. in fact. This method is. To recite aloud when reclining is not only disrespectful. and turn their backs on worldly dusts "to merge with Enlightenment. Is this not lamentable? ♦ ♦ ♦ Pure Land is precisely the sublime method enabling the practitioner to turn his back on worldly dusts to merge with Enlightenment and return to the source (the Mind). the Buddha land is pure. very suitable for persons such as yourself. therefore." However. The Mind-Nature of sentient beings is similar. In dirty places (such as washrooms) or in circumstances that do not call for reverence (such as sleeping or bathing) you should just recite silently. you should also realize that although the brightness is inherent in the mirror.You should realize that the potential for reflection is inherent in the mirror and is not the result of polishing. throughout the day. you should practice Buddha Recitation when walking or standing. Silent recitation brings the same blessings and virtues as oral recitation. the day would never come when it would gleam. Laymen bound up in mundane affairs cannot easily find the time to attend retreats. [it is clouded]. you should change your ways and practice wholesome deeds. it is also fatiguing and may lead in time to illness. You not only cannot make use of the treasures. once having repented. Thus. Although it is intrinsically identical to that of the Buddhas.
you will soon be a new guest in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. constantly revolving along the Six Paths throughout eons as numerous as motes of dust – hopelessly lost in the immense sea of suffering. while the key to rebirth in the Pure Land is singlemindedness. Immediately. In no time. whereupon they recited the Buddha's name several times with utmost sincerity and devotion. they cannot easily perfect the fruits of Enlightenment. Therefore. I would lack intelligence and be deluded. then even though you still have not left the evil. I would sink deeper into the evil realms. do not hesitate. you should still fulfill your family obligations – 25 . the empty space of the ten directions could not contain it. while if the Buddhas of the ten directions abandon this method. as a layman. No extraordinary method is required: you should paste the single word "death" on your forehead or dangle it from your eyebrows. always keeping the following thoughts in mind: Since time immemorial I have created untold. out of all the countless methods taught by Sakyamuni Buddha throughout His teaching career. Although you should not unduly seek wealth and honor. [I am bound to endure the sufferings of hells. From now on. they cannot benefit the masses far and wide. prone to create evil karma. your cultivation will be focussed. Otherwise. I would commit new evil karma. However. Thanks to good conditions. if such karma had form. unable to perform good deeds readily. After recovering a human body. lest the error of one moment lead to ten thousand lifetimes of regret? Surely those with high aspirations cannot tolerate being "walking corpses. deluded world." running aimlessly while alive and simply decaying after death. had the opportunity to hear the Dharma. I have been reborn in a human body and have. still have your parents and your family. Redouble your efforts and exert yourself! ♦ ♦ ♦ Finally. This beneficial feature exists only in the Pure Land method. in addition. While you may not have reached the Pure Land yet. seeking escape from Birth and Death. immeasurable evil karma. I have always said that "if the Nine Realms of sentient beings do not practice this method. when my breath has ceased. along with the grass and trees. not knowing how to reach liberation. seeking rebirth in the Pure Land. If you always reflect on these points. when you encounter an opportunity to practice good deeds. With my residual bad karma from previous lives still not repaid. when you meet virtuous persons." If you have utmost Faith and cultivate earnestly. you. you will not remain long in the Saha World either. Take the example of the two notorious men who – on the verge of death – witnessed the marks of hell appear. I must now recite the Buddha's name singlemindedly. do your utmost to emulate them.one-pointedness of mind. How can you have the heart to procrastinate. hungry ghosts and animality]. they saw Amitabha Buddha coming to "receive and guide" them back to the Pure Land. given my evil karma.
so that they may practice Buddha Recitation and seek rebirth in the Pure Land. he would surely be reborn in the upper lotus grades. join the Ocean-wide Assembly. ♦ ♦ ♦ 26 . they will surely achieve rebirth. the merits and virtues from such teaching would be entirely his. that would be all to the good. If they can practice with faith. As a filial son. Mundane filiality cannot be compared with such an achievement! If anyone were to advise others to cultivate the Pure Land method. Once reborn. escape Birth and Death. be close to Amitabha Buddha and eventually achieve Buddhahood. This is something you should also realize. In the future. you should counsel your parents concerning cultivation. they will transcend the mundane and enter sagehood. If you could let go of everything and still manage to provide for your parents and family. it would be contrary not only to human morality but also to the Dharma. Otherwise.for to cultivate the Dharma is not to abandon everything.
you will not be able to escape Birth and Death. in the True Mark Single Vehicle. the marks of loftiness and meagerness cannot be found. If you wish to go deeper. whether the marks are lofty or limited depends on how they are conceived. Within this Vehicle. p. the evil karma resulting from maligning the Dharma pales before the karma of vilifying it with one's own body! These days. Otherwise. you should carefully peruse the Commentary on the Essential Points of the Amitabha Sutra and other Pure Land sutras and treatises. 3 Letter to the layman Teng Hsin-an." [understand the Dharma] you should study all dharmas. However. my teaching will not be appropriate to your needs! However.. (Chinese ed. Only then can you reap benefits swiftly. Why? It is because your aspirations are lofty while my knowledge is limited and meager. therefore. from the mundane level to the level of the Buddhas. Loftiness and meagerness cannot meet.. some Confucian scholars blindly criticize Buddhism . The Pure Land Patriarch Shan Tao has said: If you wish to study "meaning. mouthing Mahayana teachings. I. ♦ ♦ ♦ Buddhism is an open method within the ten Dharma Realms – everyone should practice it and anyone can practice it. Moreover. Loftiness and meagerness always possess in full the nature of the Dharma Realm. 44) 27 . if you want to engage in "practice. Because they do not fully understand its true nature.Letter 3 The True Mark Vehicle has no Marks3 It is very difficult indeed to respond to the important questions raised in your letter. Vol. This being so. even if you spend many eons. some individuals. seeking rebirth in the Pure Land. the meagerness to which I refer encompasses all the dharmas of the Ten Realms. there is no better method than to recite the Buddha's name with a mind of Faith an Vows." you should choose a method compatible with the Truth as well as your own capacities and level and then concentrate on it earnestly. However.
Their evil karma is ten thousand times worse than that of persons who malign Buddhism through mere ignorance of the Dharma. on the other hand – the vilification of the Dharma with their bodies – will assuredly result in retribution along the Evil Paths for countless eons to come. but their actions. anger and delusion are precepts. why sever lust. Vows and recitation of the Buddha's name. are as low as the underworld! Such persons may be considered the enemies of Buddhism. You should study Mahayana sutras and commentaries to ensure that your understanding is broad and complete. As far as cultivation is concerned. upon close examination. anger and delusion?" Their words are as lofty as the heavenly clouds. They say: "I am [intrinsically] a Buddha. you should concentrate on Faith. these can only constitute the seeds of liberation in the future. Their transgressions. concentration and wisdom. While their efforts in studying the Dharma are not entirely wasted. why recite the Buddha's name? Afflictions are Bodhi. what is the need to sever them? Lust. ♦ ♦ ♦ 28 .consider themselves awakened to the Way.
enjoining them to cultivate sincerely. All these actions demonstrate that your cultivation in recent days is truly aimed at self-improvement. in perfect. bowing and reciting are no different from performing on stage. joy. compassion and other emotions. and these are precisely the basis of evil karma and the seeds of immense suffering in the future. Any blessings or virtues that may result are but deluded merits of the human and celestial realms. p. 4 Letter to the layman Kao Shao-lin. singing and prancing. Although you may be displaying the external signs of suffering. or visualizing many Buddhas. but you have not yet achieved success. All the virtues of the Buddhas in the ten directions of the Dharma Realm are fully encompassed in Amitabha Buddha. they are all make-believe because they do not spring from the depth of your mind. and each and every jewel encompasses every other. ♦ ♦ ♦ A mind of sincerity and respect is the key to Pure Land cultivation.. This being so. even though you are only an ordinary being whose virtues are not yet perfected. I. I truly rejoice in your actions. You should not think that the merits and virtues of reciting the name of. or visualizing one Buddha are less encompassing than those received from reciting the name of. unimpeded fashion.Letter 4 The Jewelled Net of Indra4 From your letter. You should explain this to all your friends and colleagues. You should realize that Amitabha Buddha is the Dharma Realm Treasure Body. nothing could be better. bowing to the Lotus Sutra and trying to reduce your transgressions. Vol. whose thousands and thousands of jewels are fully reflected in one jewel. I can see that you are concentrating on reciting the Buddha's name. With utter sincerity and respect. This is like the jewelled net of Indra. the image of one jewel is reflected in thousands and thousands of jewels. 49) 29 . so as to spread the benefits widely . unlike those who attempt to deceive others with external displays to achieve renown. (Chinese ed. without sincerity. You are thinking of following a special method to review your progress day by day.. you will achieve unimaginable results! Conversely.
widely varying conditions and environments do not matter. the ancients have said: To bathe in the great ocean is to use the waters of hundreds of rivers. Buddha Sakyamuni and the Patriarchs all enjoined us to recite the Buddha's name singlemindedly until achieving samadhi – at which time hundreds of thousands of Dharma methods and countless sublime meanings will manifest themselves in full. Those with heavy obstructions and shallow wisdom may even. at times. To exemplify this Truth. For beginners. For this reason. be afflicted by demons.♦ ♦ ♦ To great sages who have cultivated for a long time. in fact. on the other hand. the mind-consciousness grows confused and unfocussed.. if conditions and environments are varied. the more diverse they are. the more focussed the minds of these sages become. ♦ ♦ ♦ 30 ..
On the other hand. with no desire for empty fame. keep the precepts and practice self-restraint. 5 Another letter to the layman Kao Shao-lin. rebels and bandits will become like his own sons. understanding the Dharma is not difficult. even his closest friends will turn into enemies. if you take precautions in your daily life. I. you should not be stingy and refuse. You should aim for the Truth and practice to your utmost ability. examining yourself. I am very happy indeed! To follow in the footsteps of the Buddhas and sages and escape Birth and Death. Knowing this. Most powerful among them are wealth. afflictions will not flare up whenever you meet with adverse circumstances. to assist fellow beings is precisely to lay the foundation for our own future merit and virtue. abandon evil ways. Thus. Vol." Therefore. practice is the real difficulty! Many intelligent persons merely verbalize but fail to practice. I learned that in recent days you have engaged in earnest cultivation. The conditions leading to afflictions are numerous. p. spoiling a visit to the jewelled mountain and returning empty-handed. you should first develop an attitude of shame and repentance. Even if they do arise. developing afflictions in the process. you will not desire them when you see them. perform wholesome deeds. lust and unusual adversities. if he rules unwisely. (Chinese ed. as the saying goes: If the king rules wisely. 55) 31 . you will be aware of and eradicate them. whenever those in need seek your help. who among us is not afflicted by delusion and evil karma? However. mending your ways and following the path of the sages. ♦ ♦ ♦ As common beings. What a great pity! Their deluded thoughts flare up unchecked because they are not earnest in maintaining correct thought. If you realize that ill-gotten gains are more dangerous than venemous snakes. Otherwise there is deceit within deceit.Letter 5 The Ten Thousand Dharmas have no True Nature5 From your letter. If they would only concentrate on one realm. They therefore waste an entire lifetime. deluded thoughts would be converted into "correct wisdom.
Within the family. You should pay particular attention to Faith and Vows. you should view them as your own sisters and. the adverse or beneficial consequences of all actions depend on the individual alone. with a compassionate mind. while the level of rebirth depends on the depth of practice. It is very difficult to achieve one-pointedness of mind without utter sincerity. You should next listen attentively to the recitation. If I meet with adversity today.. you will not be moved by beautiful forms or swayed by lustful thoughts. Whether or not recitation is performed aloud.. even women of pleasure and courtesans. rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss will be achieved. In the case of sages who have cultivated for a long time. Elder Master Ou I has said: Achieving rebirth in the Pure Land depends entirely on Faith and Vows. you should develop thoughts of compassion. If these three conditions are fulfilled. Only then will your Faith and Vows reach Amitabha Buddha so that His Compassionate Vow may embrace you. In this connection. when you come across women as beautiful as flowers or precious gems. ♦ ♦ ♦ Faith. It then proceeds from the mouth and enters the ears (even 32 . these methods are for those of low capacities. [and not as a celestial being or a Dharma Master.. I have caused suffering and hurt sentient beings on many occasions.. You should think: "in my previous lives. as these are still within the realm of Birth and Death]. and wish wholeheartedly to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land . sincerity is not enough. When encountering adverse circumstances. however awakened. husbands and wives should respect one another as guests . However." Thinking thus. it would not change. In this way.As for lustful thoughts. it is merely the repayment of previous debts. ♦ ♦ ♦ If you experience difficulty in reaching one-pointedness of mind. However. all afflictions become the "illuminating Mind Store" – the ten thousand dharmas have always been without self. forgiving those who do not realize their mistakes and avoiding disputes. Vows and Practice form the cornerstone of Pure Land. The main criteria of such concentration are utter sincerity and earnestness. seek to rescue them. it should originate from the mind. you become naturally content and do not develop a mind of anger and vengefulness. Only by firmly believing in this truth will you have a destiny in the Western Pure Land. you should focus your mind and recite with care. This is a truth as solid as steel – even if a thousand Buddhas were to appear on earth.
If you spend time studying while you are trying to engage in cultivation. the ears hearing clearly and the mind thus concentrated. Thus. you may not have the time or energy. ♦ ♦ ♦ You have now reached your fifties. deluded thoughts will cease by themselves. the marks of oral recitation still exist in the mind). If you wish to attain liberation in this very life. you should concentrate on the Pure Land method. until such time as you fully possess the Pure Land principles and achieve one-pointedness of mind through Buddha Recitation. you will achieve neither and lose the benefits of both. ♦ ♦ ♦ 33 . With mind and mouth reciting clearly.if you recite silently. The Diamond Sutra and the Lotus Sutra should be temporarily set aside.
relying on his Vow to be reborn in the worlds of the ten directions. However. the Great Sage taught the path of the Buddhas. He may then cultivate the six paramitas and the ten thousand conducts. up to the level of Wonderful Enlightenment. before finally reaching Buddhahood. the roots of Birth and Death cannot be extirpated. so that they might reach Buddhahood through step-by-step cultivation. Only at the level of the Arhats are the roots of Birth and Death completely severed. However. (Chinese ed. [In this manner. Vows and Practice6 The true intention of Buddha Sakyamuni. p. when He appeared in the world to preach the Dharma and rescue sentient beings. 59) 34 . To those of more modest capacities..Letter 6 Faith. I. ♦ ♦ ♦ These methods. are all different. the Buddha taught the Five Precepts and the Ten Virtues. the cultivator must still aim for the path of Great Bodhi. even if the cultivator's powers of concentration and wisdom are profound. others to gradual liberation. he will continue to revolve in the cycle of Birth and Death. This being the case.] 6 Letter to the layman Ch'en Hsi-chou. was for all beings to escape Birth and Death and attain Enlightenment immediately. because sentient beings were all of differing capacities and thus could not entirely meet His transcendental expectations. Pratyeka Buddha and Arhat paths. transcending Birth and Death is merely the small fruit of the Arhats. they all require self-power and deep cultivation to escape from the cycle of Birth and Death and reach the Self-Nature. To those of the highest capacities. the All-Compassionate Being resorted to one expedient teaching after another. some leading to swift liberation. Vol. showing them the Self-Nature directly so that they might attain Buddhahood in one lifetime – as in the case of Sudhana in the Avatamsaka Sutra or the Dragon Princess in the Lotus Sutra. To those of still lower capacities. high or low. all of them adapted to the individual capacities of sentient beings. he will gradually achieve the 52 different stages of Bodhisattvahood. in order to achieve Buddhahood and rescue sentient beings .. the Buddha taught the Bodhisattva. If even a trace delusion of views or delusion of thought remains. However.
Supremely lofty beings. He will see Amitabha Buddha soon after rebirth and be able to hear the wonderful Dharma. high. even they will be received and guided to the Pure Land – not to mention those who practice wholesome deeds and do not commit transgressions! The more diligently the cultivator engages in wholesome conduct and the deeper his power of concentration. severed delusion and attained the Truth should dedicate all merits toward rebirth in the Pure Land.♦ ♦ ♦ Although Buddha Sakyamuni expounded countless methods throughout His teaching career. the special approach of Pure Land. the Zen tradition points directly to the Self-Mind. even those who have committed the Five Grave Offenses or the Ten Evil Acts. Thus. However. in the midst of this Dharma-Ending Age. even those who have awakened to the Way. there would be no difference between Zen and the Sutra Studies method. It is difficult enough to find someone who is awakened to the Way. bypassing phenomenal cultivation and attainment grounded in the law of Cause and Effect. Mahasthamaprapta. seeing one's Nature and achieving Buddhahood. With this method. when the marks of the hells appear. Manjusri and Samantabhadra. If they lead only to limited attainment [such as Arhatship]. those of limited capacities cannot cultivate them. If we were to consider the different levels of cultivation and achievement. thanks to the compassionate power of Amitabha Buddha. not to mention one who has truly attained Enlightenment ! Thus. Then. cannot transcend 35 . while the capacities of sentient beings are limited. This is a perfect. ♦ ♦ ♦ Other methods depend on the capacities of the practitioner. on the verge of death. knowing that sentient beings would find it extremely difficult to achieve liberation by relying on self-power alone. in addition to other methods. the higher his level of rebirth will be. moderate and low. such as the Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara. those of high capacities need not practice them. Sakyamuni Buddha taught. as long as their Faith and Vows are true and earnest. follow the advice of a good spiritual advisor and recite the Buddha's name one to ten times. they are all based upon the various stages of Bodhisattvahood mentioned above. seeking perfect attainment of the Dharma Body and swift attainment of Buddhahood. there are very few good spiritual advisors. Therefore. direct shortcut. However. If they lead to great attainment. Only the Pure Land method embraces practitioners of all three capacities. we are speaking here from the viewpoint of the inherent Dharma Body (that is. may. principle or noumenon).
the Western Pure Land a realm of bliss . rather than a true environment. while those of low capacities. and even a trace of doubt becomes an obstacle. p. is still above the ministers in nobility and honor. belong to a lineage superior to that of the disciples of the Two Vehicles. those who practice Buddha Recitation with full Faith and Vows. thanks to the power of his royal lineage. respectively. A newborn prince." With this misunderstanding. This is because they have learned to cast their earthly minds into the sea of Enlightenment – silently in tune with the wonderful Way. the Pure Land Dharma Door is a very easy method of cultivation. you should make a general comparison of the ease and difficulty of other-power vs. ♦ ♦ ♦ Despite its loftiness. You should firmly believe that the Saha World is a place of suffering. even if you engage in cultivation you will not reap the full benefit – not to mention what will happen if you do not cultivate. (Hozen Seki. lest you mistakenly think that "all the wonderful.) You should be wary and not attempt to reason with the mind of an ordinary being. the majority of sentient beings in the Dharma-Ending Age could not hope to escape the cycle of Birth and Death. so be careful! ♦ ♦ ♦ 36 . therefore it is called Utmost Happiness. Likewise. extraordinary events beyond common understanding that occur in the Western Pure Land are myths representing the Mind Dharma. can still participate in it. For this reason. This is a major error. who have committed the Five Grave Offenses or the Ten Evil Deeds and have sown the seeds of the Never-Ending Hell. This applies even to Bodhisattvas at the "expedient level. Thanks to Amitabha Buddha's power. If Sakyamuni Buddha had not taught this method. not only do ordinary beings find it difficult to believe. you lose the benefit of rebirth in the Pure Land. self-power." Only those who have sown the wholesome seeds of Pure Land in previous lives as well as the higher level Bodhisattvas can truly have firm and deep Faith in it. you will doubt yourself. they will swiftly attain the level of non-retrogression..it. 18. as employed in this and other methods. who has not yet proven his talents and virtues.. though they may be ordinary beings. even if you do not doubt the Dharma. they only know every kind of joy. Faith is the first criterion. but cultivators of the Two Vehicles (Theravada followers) also harbor doubts. Otherwise. Amida-kyo. In discussing the Pure Land method. As is said in the Smaller Amitabha Sutra: Shariputra: Why is that land called Utmost Happiness? The beings of that land experience no suffering. For this reason. In such a case.
and if they should not be born by only thinking of me ten times .. vowing to leave the Saha World behind. first of all. even if you were to cultivate. because your own strength cannot free you from your predicament. deep Faith and fervent Vows. and help them enter the realms of the Buddhas to assume the prerogatives and functions of the Tathagatas (Buddhas). and tarnish their bright. or of a prisoner who yearns for his native village. One of the Vows [the eighteenth] stated: If. often develop the mind of greed. you should practice Buddha Recitation as your principal method.Once you realize that the Saha World is a place of suffering while the Pure Land is a place of joy. 37 .) Although Amitabha Buddha. you should develop true. Amitabha Buddha has great power. they must endure suffering through many lifetimes along the Evil Paths – this is a drawn out imprisonment. Such hopes and desires should be utterly sincere.. Having created evil karma. earnest Vows. will be welcomed and escorted to the Pure Land. may I not attain the highest Enlightenment. Vows. (J. you could not obtain a response from Amitabha Buddha. after my obtaining Buddhahood. Okazaki. When Elder Master Yung Ming stated that "out of ten thousand who cultivate Pure Land. Untold eons ago. He can rescue sentient beings from the excrement pit and the prison of the defiled world. guided by your Faith and Vows. Amitabha Buddha made forty-eight Vows to rescue sentient beings. Without these conditions. Practice] are precisely the main tenets of Pure Land – lack of any one of these conditions will prevent you from achieving rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. However. made such a Vow. ♦ ♦ ♦ Rebirth in the Western Land thus requires." he was referring to those with full Faith and Vows. facing circumstances that accord or fail to accord with their wishes. Once you have deep Faith and earnest Vows. Anyone who fulfills the conditions of Faith and Vows is assured of rebirth in the Pure Land. ten thousand will achieve rebirth. Pure Land Buddhist Painting. guide them to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. stealing and lust. there is little He can do. p. if sentient beings do not seek His help. resolving to leave the Saha World and return to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. all beings in the ten quarters should desire in sincerity and trustfulness to be born in my country. 15.. the Compassionate One. anyone who recites his name with utter sincerity. These three components [Faith. anger and delusion. Such Vows are no different from those of a person who has fallen into an excrement pit and seeks to escape swiftly. Sentient beings in the Saha World. spotless Self-Nature – this is a filthy bottomless pit. You would merely reap the blessings of the human and celestial realms and sow the seeds of liberation in the future. create the karma of killing.
However. the number of utterances is dependent on the length of the breath span.. be willing to recognize mistakes. he should join his palms and singlemindedly recite the words "Na Mo Amitabha Buddha" as many times as he can in one stretch. unsettled minds and are thus unable to practice assiduously. Furthermore. reciting Mahayana sutras or accomplishing various wholesome deeds. he can face west with palms joined. If the cultivator is very busy. and then utter the following stanza: I vow that. In the latter case he would not be singleminded. this method is useful for focussing the mind. reciting according to the above method. I will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.. while transferring incidental merits toward worldly blessings. as the Buddha does. guard against mistakes in each of his thoughts. he should bow three times to the Buddha in front of his altar (if he has one). making rebirth in the Pure Land very difficult to achieve.♦ ♦ ♦ The form of Buddha Recitation Practice depends on the circumstances of each individual – there is no single set way . he should dedicate all the resulting merits to rebirth in the Pure Land. each stretch counting as one recitation. ♦ ♦ ♦ Moreover. After reciting this stanza. This recitation method relies on the breath to concentrate the mind. After washing up. There should be no effort or constraint. the virtues accrued are profound and rebirth is assured. This is the Ten Recitations Method which Elder Master Tzu Wen established for rulers and officials who are too busy with affairs of state to engage in cultivation. he should bow three times before retiring. This makes it difficult for the two to interact. He should recite thus for ten stretches. having no free time. escape Birth and Death. when bowing. Since recitation with a scattered mind cannot easily lead to rebirth in the Pure Land. If he does not have an altar. While the recitations are few in number. And rescue all. along with other Pure Land cultivators. Then. standing erect.. Failure to do so indicates that his mind is still obstructed and thus not consonant with the mind of the Buddha. as this would lead to fatigue . See Amitabha Buddha. the practitioner should maintain a virtuous and forgiving mind in all circumstances. He should not dedicate only the merits of Buddha Recitation itself. Why recite in one stretch? It is because sentient beings have scattered. correct his transgressions and gladly perform good actions – only then will he be in accord with Buddha Amitabha. he should set aside a specific period in the early morning. 38 ..
do not mention it at all. on the other hand. Do not listen to them.♦ ♦ ♦ The Pure Land method is extolled in numerous Mahayana sutras. Those who are not versed in the Dharma and reject Buddha Recitation as a "self-benefit" method are speaking thoughtlessly. Theravada sutras. ♦ ♦ ♦ 39 .
I advanced the opinion that although your integrity is praiseworthy. Recently. (Chinese ed. 115) 40 . exhibiting deep concern each time. close to Amitabha Buddha. women's lives entail many restrictions. determined to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. he approached me in the meditation hut on several occasions within the space of ten days to talk about your fidelity and moral integrity. p. However. On these occasions. ♦ ♦ ♦ The Dharma already exists in full in the minds of all sentient beings – both clergy and lay persons can uphold it. I. step onto the Pure Land path. according to your strength and conditions. Therefore. Upon hearing this. There is no need to leave your native place to become a nun. you may well be subjected to oppression and assault. If you succeed in gathering your six faculties together and engage in pure recitation without interruption. when Master Fu Yen visited our mountain. keep the precepts and recite the Buddha's name. and during the entire time have not engaged in personal contact with lay people. worry about not reaching the higher lotus grades at the time of death? Even if you do not reach samadhi. Why. This is the genesis of my letter to you today. For women to follow this course is not advisable. I also said that. If you leave your native village to travel afar. Vol. you will still achieve rebirth [in a lower lotus grade]. be part of the Ocean-Wide Assembly.Letter 7 The Brahma Net Sutra and the Precepts7 I have made my home on P'u T'o Mountain for some twenty years now. Master Yu Fen expressed his approval and wholeheartedly requested me to do so. so that you could. You will 7 Letter to the laywoman Hsu Fu-hsien. you had better stay home. I would write a letter of advice to you explaining the main lines of the Pure Land method. you do not know how to cultivate properly. you can attain samadhi as a matter of course. reciting the Buddha's name assiduously. then. Extensive travel to various temples and other holy places to seek out great masters with whom to study the sutras in depth should be left to men. time permitting. in this very life. You should strive to practice the Pure Land method.
when you look back. you will deserve to be called a green lotus blossom. reach the stage of non-retrogression and attain the stage of Non-Birth. or an anthill versus a mountain! Thus. while the Pure Land is a realm of boundless joy! Once you have firm Faith. even if you were presented with the jewelled throne of the god-king Brahma. and resolve to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. a great waste. Likewise. are but tiresome occurrences that last for many eons with no liberation in sight. the motto of the school is "Faith. transcend the human world. wishes such as "rebirth as a male. Therefore. Then. born amid fire.." should all be considered tortuous paths of cultivation which can only bring you back to your starting point. the Pure Land practitioner certainly should not seek the blessings and merits of the celestial and human realms. Vows and Practice.. You will then realize that compared to your present lotus grade. you would continue to revolve in the cycle of Birth and Death." "Faith" means believing that the Saha World is filled with the Eight Sufferings. subject to untold suffering? 41 . At that time. This is a great pity. you should consider it as a cause and condition of perdition. Such thoughts place a barrier between you and the Vows of Amitabha Buddha – preventing you from achieving rebirth in the Pure Land. just like an image in a mirror. you will discover that the royal throne in the human and celestial realms. those aspirations are no different from a flickering flame versus a rainbow. great spiritual powers . like a prisoner desperate to leave his jail. helping them all to reach the Pure Land and attain the Tolerance of Non-Birth (insight into the non-origination of all things). you will naturally escape the cycle of Birth and Death. without a single thought of longing. even rebirth as a high-ranking monk. In fact. enter the realm of the sages. Abandon all these thoughts and seek only to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land at the time of death. entering the clergy early in life. not even rebirth as a high-ranking monk. a true woman of character! ♦ ♦ ♦ The basis of Pure Land is the determination to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. to rescue sentient beings throughout countless expedients. This will not be turning your back on your present firm determination to cultivate. like a traveller longing for his native place.gradually return to the True Self-Nature and naturally understand the various teachings. dragged by the current of karmic delusion. you should vow to leave the Saha World. Just a trace of such thinking constitutes a lack of deep Faith and earnest Vows. Once reborn. you will appear in the Saha World without leaving the Pure Land. attaining great intelligence. indeed! How could you have the heart to exchange the unimaginably sublime Pure Land for mundane happiness – so that when all the blessings have been exhausted. As someone who has not achieved rebirth in the Pure Land.
While your method of cultivation may be sublime. You should also listen clearly. All actions then become practices which facilitate rebirth – not unlike deriving soil from dust and sand or the oceans from the rivers and streams. develop the Bodhi Mind. as well as the virtues garnered from Buddha Recitation and Sutra Recital. During this life you can attain the Buddha Remembrance Samadhi and at the time of death achieve rebirth in the upper lotus grades. eating. the benefits received will be extremely low level and limited.If poison is mixed with butter. even when in the privy. Mind and Buddha are one – reciting to the ultimate point where all mundane feelings are forgotten. so that you will achieve early success in your Mahayana practice. should all be dedicated to rebirth in the Pure Land. the Buddha appears. each phrase. you should hold fast to the words "Amitabha Buddha. You must extirpate such wrong thoughts in order to enjoy fully the benefits of the Pure Land method. meditating. whether walking or standing. vow to rescue sentient beings and dedicate the merits and virtues of cultivation to repayment of the four great debts in the Triple Realm. you should keep the words "Amitabha Buddha" firmly in mind. This creates a far-reaching Dharma affinity with all sentient beings. ♦ ♦ ♦ Once having developed deep Faith and earnest Vows. like oil poured on fire or rain falling on new seedlings. moving about. At that time. as well as to sentient beings in the Dharma Realm. the other faculties are also held in check and cannot chase after external dusts. Practicing Pure Land without the right frame of mind brings similar harm. the delicious butter becomes lethal. The depth and breadth of such Buddha Recitation is immense. one-pointedness 42 . If the faculty of hearing is under control. furthermore. the mind being empty. ♦ ♦ ♦ When reciting the Buddha's name. impressing the words in your mind. You should. each word. dressing. In daily life. speaking or remaining silent. self-benefit approach common to humans and lower level sages [Arhats and Pratyeka Buddhas]. Cultivation in this way may be considered as exercising your abilities to the utmost. Recitation originates in the mind and is channelled through the mouth." Regardless of the occasion. your Pure Land practice will become the grasping. As a result. the merits accrued from the smallest wholesome deeds. clearly enunciated. you should gather your thoughts together. You should exert yourself until the recitations are constantly before you. the whole Buddha is Mind. If you miss this point. sitting or reclining.
Likewise. why get so fixated on 43 . or to practice it but not in earnest. Without fully understanding Pure Land teachings. is to have even greater cause for suffering and regret! ♦ ♦ ♦ As far as receiving the lay precepts is concerned. they may at times be subject to demons. You should not attempt a shortcut and end up losing the Way. That would be regrettable indeed! [After summarizing several Pure Land commentaries to reinforce these points. Therefore. you can see the Western Pure Land without engaging in visualization. the Master continued. Contemplation of an Image or Real Mark Buddha Recitation. Of the four Buddha Recitation methods. seeking liberation but winding up in perdition. People today generally do not understand the teachings underlying the Visualization or Real Mark methods.of mind is swiftly achieved. Thus. and follow other methods. the best approach is to select the easiest practice which still leads to the wonderful fruit of Enlightenment. the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta said in the Surangama Sutra: To gather the six senses together. the Bodhisattva Manjusri taught: "Hearing" within.] Once you have read these books. the sublime Truth of Real Mark will be fully revealed and the extraordinary realm of the Western Pure Land will appear clearly. If one-pointedness of mind is maintained. thus attaining samadhi – this is uppermost. the most expedient path to Buddhahood. even if you deeply understand the entire Buddhist canon and have awakened completely to Self-Mind. To miss knowing about such a wonderful remedy would be a cause for great suffering and regret! To be aware of but not practice it. only oral recitation is well-adapted to the capacities of sentient beings. You certainly should not think that oral recitation [Holding the Name] is shallow. pure recitation following upon pure recitation without interruption. you can achieve Real Mark through oral recitation. Buddha Recitation is the panacea for all diseases. it will take you untold eons to fulfill your original Vow to escape the cycle of Birth and Death. you will have a complete understanding of the tenets of Pure Land. hearing one's Nature – one's Nature becomes the Supreme Path. Otherwise. such as Visualization. Thus. If they follow these methods. It does not matter that you have not read the sutras widely. This method of recitation is precisely the wonderful door to the Way. you can visit this temple if you have the means and the capacity to do so.
how many monks and nuns are worthy of being teachers? . You only think that to "leave home" and become a nun is liberation. however powerful and intense. you will miss distinguishing the good from the bad. I want you to attain the goal of your cultivation within this lifetime and certainly do not have the least intention of hindering your development in the Dharma. but you do not yet know the many difficulties and obstacles which monks and nuns face. indulge in sexual misconduct. insulted or drawn into intrigues. Do not think. furthermore. vows to receive the five precepts and fulfill the obligations of a laywoman. I sincerely wish that you would stay put at home practicing Buddha Recitation. the benefits and virtues of receiving the precepts are the same whether you do so by yourself or through a monk or nun. repent your transgressions before your home altar for seven consecutive days and express the wish to receive the precepts by yourself.. your soul will be led away by the power of karma to be reborn in another body – not to mention that. rather than struggling through fog and snow to reach P'u T'o Mountain. such determination. given your angry state 44 . but only during a seven-week period following the lunar New Year. that to commit suicide is to free yourself of the cares and worries of this life! Once dead.travel? All you need is to have an earnest." Repeating these vows three times constitutes receiving the precepts. The most important thing is to do so in an utterly sincere frame of mind – in which case. If you stick to your fixed ideas without changing your mind. I will not take the lives of sentient beings.. On P'u T'o Mountain. steal. However. I vow that for the rest of my life. by the name of – –. you will see so yourself. damaging your own pure cultivation and displaying ingratitude toward the sincere. In the midst of this Dharma-Ending Age. earnest words of this old monk. especially. If you think it over carefully. you should kneel before a Buddha image and say aloud: "Your disciple. there are no precept transmission ceremonies in the autumn. As a woman. sincere mind. lie or take intoxicants. You should know that the method described above follows the wise teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha in the Brahma Net Sutra. On the seventh day. you may be subjected to overbearing masters. ♦ ♦ ♦ As for your intention to commit suicide because you cannot become a nun. You should not think that receiving the precepts in such a manner is not in accord with the Dharma. is deluded and insane.
of mind. who knows if you will be in the good position to discover the Pure Land method – a method that enables each and every one to escape Birth and Death in one lifetime. moreover. so that when this retribution body comes to an end. you will immediately achieve rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss? I have exhausted my words in advising and counselling you. Let me ask you: did anyone ever go over these questions with yourself in mind to the extent that I have? If you do not follow the words of this old monk. I fear your suffering in the future will be infinitely greater than it is now! ♦ ♦ ♦ 45 . it will be difficult even to regain a female body. you may well be reborn in the animal realm. Moreover. Under such circumstances. is it not much better to go on living and cultivating patiently right now. or even as a ruler in the human or celestial realms. you have shown ingratitude toward his teaching. Should you succeed in being reborn as a woman or a man. there is still no assurance that you will encounter the Dharma and engage in cultivation! Even if you are so fortunate. even if you were fortunate enough to encounter the Pure Land method then.
This is for the benefit of everyone. p. I. Some people even add that "ancient Masters generally concentrate on oral recitation rather than meditation on the Buddha's name." I. However. Understanding the subtle meaning of the Dharma has sunk to such depths that we can only lament and deplore the situation! I am baring my heart to you today. nine out of ten practitioners fail to understand this point. is. I always do my utmost to caution people about this. on the contrary. Nowadays." we cannot recite in a mature way with an "as if dead" mind? Even if we were to recite one hundred thousand times each day. This does not apply only to Buddha Recitation. if people like ourselves. follow this method. and certainly not this writer alone. to certify my understanding and expand on this truth. Do they not realize that if we are not clear as to "who is reciting the Buddha's name. such recitation would have no relationship to the issue of Birth and Death. in general. those who teach Buddha Recitation say that we should recite in a mature way with an utterly focussed. those who recite the Buddha's name seeking rebirth in the Pure Land should first understand "who is reciting the Buddha's name. but some laymen even think that I have wrong views. we certainly cannot be reborn in the Pure Land! According to my limited understanding." because only when we discover the real Master will Buddha Recitation have meaning and rebirth be assured. "as if dead" mind in order to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land." It is really too bad that. 8 Letter to the layman Wang Yu-mu. as taught in such writings as your Pure Land letters. these days. would say: " the ancients practiced oral recitation only after they had achieved success in meditation – those of limited capacities should not try to emulate them. I venture to think that the Pure Land method. (Chinese ed. an expedient for ordinary people of limited capacities. 196)) 46 . Master. Vol.Letter 8 Let Us Part Ways8 (Original Letter to Elder Master Yin Kuang) It took some ten years of Buddha Recitation for me to know something of its wonderful meaning. Anyone who recites sutras or recites mantras should also follow this path. who are fully literate and accustomed to exercising our minds. and would beg you.
your words would indeed be extremely beneficial. not knowing who is reciting the Buddha's name is not reciting in a mature way with an as-if-dead mind . This must certainly be your intention. How do I know? It is because if you had. while awakening to the Way through meditation on the Buddha's name would be a fortunate development.. an utterly sincere Vow for rebirth in the Pure Land would still be necessary. Meanwhile. if meditation is unsuccessful and the mind constantly grasps at the koan "who is reciting the Buddha's name.. their methods of cultivation are different. This is because. Pure Land and Zen. If most people today were of high capacities.. Nowadays. This being the case. while the teachings of Pure Land are Faith. you will be no different from an incompetent physician who kills his patients with the wrong medicine. wishing everyone to see his Original Nature so as to achieve rebirth in the upper lotus grades. failing to teach people to develop Faith and Vows seeking rebirth in the Pure Land." correspondence between the practitioner and the Buddha will be extremely difficult to realize and the benefit of the "welcoming and escorting" Vow will be lost. Nevertheless. understand the Supreme Meaning. you would never have dared to make such statements as these in your letter: "the Pure Land method is an expedient for ordinary people of limited capacities .. If through failure to examine his level. you administer the wrong remedy. the Dharma should be adapted to the level of the listener. while those of moderate and low capacities form the vast majority. However. let us not speak about others. Those who really know "who is reciting the Buddha's name" are precisely those who have already awakened and clearly seen their True Nature. You should know that although the two Dharma methods. those of high capacities are few and far between. Vows and Reciting the Buddha's name to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. how many practitioners can meditate to the point of awakening to the Way (Great Awakening)? However. on close examination. Even you and your friends have not reached that level. reciting a hundred thousand times a day has no relationship to the issue of Birth 47 . while advising them to meditate on the Buddha's name [as a koan] is utterly detrimental.. The main tenet of Zen is to see one's Original Nature. counsel and exhort others to cultivate. have the same root and the same source. develop the Bodhi Mind..Answer: I cannot exhaust my praise nor commend you and your friends enough for the thoughts behind your letter! You have very good intentions. The Meditation Sutra teaches: Recite the Mahayana sutras.
you think that you have correctly understood the subtle meaning of the Dharma and therefore seek my certification. which would cause all of us to fall into the error of vilifying the Three Treasures! If you do not believe the words of this old monk. you have led others astray as well. please desist from such talk. a one-sided (biased) attachment – and a great mistake! Not realizing this. Such a transgression is tantamount to vilifying the Buddhas. you will slam the door on and bury the all-embracing method of the Buddhas to rescue sentient beings everywhere – preventing this method from being known far and wide. in the end. From now on. You should be careful indeed! Since your understanding of the Dharma is not skillfully adapted to people's capacities.. I hope that you will reflect deeply on this letter. the Dharma and the Sangha. ♦ ♦ ♦ 48 . let us part ways once and for all. I would not dare try forcing others to abandon their own ideas and understanding to follow my lowly thoughts.. in that you attempt to bring a high-level Dharma to everyone..and Death .. the ancients practiced oral recitation only after they had achieved success in meditation – those of limited capacities should not try to emulate them . although lowly and not erudite. acquiesce in and support such a request. through your words you have not only erred yourself. while your intention is to benefit yourself and others equally. It is only because of your letter that I have reluctantly offered some frank though limited views. it is." In truth.. would not dare to commend. Otherwise. This monk.
I. The true benefit of the Buddha Dharma is found in a reverent mind. you lack sufficient understanding of the Dharma. you mentioned the possibility of having me correct some of your future writings.Letter 9 Amitabha Buddha – the Boundless Self-Nature of Light and Life9 Since we parted in mid-spring. with my weak eyes and bad health. Vol. lest I seem ungrateful for your trust. perhaps they can temporarily assuage your hunger until the time when you can taste the exquisite food of the Self-Nature. Such a state of mind can even lead to swift Supreme Enlightenment – not to mention the lower levels of sagehood (Arhats and Pratyeka Buddhas)! 9 Letter to two brothers in Yungchia. Not only have you lost correct views and become yourselves a topic of ridicule. even this old monk is embarrassed by the bad reputation he has acquired for being an acquaintance of yours! In your letter. 85) 49 . What is there which is worth reading? Still. Even if my advice is needed. to the point where you have abandoned the lofty ground to follow lowly. I am tentatively setting forth some leftover soup and stale rice. who has exhausted words and counsel. dark paths. If you do not object to the smell. The light of springtime has passed swiftly – a frightening reminder indeed! Each time I think of the two of you. whatever I put down is nothing but a heap of empty words. or you will fail to appreciate the great compassionate mind of Master Yung Ming. However. I recall that despite your true and sincere faith. I do not normally take to writing. You should ponder it carefully. and it is now summer. p. time has flown by. (Chinese ed. By all means do not take it lightly on the basis of the shallow explanations of a few persons. ♦ ♦ ♦ The verse "Four Options" is very profound and worthy of attention. The treatise The Benefits of Reciting the Sutras Depend on One's Mind was written because people today recite the sutras without the least bit of reverence.
too. he did not advocate the mystical and sublime but merely emphasized everyday. ordinary people who achieve rebirth in the Pure Land owe it entirely to utterly sincere Faith and Vows. your mind is grasping. traditionally considered a Transformation Body of Amitabha Buddha. in teaching Pure Land. However. furthermore. If. and the mind focussing exclusively on the Buddha's name. your Bodhi Mind undeveloped and your discriminatory. as these correspond to the lofty Vows of Amitabha Buddha. The merits derived from mantra recitation are indeed inconceivable. rather than a principal method along with Buddha Recitation. Out of ten thousand cultivators who practice in such a manner. was endowed with great spiritual powers and wisdom. you will certainly find it difficult to escape Birth and Death in this very life unless you rely on the Vows of Amitabha Buddha. This will lead to eons of wandering in the wasteland of Birth and Death – whom. Once Buddhahood is attained. Reciting mantras. you will end up practicing neither Zen nor Pure Land. win-lose mind raging unchecked.♦ ♦ ♦ The Pure Land Patriarch Shan Tao. you will naturally have full spiritual 50 . only three or four out of hundreds of thousands can hope to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. His teachings on Exclusive Practice and Sundry Practices are extremely useful. However. could you rely on for help? You should realize that as a common being full of karmic obstructions. Only then will you discover that the Pure Land method surpasses other Dharma methods in power and utility! Reciting mantras and sutras for the purpose of sowing merits and wisdom and eliminating evil karma and transgressions is all to the good. should be considered an ancillary practice. immutable throughout the ages. thinking that all Dharmas are unfathomable and therefore it does not matter which method you cultivate. However. Exclusive Practice consists of the body bowing exclusively to Amitabha Buddha. it is difficult to accumulate merits. ordinary realities. the mouth exclusively repeating the Buddha's name. your understanding of the Dharma nebulous. Both of you should follow them for your own benefit and in counselling everyone else. you will be exposed one day to demons that may drive you insane! If you want to obtain spiritual powers. Thus. to be deluded and seek spiritual powers is to abandon the roots for the branches – an error in judgement. your precept-keeping lax. These are true. Since the practitioner's mind is not focussed or singleminded. ten thousand are assured of rebirth in the Pure Land. then. you should first attain Enlightenment and Buddhahood. Sundry Practices entail engaging in various methods of cultivation while dedicating the merits accrued toward rebirth in the Western Land. golden words of advice. If you are not clear about this truth.
powers. If you do not strive for the Way but merely seek spiritual powers, let us not even speak about whether anything can be gained. If you should obtain anything, it would become an impediment to the Way. For this reason, the Buddhas and Patriarchs have strictly prohibited this erroneous form of cultivation. Because such ideas are common, I have taken the opportunity to mention them in passing. ♦ ♦ ♦ Both of you still have your parents at home. Therefore, you should keep explaining the Pure Land method and the accounts of rebirth to them, so that they may develop the mind of joy, believe in the accounts and follow the examples therein. If you do not repay your filial debts in this way, even if you are filial in the mundane sense, what good will it do your parents at the end of their lives? ... You should wake up and hasten to ensure that, at death, your parents will participate in the Lotus Assembly. They will then be close to Amitabha Buddha and achieve the boundless Self-Nature of light and life. The sufferings of the Saha World are endless. Even in time of peace, sentient beings are jostling one another in an atmosphere of sorrow and affliction. However, because they have endured it for so long, they have grown accustomed to it and are no longer aware of it. In China recently, insurrection and strife have become daily events; the sufferings of the people are beyond description! Abroad, a great war has been raging for three years. With casualties already legion, the world conflict goes on with no end in sight. This tragic situation is caused by the karma of sentient beings and is the precursor of an extended period of disturbances to come. It is truly frightening to think of the sufferings of the future! I hope that both of you will develop the Bodhi Mind and seek rebirth in the Pure Land, to achieve the fruits of Buddhahood swiftly before returning to the Saha World to rescue sentient beings. The sutras teach:
Bodhisattvas fear causes, sentient beings fear effects and results.
Bodhisattvas, being wary of evil results, eliminate evil causes. Sentient beings all too often vie to create evil causes and then have to endure evil results. When enduring suffering, they do not know enough to practice repentance, but create more evil karma in the hope of escaping retribution. Thus, injustice and retribution follow upon one another continuously, without end. It is so pitiful and frightening to think about it! Knowing this truth, those who do not seek rebirth in the Pure Land are not yet truly among the wise! ♦ ♦ ♦
Letter 10
The Pure Mind is Bodhi10
From your letter, I see that you are diligently fighting bad habits but have not yet obtained results. This is because you are not truly concerned about the issue of Birth and Death, nor have you internalized the method that helps people to "transcend the human realm for that of the saints," sever delusive karma and achieve pure thoughts. That is why you have failed to achieve true results. You should always ponder this truth: "It is difficult to be reborn as a human being, it is difficult to learn of the Buddha Dharma, it is difficult to encounter the Pure Land method. I am fortunate today to have been reborn as a human being and am in the favorable position of having learned about the Pure Land method. How dare I waste this limited lifespan on evanescent form, fragrance, fame and fortune? How can I resign myself to an empty life and useless death, wallowing along the Six Paths – with no end in sight?" You should paste the word "death" on your forehead, so that when you meet with various circumstances unworthy of attachment, you will immediately recognize them as boiling cauldrons and firepits that can only harm you. In this way, you will not be like a moth, freely choosing to fly into the flame and burning to death.
♦ ♦ ♦
You should realize that worthwhile activities are a boat of compassion to rescue you from suffering. Thus, you will no longer shy away from opportunities for charity and justice nor be dilatory on the path of cultivation. In this manner, mundane circumstances can also become conditions for entering the Way, as cultivation is not synonymous with abandoning all worldly activities. If the mind is firm and not swayed by circumstances, "mundane concerns are precisely liberation." Therefore, the Diamond Sutra always teaches "non-attachment to form." Although true cultivators develop the aspiration to rescue all sentient beings, they do not see themselves as the rescuers or sentient beings as the rescued. Even when Supreme Enlightenment is attained, there is no mark of who has attained the fruits of Ultimate Nirvana. This is true cultivation of the Bodhisattva path.
Letter to a layman in Ningpo. (Chinese ed. Vol. II, p. 244)
On the other hand, even rescuing sentient beings or cultivating the ten thousand virtues cannot be in accord with the True Mark Supreme Vehicle unless practitioners realize that sentient beings are, in their nature and essence, Buddhas. Amid Equal Nature, sentient beings erroneously develop the mind of discrimination, turning "unconditioned" benefits or merits into "conditioned" merits. How, then, can they escape the binding cycle of form, fame and fortune? ♦ ♦ ♦ Living in this world, people all have obligations. However, you should not take on unnecessary activities beyond your normal duties. Instead, use your free time, according to your capacities and circumstances, to recite sutras and the Buddha's name, determined to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. You can generate merits and virtues by contributing financially to worthwhile activities or by praising those who engage in them. You can also accrue merits by developing a mind of joy and contentment at their accomplishment by others. All such merits and virtues should be dedicated as additional aids to rebirth in the Pure Land. It is like a boat which not only sails with the wind but also has oarsmen to speed it on its way. How can it fail to return swiftly to the shore? ♦ ♦ ♦ The last day of the twelfth month is the end of the year. If by that day you have not made advance preparations, how can you avoid your creditors? The time of death is precisely the last day of the twelfth month of a life; if you are not ready with the personal provisions of Faith, Vows and Practice, and are still filled with the evil karma of greed, anger and delusion, those whom you have wronged, your creditors from time immemorial, will come pushing and shoving one another for repayment. Those who are unaware of the Pure Land method can do nothing but follow their evil karma, while even Pure Land practitioners who do not cultivate truly and earnestly sink into evil realms, mired in the cycle of Birth and Death for eons and eons. The key to escaping suffering is to develop, in each and every thought, a fear of death and of perdition along the Evil Paths after death. Buddha Recitation then naturally grows more earnest, rebirth in the Pure Land is assured and no worldly dusts can "plunder" correct thought. The Heart Sutra states:
The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara clearly perceived that the five skandas (encompassing body and mind) are all empty and thus overcame all suffering.
What. If we truly realize that they are empty. the realm of Great Nirvana? ♦ ♦ ♦ 54 . is not the Great Liberation method. we are already free of them – even while remaining part of them.The five skandas encompass body and mind as well as the external environment. then.
you need only recite the Buddha's name with deep Faith and earnest Vows. Anyone who sincerely seeks His assistance will be gathered in and rescued. Escape from the wasteland of Birth and Death will then be assured. seeking rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. the highest level of rebirth will be achieved. II. With the Pure Land method. even those guilty of the Five Grave Offenses and the Ten Evil Acts can also achieve it (as long as. through the power of Amitabha Buddha. reciting the Buddha's name with Faith and Vows. Vol. ♦ ♦ ♦ Not only are those who have perfected Pure Land practice assured of rebirth. grow frightened and recite the Buddha's name in utmost sincerity).Letter 11 Awakening is Still within the Realm of Birth and Death11 To receive true benefits in this very life. become utterly ashamed of their transgressions. p. 247) 55 . Awakening to the Way is still within that cycle. they awaken. while ceasing transgressions and performing good deeds – thus engaging simultaneously in the main and subsidiary practices – in order to be assured of rebirth in the Western Land. not only will those who have not received the true transmission of the Dharma fail to achieve liberation. In fact. on the verge of death. all-embracing compassion and considers it His calling to rescue sentient beings. Cultivating other methods requires severance of karmic obstructions and attainment of the Truth before you can escape Birth and Death. This is called "taking one's karma along to the Pure Land. This is because Amitabha Buddha has great. the practitioner should follow the Pure Land method." 11 Letter to the layman Yueh Hsien-ch'iao. (Chinese ed. Only by attaining Enlightenment [at the Arhat level or above] will you escape the cycle of Birth and Death. Otherwise. even those who have received it will have no hope of achieving liberation! This is because to receive the transmission of the Dharma is to awaken to the Way but not to attain Enlightenment.
In this Dharma-Ending Age. if you cultivate other methods. Under these circumstances. Therefore the roots of Birth and Death continue to exist. This is because few in this day and age truly have the strength to sever all karmic obstructions. you can only reap merits and blessings in the celestial and human realms or sow the causes and conditions of liberation in future eons. abandoning the Dharma Door of Pure Land. how can you prevent the dream-like seeds of Birth and Death from sprouting anew? ♦ ♦ ♦ 56 .
such rebirth is due to their reciting the Buddha's name with a pure mind. Ordinary people generally think that if the Pure Land is Mind-Only. in fact.. then it does not exist. (VN ed. Thus. p. in fact. which appears correct but is in reality wrong. he cannot achieve immediate escape from Birth and Death – not even if he is truly awakened. much less if (like most people who ask this question) he is pretentious and just indulges in empty talk without engaging in practice. affects more than half of all people and causes practitioners to forfeit true benefits. If he merely grasps at the Buddha Amitabha of the West. the answer to your question [are the Mind-Only Pure Land and the Self-Nature Amitabha the same as or different from the Western Pure Land and Amitabha in the Pure Land?] is that they are one yet two before Buddhahood is attained. but returning [to the Pure Land] is. thus eliciting a response from Amitabha Buddha.Letter 12 Pure Land and Mind-Only12 Question One: Are the Mind-Only Pure Land and the Self-Nature Amitabha the same as or different from the Western Pure Land and Amitabha in the Pure Land? Answer: It is because the Mind-Only Pure Land exists that we are reborn in the Pure Land of the West. Question Two: What is the meaning of the statement: "birth [in the Pure Land] is certainly birth. It is precisely because of the Self-Nature Amitabha that the practitioner must recite the name of Buddha Amitabha of the West seeking rebirth in the Pure Land – so as to achieve the Self-Nature Amitabha through gradual cultivation. "Returning is. If the mind is not pure. This is the understanding of demons and externalists. 140) 57 . two yet one after Buddhahood is attained. Such a deluded view. not returning"? Answer: "Birth is certainly birth" is from the viewpoint of phenomena. 12 Letter to the layman Ch'u. it is impossible to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. Even when those who have committed cardinal transgressions achieve rebirth through ten recitations. not returning" is from the viewpoint of principle or noumenon.
at the time of death. and recite the Buddha's name in an accomplished manner. is it the Buddha of the Self-Mind who appears." This being the case. those who have not yet penetrated the subtle difference between noumenon and phenomena should just follow phenomena and marks. of grasping at noumenon and abandoning phenomena. You should not revert everything to the Self-Mind and think that there is no Buddha Amitabha arriving to receive and guide you! ♦ ♦ ♦ 58 . Otherwise. common to externalists and demons. Question Three: Some people say: "To see the Buddha is to see the Buddha of the Self-Mind. or is it Buddha Amitabha who comes to receive and guide us? Answer: Seeing the Buddha at the time of death is due to our own Self-Mind.However. In this way. not the Buddha of the Western Pure Land. they will achieve results. which has elicited a response from Amitabha Buddha. they will make the mistake.
p. yet their teachings are based on the sutras.Letter 13 Open Letter to Cultivators13 The following lines are simple and unadorned. at the time of death. It is the great Dharma of the Tathagata. you cannot. believe that as ordinary beings full of evil karma..) ♦ ♦ ♦ I) The Pure Land method embraces people of all capacities. rely on your own strength (self-power) alone to eliminate delusion completely. believe that the Western Pure Land is filled with immense joy. Vows: You should aspire to transcend this world and achieve rebirth in that blissful Land as soon as possible. realize the Truth and escape Birth and Death in this very lifetime. Anyone who acts accordingly will receive truly immense benefits. special Dharma is truly regrettable. whereby He provides an expedient enabling both sages and ordinary beings to achieve liberation from Birth and Death and reach the stage of non-retrogression in this very lifetime. believe that Amitabha Buddha has made a profound and lofty Vow – any sentient being who recites His name [with utmost faith and sincerity] seeking rebirth in His land will. (Patriarch Yin Kuang. realistically. Faith: You should believe that the Saha World is filled with the Eight Sufferings. Not to believe in and practice this sublime. be received and guided to the Pure Land. a great pity indeed! ♦ ♦ ♦ The main tenets of Pure Land are Faith. 145) 59 . gathering in those of high as well as low capacities. Vows and Practice. 13 Letter to all followers (VN ed.
sitting. without a moment's lapse. you should constantly recite the Buddha's name while walking. bathing. This is because most Zen followers fail to stress the issue of rebirth in the Pure Land through Faith and Vows. Whether reciting loudly or softly or engaging in "diamond recitation" or silent recitation. paying respect to the Buddhas. Even if they practice Buddha Recitation. When resting. the mouth reciting clearly and distinctly and the ears hearing clearly and distinctly. paying respect and reciting morning and evening before your altar. If you aspire to gain the blessings of the celestial and human realms in the next lifetime. loud recitation is improper and could reflect disrespect. Outside of these sessions. II) Buddha Recitation practitioners should dedicate all virtues toward rebirth in the Pure Land. At that point. whether they are earned through reciting sutras and mantras. It is like exchanging a priceless pearl for a piece of candy – how truly regrettable! III) Pure Land cultivators should not follow Zen meditation practices. you should recite silently. it will be more difficult to recover the human form and hear the Pure Land Dharma of liberation in one lifetime than to achieve rebirth as a celestial! Sakyamuni Buddha taught the method of reciting Amitabha Buddha's name. or helping the needy. the mind is no longer chasing after external realms. standing. reclining or engaging in other actions that do not require intense intellectual activity. You should not seek the merits and blessings of the human and celestial realms either in this lifetime or the next. rescuing victims of accidents or disasters. or when walking to and from unclean places. you should be attentive and keep each utterance clearly and distinctly in mind. In the latter circumstances. the greater the evil karma you are likely to create. seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land.Practice: You should practice Buddha Recitation in all earnestness and sincerity. You should know that the more blessings you enjoy. urinating or defecating. in order to help sentient beings resolve the problem of Birth and Death in this very lifetime. When you recite in this way. making it exceedingly difficult to avoid the path of hells. Pure Land practitioners should recite Amitabha Buddha's name for the sole purpose 60 . uttering only the two words "Amitabha Buddha" to facilitate concentration. practicing repentance. deluded thoughts cease and recitation gradually becomes pure and focussed – the virtues accrued are thus immense. You should also recite silently when not properly dressed or when doing household chores. hungry ghosts and animality in the third lifetime. You can establish an intensive or a leisurely schedule depending on your own circumstances. This silent recitation brings the same benefits as reciting aloud. they merely stress the koan "who is reciting the Buddha's name?" seeking an Awakening. If you have such thoughts. you will lose the benefit of rebirth in the Pure Land and drown in the sea of Birth and Death. you are going counter to the teachings of the Buddhas.
so how can they abandon their cultivation over a little bit of natural discomfort? During those times. it may be possible to escape Birth and Death through meditation if all delusive karma is eliminated. while his mind and spirit deteriorate with each passing day. are unclear about the true teachings of Buddhism and thus cannot saturate themselves with the benefits of the Dharma. the higher level Bodhisattvas] must rely on the power of the Buddhas – not to mention ordinary beings such as ourselves. how can he escape the sufferings of this world? You should know that even the Dharma Body Bodhisattvas [i. until they reach forty-eight or forty-nine. while failing to seek the Buddhas' help? Our words may be lofty. the Zen follower not only cannot rely on his own strength (self-power) to achieve liberation. Externalists.of achieving rebirth in the Pure Land. They should change their protective clothing and wash their hands often. he cannot – lacking Faith and Vows – rely on the Buddha's power (other-power) to escape Birth and Death either. He therefore regrets being unable to answer all of the many letters he has received. Buddha Recitation practitioners need to cultivate without interruption. women all have menstrual periods. If 61 . Such advice is certainly not consonant with feelings or reason. however. all delusive karma is not eliminated. Unable to rely either on self-power or on other-power. seeking the Dharma. Once having seen Amitabha Buddha. turn the pages of sutras or light incense with dirty hands. Some people teach that women should not bow or engage in Buddha and Sutra Recitation during those times.. It is only because of easy means of communication that people near and far hear of my little bit of empty fame and send me too many letters. Within the Dharma. ♦ ♦ ♦ This ordinary monk has grown old and feeble lately. but upon reflection. women should merely shorten the bowing part of the sessions but keep to their regular schedule of Sutra and Buddha Recitation. who are full of karmic obstructions. IV) From the age of twelve or thirteen.e. Ordinary people tend to believe their words. on the other hand. If. Who are we to keep weighing the pros and cons of our own strength. The periods may last from a minimum of two or three days to about six or seven. so that they do not finger the rosary. why worry about not having experienced an Awakening? In this Saha World. grasp one-sidedly at theory and noumenon. the accompanying actions are low and wanting! The difference between other-power and self-power is as great as the heavens and the abyss! I hope fellow-cultivators will carefully examine and forgive my straightforward words. each and every method is perfect and unimpeded.
I may add a few lines here and there on the original letter. In this way. I have. As time goes by. you should focus on Faith. I had this letter printed to answer everyone.I fail to answer the letters. I do not have the energy to reply to each and every one of them. However. Anyone who wishes to comprehend fully the meaning behind the sutras should direct his inquiries to those Dharma Masters who have raised the Dharma platform high and are thoroughly versed in the various methods and teachings. Therefore. Vows and reciting Amitabha Buddha's name seeking rebirth in the Pure Land! ♦ ♦ ♦ 62 . we can communicate in thought while I minimize fatigue. in truth. turned my back on the senders. However. to some extent. it is not certain that you will be able to escape the cycle of Birth and Death. far and wide. To escape Birth. If there are specific points to be addressed. you should realize that even if you have fathomed the sutras and the Dharma. whenever someone writes to ask about the Dharma. Death and transmigration. I always reply with this letter.
I. he discussed your plights. p.Letter 14 All Conditioned Dharmas are Like Dreams. lest as a result of your experience. (Chinese ed. he brought your letter to P'u T'o Mountain. 74) 63 . I could not help feeling deeply grieved. "Current requital" refers to the misfortunes and blessings we receive in this very lifetime from the transgressions we commit and the wholesome deeds we perform. As an example. Vol. having lost your beloved son. Master Ch'e Ch'uan visited our mountain. Last autumn. and that you were grieving day in and day out. Only then did I learn about your cultivation in recent years. because of time constraints. Today being the last full moon of the year. pass their examinations and are appointed to high positions. seldom at peace. but. – future requital. – birth [next lifetime] requital. During our conversation. I therefore decided to put aside the reservations stemming from my humble background to share some plain. the intelligent grow lax in their cultivation while the dull and ignorant lose all qualms about committing transgressions. I could only send you a short letter. straightforward thoughts with you. I wanted to write you in detail about Cause and Effect at that time. when your esteemed brother took the regional civil service examination. a) The consequences/requital are: – current requital. Hearing this. Phantoms. the Buddhas always teach that a) the consequences/requital of our actions encompass three lifetimes. while b) the birth of a child is generally associated with four causes. Bubbles. we have candidates for the civil service who study hard. 14 Letter to the layman Lin Chieh-sheng. In the sutras. as well as the deluded comments of some ignorant people who claim that wholesome deeds bring only misfortune while cultivation brings no benefits. Such occurrences can be seen by our ordinary human eyes. Shadows!14 Many years have passed since we last met but I have thought of you often. I recall that you had met with great misfortune.
To repay it."Birth requital" means committing transgressions and performing wholesome deeds in this lifetime but only obtaining the results.. "Future requital" means committing transgressions or performing wholesome deeds in this lifetime but not obtaining the results until the third. when 64 . can see them clearly. indeed untold eons in the future. longevity and early death are all the results of past actions – where is the discrepancy between cause and effect? A mirror reflects beauty and ugliness as they are. – claiming past debts. fourth or thousandth lifetime. helping the country and the people. honor and disgrace. The Eye of the Arhat. good or bad. Only by not resenting heaven and earth can you succeed in life. The child may even perform great public service. only the perfectly enlightened Tathagata Eye can see them clearly. of such actions in the next lifetime. or. He will ensure that they are well provided for while alive and receive decent burials and offerings after death. Thus. ♦ ♦ ♦ b) Children are born from four causes: – repaying past kindness. much less those of celestial or human beings. Take the case of a family patriarch who stresses education and refinement but who only achieves success through his children and grandchildren. This is the case of some royal dynasties which only flourish and reach their apogee several generations down the line . – repaying past wrongs. however. you should realize that the words of the sages concerning Cause and Effect have never been wrong and that wealth and poverty. Knowing that requital spans three generations. "Repaying past kindness" means that the child incurred a debt of gratitude to the parents in a previous lifetime. he or she has come to be born in the parents' household and will attend painstakingly to their needs throughout life. but those endowed with the Celestial Eye can perceive them. As to events occurring untold eons ago or hence. his name being remembered in history. Such realms are not even in the domain of the Arhat's Eye. – repaying past debts.. Such occurrences cannot [always] be seen with our human eyes. The wise know that it is the object before the mirror that should be changed while the dull and ignorant waste time and effort hating and resenting the image in the mirror! To bear adversity is to know your limitations. The Celestial Eye can see events three or four lifetimes away but is powerless with respect to events several hundred thousand lifetimes away.
future generations honor him, they will extend their respect and admiration to his parents. Devoted children and virtuous grandchildren, nowadays, generally belong to this category. "Repaying past wrongs" means that in a past lifetime, the parents committed some wrong toward their present children. Therefore, the children have come to be born in their household seeking retribution. Thus, when still young, the children will be unruly and when grown, they will create misfortune and calamities implicating their parents. In old age the parents will be left in want, while their treatment after death will not only dishonor them, the shame will extend to the ancestors as well. At times, when holding key government positions, the children may even engage in criminal acts, causing the family's assets to be seized, the lineage exterminated and the graves of the ancestors dug up and desecrated. Thus, when future generations abuse and revile them, they will also hate and despise their parents. "Repaying past debts" means that the child has come to be reborn in his parents' household because, in a previous lifetime, he incurred a debt toward them. If it is a great debt, repayment can take the parents' entire lifetime. If the debt is modest, repayment can cover part of the parents' lifetime ... Thus, for example, some children assist their parents in business, only to die suddenly as the enterprise becomes profitable. "Claiming past debts" means that, in a past lifetime, the parents incurred some obligation toward their child, who has now been born in their household in order to claim payment. If the debt is small, the parents will merely have to spend money to feed and clothe him, attend to his health and education, find him a spouse and train him to establish himself in the community. Once the debt is paid, the child will die suddenly. If the debt is sizeable, the child may sometimes deplete all of the parents' assets before dying. It would seem to me that your son comes under the last category. Fortunately, because your debt is modest, he has passed away suddenly at an early age. You should therefore repent your previous bad karma and strive to cultivate earnestly. Even the great sage Confucius lost his only son when the latter was in mid-life. The great sage Yen Yuan had but a short life. Another ancient sage was destitute, always in want, while yet another died a martyr ... Do you perhaps think that sages and saints are punished by the heavens for cultivating virtues? Or is it because life and death, wealth and honor are determined by past karma? Thus, you should only deplore the fact that your virtues are still wanting and not waste time pondering misfortunes and blessings! If you are repentant and strive to cultivate earnestly, the god of blessings will come your way while misfortune and calamity will bypass you – naturally.
♦ ♦ ♦
During their lives, people are subject to all the Eight Sufferings. Even if they are reborn in the heavens, they cannot escape the Five Signs of Decay. Only the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is all joy and no suffering. Who knows, perhaps it is precisely thanks to your work in spreading the Pure Land Dharma that the deities used the premature passing of your beloved son as an awakening needle to prick the top of your head. You may thus clearly realize that the Triple Realm knows no peace; it is like a burning house, filled with frightful suffering. The lot of humans is subject to the god of impermanence, as we are born and die in the space of a bolt of lightning. When our time has come, no one can save anyone else.
♦ ♦ ♦
All conditioned dharmas are like dreams, phantoms, bubbles, shadows. If, even now, you have not awakened and do not strive earnestly to practice Pure Land, you are no more alive than wood and stones! How can anyone with grit and determination bear to be a mere mass of flesh running hither and yon, a walking corpse while alive, and once dead, decaying along with the weeds and the trees! How can you have the heart to consign yourself to the world of the ordinary and the deluded while always extolling the realm of the saints? If after encountering such an eye-opening circumstance [as the death of your son], you still do not redouble your efforts, if after hearing the True Dharma, you still do not follow it, are the Buddhas turning their backs on sentient beings, or are sentient beings turning their backs on the Buddhas? As you are someone of intelligence and wisdom, I hope you will think carefully about what I have just said.
♦ ♦ ♦
Letter 15
A Little Bit of Knowledge is Ignorance15
Receiving your poetic letter from afar, I cannot but feel embarrassed! From an early age, this old monk has lacked education. My knowledge is uncertain and nebulous. Having drifted here and there for many years, far away from my native village, I am now sojourning on P'u T'o Mountain. Never did I expect that such a remarkable person as yourself, a scholar versed in the Mind-Dharma of Confucianism and Buddhism, who has studied at the feet of masters far and wide and made their outstanding practices his own, would condescend to seek advice from me. Moreover, you have praised me so excessively that my mind is perplexed and uneasy. I venture to think that with your broad, well-rounded education and your lofty, far-reaching knowledge, you surely cannot have doubts about such ordinary matters as those raised in your letter. It must be that your intention is to act as an example, to show the Way to those who cultivate alongside you. However, since you have presented knowledge as ignorance, there is nothing to prevent me from presenting ignorance as knowledge and I will try to answer your questions in the order raised. I certainly would never dare imitate the old mandarin who sits as a judge but is in reality an aging student submitting his examination papers. Therefore, if the following explanations contain errors, please revise and amend them. ♦ ♦ ♦ 1) Although the mind is what matters most in Buddha Recitation, oral recitation should not be disparaged. This is because body, speech and mind reinforce one another. Although the mind may be focussed on Amitabha Buddha, if the body does not bow respectfully and the mouth does not recite, it is difficult to receive benefits. For example, even when lifting heavy objects, ordinary people assist themselves by shouting aloud; how can you not do at least as much when trying to concentrate the mind and attain samadhi! Thus, the Great Heap Sutra teaches:
To recite loudly is to see a tall Buddha, to recite softly is to see a small Buddha.
Letter to the layman P'u Ta-fan. (Chinese ed. Vol. I, p. 31)
short body of the Buddha. However. we see a large. ♦ ♦ ♦ 2) Only at the level of Ultimate Truth is there no longer birth and extinction. Even registering the words 68 . it encompasses all other consciousnesses as well. while birth and extinction are the roots of Birth and Death. Moreover. we will greatly hinder their progress. Do the sutras not mention "gathering the six senses together"? If the six senses are gathered together. destroyed the forty-one parts of ignorance and attained the forty-one parts of the Secret Store) are not beyond grasping and rejection. birth and extinction – not to mention Buddha Recitation as practiced by ordinary beings. nothing could be better. If they are not "assisted" by their bodies and mouths. Birth and extinction depend entirely on the individual. if we hold onto it to teach those of moderate and low capacities. scattered minds. the six consciousnesses will also be gathered together. To gather the six senses together in pure. ♦ ♦ ♦ 3) "Only if thought after thought is on the Pure Land can rebirth be achieved. Except for that. although Buddha Recitation centers on the mind-consciousness. we see a small. reciting softly. uninterrupted recitation is precisely to convert the birth and extinction which abandons Enlightenment for worldly dusts into the birth and extinction which abandons worldly dusts for Enlightenment – as you strive to attain the True Thusness Buddha-Nature free of birth and extinction." refers to the condition of those who will be reborn in the upper lotus grades. If we hold onto this truth and seek the highest grade of rebirth for ourselves.The ancient masters have also said: Reciting loudly. tall body of the Buddha. However. what Buddhist practice is not within the realm of birth and extinction? Even the practices of the Bodhisattvas at the Equal Enlightenment stage (who have achieved virtual equality with the Buddhas. Ordinary beings often have lethargic. resign themselves to their lowly condition and refuse to cultivate. Why is this so? It is because they may find this method too lofty. they are also the very roots of Enlightenment. it is difficult for them to achieve one-pointedness of mind.
You should know that ignoring Faith and Vows while reciting the Buddha's name is no different from Zen meditation practice. However. or you have failed to sever them completely. you may achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. Thus. the grade of rebirth (high or low) depends on whether one's practice of Buddha Recitation is deep or shallow. the practitioner cannot merge with the Vow-power of Amitabha Buddha. you certainly cannot have Faith either. you cannot escape the cycle of rebirth as long as you still have even a trace of karmic delusion at the time of death – not to mention if you have a great deal. Without Faith and Vows. If you do not vow to achieve rebirth. If you can sever all delusions of views and delusions of thought. If you were to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land under such circumstances. ♦ ♦ ♦ 4) The comment "recite the Buddha's name without a break. Merely reciting the Buddha's name.."Amitabha Buddha" in the Alaya Consciousness must be achieved through the six consciousnesses. falls in the category of self-power. how could Cause and Effect be reconciled? Elder Master Ou I has said: To achieve rebirth in the Pure Land or not depends entirely upon Faith and Vows.. so that a knife cannot cut through" should not give rise to any doubts. if you have not severed them. such doubts arise simply because you have not yet clearly delineated the boundaries between Zen and Pure Land and between self-power and other-power. This is because it is difficult to find even a few cultivators in this whole world who can recite to the point of "extinction 69 . The Buddha Recitation practitioner relies on the Vow-power of Amitabha Buddha to escape the Triple Realm and achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. you should by no means teach this approach and squander the good Pure Land roots of future generations. ♦ ♦ ♦ 5) Relying on self-power alone. However. without Faith and Vows. Reciting the Buddha's name to the level of one-pointedness of mind without Faith and Vows – perhaps a few out of countless individuals may achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. This is a true statement not subject to change. the roots of evil karma remain and you are still subject to Birth and Death .
♦ ♦ ♦ 70 . by relying on self-power alone. What a great pity indeed! The Pure Land method should be considered a special Dharma method. Not realizing how arrogant they are. Little do they realize that their words are deluded and insane – severing the "wisdom-life" of the Buddhas and leading sentient beings to err and harbor doubts. those who advocate such doctrines consider themselves very perceptive and profound. A single statement can cause so much harm. not to be compared with other general teachings of the Buddhas.of karma and emptiness of desire" and attain the Tolerance of Non-Birth. countless sentient beings would drown in the sea of suffering – their escape route blocked. if everyone followed this approach in cultivation and failed to stress Faith and Vows. Therefore.
no misfortune that is not a blessing.. .Letter 16 Bodhisattvas Fear Causes. 67) 71 . as though insane. Although you enjoy performing good deeds. peaceful and calm. you do not yet understand the essence of Confucianism and Buddhism and are thus confused and frightened after a single instance of adversity. regardless of circumstances. 16 Letter to the layman Wei Ch'in-chou.. (Chinese ed. in circumstances of rudeness and vulgarity. It is frightening indeed. It is like a burning house. The means of achieving awakening are not fixed. there is no suffering that is not joy. Master Yin Kuang sent this letter to console and counsel him. His wife. Vol. Let me cite a few examples to clarify your understanding. I. he is at peace with poverty and deprivation. who know how to adapt flexibly to circumstances and are at peace with their lot. individuals at times achieve awakening through such circumstances as misfortune or blessings. The man then lost all his sense of right and wrong.. in circumstances of poverty and deprivation. Nevertheless. Therefore.) ♦ ♦ ♦ The Lotus Sutra (Chapter 3) states: There is no peace in the Triple Realm. The ancients had a saying: In circumstances of wealth and nobility. in circumstances of adversity and misfortune. became seriously ill. does not resent the heavens or blame his fellow beings and is always eventempered. he is at peace with wealth and nobility. p. he is at peace with adversity and misfortune . To the wise. he is at peace with rudeness and vulgarity. etc. conflict or harmony. the wise man is at peace with himself and others. understands human destiny. full of suffering. distraught. suffering or joy.. Sentient Beings Fear Results16 (A layman's house was burned to the ground and everything was lost. no conflict that is not harmony.
♦ ♦ ♦ During our lives. burned books. even he was once surrounded by enemies. who in the history of China can surpass the Emperor Ch'in Shih Huang in scheming for fame and fortune for his descendants? This brutal ruler subdued the six kingdoms. his only son died suddenly at the age of fifty. Confucius and others like him were great sages and saints. in retrospect. he was down to his last reserves while at yet another point he was getting nowhere in his efforts to travel and disseminate his teachings throughout the various kingdoms. and all his direct descendants were put to death. it wanes. higher or brighter than Heaven and Earth. what is the use of wealth running into the millions? Besides. From ancient times to the present. once the moon is full. the sun and the moon. they can study. The Emperor intended that his children be honored. clothing and the desire to leave some legacy behind for our children. Yet. in the end. who could surpass Confucius in morality and virtue? Nevertheless. The human condition is the same: the advance and decline of our fortunes. but. are merely the norm. they essentially revolve around the issues of food. a bowl of soup and some fresh vegetables should suffice. Even the high mountains will in time give way to deep ravines and the vast oceans will be replaced by fields of mulberry. what is the use of a wardrobe filled with brocade and satin? As for our children. they were defeated and lost everything. it begins to set. as well as other changes. However. his wealth extending over the four seas? Yet even he could not ensure lasting 72 . heroes sprang up everywhere. why seek exquisite seafood and mountain delicacies? As for clothing. The Emperor's unification scheme did not last even thirteen years before collapsing.♦ ♦ ♦ There is nothing in the universe vaster. his life threatened. However. once the sun has reached its zenith. all for the purpose of keeping the populace ignorant and powerless and thus preventing insurrection. Worse. Think about it: how many can be as exalted as the Son of Heaven (Emperor). buried scholars alive and confiscated all weapons converting them into bells. as far as food is concerned. On another occasion. they knew how to live in harmony with their circumstances and so managed to keep their minds calm and at peace. with the uprising of Ch'en She. we make all kinds of plans and perform all kinds of tasks but. yet they could not escape adversity. However. a few simple garments should amply cover our bodies. till the fields or engage in small business.
If conditions are consonant with delusion and impurity. it always follows causes and conditions. the moon reflected in a pond. Only the Mind-Nature is everlasting and immutable. we stray into the realms of gods. If conditions are consonant with awakening and purity. The length of our suffering or happiness depends on the weight of our transgressions or merits. Why do yo remain troubled and confused. you will not only wallow in Birth and Death for many lifetimes. Thus. daydreaming as though you have lost your mind? If you lose your life through excessive worry. Those who are unaware of the Buddha Dharma cannot be faulted. 73 . encompassing all past and present. Gandharva cities – nothing is true or real. abandon delusion for awakening and singlemindedly recite the Buddha's name seeking rebirth in the Pure Land – thus escaping Birth and Death and reaching the four levels of sagehood? Would that not be turning a small misfortune into a great blessing? The way out of your predicament is as described. always blessed. why do you not profit from this painful experience to see life clearly. but as a devout Buddhist. never encountering setbacks? ♦ ♦ ♦ You should know that all things in life are intrinsically false. all you will do is harm yourself while hurting others at the same time. throughout the eons. Although it neither changes nor dies. animals. humans. have committed evil karma as thick as the earth's crust and as deep as the oceans! How can they guarantee that their families will flourish forever.wealth and happiness for his family and clan – not to mention ordinary beings who. bubbles. How can you be so deluded? ♦ ♦ ♦ The sutras teach: Bodhisattvas fear causes. sentient beings fear results. like dreams. hungry ghosts and hells. Pratyeka Buddhas. illusions. we become Arhats. dew or lightning. shadows. flickering mirages in the blazing sun. Bodhisattvas or Buddhas – the level of achievement depending on the depth of our virtues. your sick wife and orphaned children will have no means of support. flowers in the mirror. asuras.
As a result of this calumny. The time frame of future requital is not fixed. however. he may be subject to contempt by others. seeking rebirth in the Pure Land. Sentient beings constantly create evil causes but wish to escape the suffering that results. If we perform wholesome or evil deeds in this lifetime but only receive benefits or suffer vicissitudes in the third or fourth lifetime. Thanks to this change of heart. become destitute or meet with unhappy events. As the Diamond Sutra states: If there is anyone who receives and keeps this Sutra but is maligned by others. recites sutras and the Buddha's name. When they encounter adversity." How do Cause and Effect encompass three lifetimes? As an example. After enduring such minor retribution. Suppose that individual suddenly becomes extremely frightened and utterly ashamed. that person may escape Birth and Death and enter the "stream of the sages. turn around and vilify the Buddha Dharma. in this lifetime we may perform wholesome or evil deeds. 74 ." This is a natural occurrence. In what way can our minds change the environment for the better? Take the case of a person who has performed evil deeds and should be condemned to the sufferings of the hells for untold eons. his past karma is instantly extinguished and he will attain Supreme Enlightenment. evil karma is eliminated and virtues are accrued in full." From that point on. the previous karma of hell is dissipated and transmuted into a lesser karma in the current lifetime. or thousandth lifetime." transcending the ordinary world. as a result of which we receive benefits or suffer vicissitudes. suffer a bout of illness. This is precisely the meaning of the mind changing life and the environment for the better. hundredth. If we perform wholesome or evil deeds in this lifetime and receive benefits or suffer vicissitudes in the next lifetime. Bodhisattvas destroy evil causes in advance. it is a case of birth [next lifetime] requital. cultivates personally and enjoins others to do likewise. changes his ways. Thus. How can they escape their shadows? Many persons expect huge blessings after performing a few good deeds. up to the time they become Buddhas. or countless eons in the future – it is a case of future requital.To avoid the result of suffering. for example. they immediately think that "to do good is to meet with misfortune. These persons do not understand the truths that "Cause and Effect encompass three lifetimes" and "the mind can change the environment for the better. develops the Bodhi Mind. to create "causes" is to create "effects and consequences. there is no law of Cause and Effect. This is a case of current requital. or even the tenth. they regress from their newly awakened state. Thus. such a person has created evil karma in previous lifetimes and should have descended upon the Evil Paths. However. They are no different from those who fear their own shadows but continually run for cover under the glare of the sun.
If those who create evil still enjoy blessings. Suppose his storeroom is overflowing with gold and jewelry. he should abandon his house and escape. it is useless to worry excessively or cry over their loss. Yet. rather than risk death in order to hold on to his riches. You should adapt to conditions. 75 . if you plant beans. if they do not resent the heavens. he cannot yet be pardoned. squandering money like so much dirt. it is because in previous lifetimes they amassed great blessings. carry on and strive to recite the Buddha's name. their blessings would have been much greater. Having sown thorns. but they cannot be compared to life. property should be abandoned and life preserved. even with a family estate in the millions. Very few think of repaying their karma and developing a mind of repentance and reform.♦ ♦ ♦ When ordinary beings meet disaster. so that you may be spared suffering and enjoy only happiness until the end of time. therefore his sentence is merely commuted to a lighter one. do not expect. not only will his previous transgressions be wiped away. seeking rebirth in the Pure Land. If those who perform wholesome deeds customarily meet with misfortune. with his descendants inheriting honors for generations! ♦ ♦ ♦ A superior person should transcend ordinary events and not allow external circumstances to damage his very life. you reap melons. without suffering hunger and cold immediately because of his great fortune. if he were to continue in this manner day in and day out. they blame their fellow-beings. Now that your wealth and property have been reduced to ashes. high position and noble rank. This is because gold and jewelry may be precious. one day he would surely lose all his property and suffer an premature death." This is the natural course of events. You should know that "if you plant melons. If not for their good deeds. you reap beans. Because of the limited impact of his contribution. he may even receive honors. This is similar to the case of a condemned prisoner. If we cannot safeguard both. when the harvest comes. If he continues to contribute to the public good and the sum total of such contributions becomes sizeable. if not for their transgressions. Thus. it is because they planted the seeds of transgression deeply in past lifetimes. It is as if the scion of a wealthy family were to lead a dissipated life. who manages to perform a small public service while waiting for his sentence to be carried out. lusting and gambling. When renegade soldiers and outlaws come to steal them. their misfortunes would have been much worse. to have wheat and rice.
joyous breeze. Why continue in delusion – suffering and grieving? I hope that you will consider my words carefully. you will ultimately attain Buddhahood. demons will enter. they would have no way of saving you! ♦ ♦ ♦ 76 . You will then get over your grief. Once the Self-Mind is lost. even if a thousand Buddhas were to appear on earth. At that time. Otherwise.thanks to this catastrophe. clearing the sky of dark clouds and revealing its brightness. you will not escape insanity. finding happiness in calamity and exchanging intense heat for a cool. if you continue to dwell on your loss and fail to awaken.
are very useful for everyday morality and the minds of ordinary persons. I. we should not repeat or extol them. How can there be any realm or state within it? Therefore. lest we be guilty of chimerical statements and conjectures that bring harm and disorder to the Dharma and engender doubts among the people. This old monk.Letter 17 The Five Skandas are All Empty!17 In Shanghai recently there were many gatherings where revelations and prophecies were proclaimed. in order to avoid harmful actions. the true and the false assail each other. knowing himself to be beset with many karmic obstructions. as well as their pronouncements on Birth and Death. Their messages about abandoning evil ways and practicing wholesome deeds. It is the state of dissipation of delusion and emergence of the Truth – tranquil and bright. 17 Letter to a layman in Yungchia. while superficial and limited. ♦ ♦ ♦ Think this over: the word "samadhi" is translated as correct concentration. At the same time. Cause and Effect. however. Therefore. would not dare abandon reason for emotion and thus cause others to err. giving rise to many states and realms that suddenly appear and disappear. (Chinese ed. the Surangama Sutra states: Perfect attainment of the fruit of Enlightenment is non-attainment of anything. because doing so may hinder the good actions of others. The Zen practitioner relies only on his own strength (self-power) without seeking the Buddhas' assistance. As disciples of the Buddhas. Vol. However the points they made concerning the future and the Buddha Dharma are somewhat vague and not free of error. when he exerts himself to the limit in cultivation. we should not oppose or reject those pronouncements. 99) 77 . p. He begs the reader to take both emotion and reason into account when following his advice.
It is as though a heavy rain is abating. I have no qualms about revealing it to all Buddhist followers. Not only are demons and evil spirits nowhere in sight. Since you have requested it today. but form the basis of all activities that you want to complete to perfection. it is an externalist teaching. in truth. transmitting it privately to you alone? If there is any secret knowledge to be transmitted privately in a hidden place. Time and again I have brought these points to the attention of those who have the right conditions. he is immediately possessed by "demons. which only he possesses. straight path. On the other hand. If the cultivator mistakenly considers these manifestations to be true. This secret is known to everyone. you attended school and 78 . when the Pure Land practitioner earnestly recites Buddha Amitabha's name and His ten thousand virtues. ♦ ♦ ♦ Ultimately. Mind and Buddha are as one. You should know that sincerity and respect are not reserved exclusively to students of the Dharma. In your youth. day in and day out. These states and realms are difficult for those who do not possess transcendental vision to distinguish. ♦ ♦ ♦ You have planted wholesome roots in previous lifetimes and belong to a family imbued with Buddhism for many generations. not a Buddhist teaching. unmixed power. you were well brought up at home and later on. enabling them to escape Birth and Death. Having said so. I have thus discovered that utter sincerity and profound respect constitute a wonderful "secret" method that lifts human beings to the realms of the saints." and becomes insane. does have a wonderful secret teaching. when the practitioner recites to the point of pure. to probe the shining cultivation of the ancients. It has always been my desire to proclaim them and to disseminate the Original Vows of Amitabha Buddha to rescue all sentient beings. the totality of Mind is Buddha. it is like the sun shining in the middle of empty space or a walk along a broad. however. I have endeavored. this old monk. the totality of Buddha is Mind. the overcast sky suddenly clears. things change back and forth without warning. How would I dare conceal this truth. but deluded thoughts disappear as well. for some twenty to thirty years. The dark clouds disperse. What is this wonderful teaching? It is utter sincerity and profound respect. I am afraid that this principle and practice are not understood by everyone. yet obscure to all! Wishing to eradicate deep-seated karma and repay the kindness of the Buddhas.
experienced the ways of the world fully. a weak and ailing body. The Threefold Lotus Sutra. they will be set free from their passion. et al. in time. Therefore. you may also recite the Surangama Mantra or the Great Compassion Mantra. (B. ♦ ♦ ♦ Heavy karmic obstructions. 79 . Sometimes. all they do is discourse on lofty. are not the right medicine. this very medicine. Instead. placing such value on my writings and distributing them to others? You should know that the most important criteria in dissemination of the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings are "timing" and "capacities.) The same is true of reciting the Buddha's name. however valuable. Anyone with faith in the medicine who tries it will recover. intensifies the illness. in addition to your regular Pure Land sessions. However. a fearful. Whatever you seek will then materialize. apprehensive mind – these symptoms will. He merely prescribes a panacea transmitted "secretly" by ancient sages and saints and dispenses it against each and every symptom. I have no hesitation about hanging out my shingle for those who wish to rescue sentient beings and benefit mankind. living beings much given to carnal passion keep in mind and revere the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World. will immediately regain strength and escape death as soon as they take this medicine. Alternatively. Kato. you should. advertising this medicine to all who are ill. disappear naturally if you singlemindedly recite the Buddha's name. 320." doubts and uncertainties. This old monk is like an inexperienced physician – not only is he unclear about the roots of disease. I do realize that the remedies prescribed by those Immortal physicians are miraculous. chills or fever." Those who are well-versed in Buddhism have failed to point out the most relevant cure for today's illnesses. he does not know the properties of the medication either. excessive greed and anger. such as falsity or truth. forsaken by the greatest Immortal physicians. If [those] much given to irascibility [hatred and anger] keep in mind and revere the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World. Why have you decided to abandon the lofty and sublime to stoop to the common and ordinary. but I do not advise people to take them – as illnesses stem from past karma and cannot be cured by physicians. however divine. Even those afflicted with "incurable" diseases. The "Avalokitesvara [twenty-fifth] Chapter" of the Lotus Sutra states: If . As the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara has great affinities with sentient beings in the Saha World.. p.. they will be set free from their delusion. you should concentrate your mind to the utmost and put a stop to "sundry [distracting] thoughts. sublime methods which. recite Her name. generally speaking.
may lead to the sowing of a few wholesome karmic seeds. as all this belongs to the realm of deluded thought. If he had had a discriminating mind at that time. then study the commentaries and subcommentaries. while reciting a sutra. earnest and sincere. you will gain increased merit and wisdom. just recite it in one stretch from beginning to end. you should sit up straight as though you were facing the Buddhas. eradicating karmic obstructions in the process. the idea behind that paragraph.♦ ♦ ♦ If you wish to be a Dharma master. the Patriarch Chih I [founder of the T'ien T'ai school] suddenly experienced a Great Awakening and silently entered samadhi. speech and mind utterly pure. without trying to find the meaning of the sutra. trying to understand the meaning of this sentence. If. it is accompanied by laziness and arrogant thoughts. However. on the other hand. Then. At that time. lecturing on the sutras in public. you should concentrate on Buddha Recitation rather than wasting time and energy pursuing these non-essential endeavors. it cannot fail to generate evil consequences from these very same seeds – the resulting suffering will be immense! Once. discriminating thought. you can awaken to the Non-Dual Truth and reach the Dharma of True Mark. without a single lazy. on the other hand. If you follow these steps. This quote refers to the practice of Sutra Recital as explained above. you should keep the three karmas of body. if accompanied by reverential thoughts. Even if you are dull and of low capacity. You should not use the discriminating mind. Practicing Sutra Recital with a discriminating mind. reciting any Mahayana sutra can lead to the opening of the Mind. This does not apply to the Diamond Sutra alone. the seeing of your True Nature. you should first read the original texts. bow to the Buddhas and sit erect concentrating your mind for a moment or two. listening to their perfect voices. before opening a sutra to read aloud or silently. if you are of superior spirituality. The Sixth Patriarch once said: We can awaken our Mind and see our True Nature just by reciting the Diamond Sutra. It is therefore called "samatha" (stopping or arresting mental processes). Such a mind cannot be in silent accord with the Buddha Mind. reasoning and comparing. By reciting the sutras in such a manner. you would like to engage in Sutra Recital in accordance with your limited capacities for the benefits it confers. how could he possibly have 80 . If. lead to a thorough understanding of the essence of the sutras or provide the causes and conditions for eradicating transgressions and creating blessings. should you discover that your intellect is average and your understanding not necessarily above others.
you absolutely must avoid the development of a discriminating mind.e. during the Ming dynasty. everything). while your transcendental Original Nature will gradually reveal itself. In this way deluded thoughts will settle themselves at the bottom. If you have not succeeded in extinguishing evil karma and developing wisdom. sliding open the shutters and admiring the green mountains. assiduous meditation. he gradually came to know how to read and write. chanting mantras or reciting the Buddha's name. Otherwise. you can be a little more relaxed. how can you. thanks to his strict observance of austerities. Such benefits all stem from a mind completely focussed on meditation. Master. it would merely increase your stock of rationalizations and arguments at the "edge of the lips and the tip of the tongue. you should consider Sutra Recital as your main objective and sutra study as secondary. when engaging in Sutra Recital. Those who practice Sutra Recital should take these examples as models. extreme forbearance and other difficult practices. but you should not adopt an irreverent attitude – at most. he was transformed into a scholar fully at ease in the exposition of the Dharma. completely oblivious to the ten thousand conditions (i. From then on. his writings were incorporated into the Mahayana canon.. He was still at his desk writing long after the sun had set when his disciple walked in and said: "It is so late already. it may not be necessary to be as strict and respectful as during Sutra Recital." What relationship does that bear to the issue of Birth and Death? When the last day of the twelfth month has 81 . if you wish to study the sutras to understand their profound meaning or write commentaries upon them. there was a Zen monk by the name of Hsueh Ch'iao Hsin. At that time. you will waste months and years pursuing such studies. Nevertheless. Whatever he said after that was in accordance with the Perfect Teaching. In a relatively short time.succeeded in such a manner? Another master was copying the Lotus Sutra. still be copying the sutra?" The monk was startled to discover that it was so dark he could not even see his hand! Whether reciting the sutras. with no discriminating thoughts. Thus. as long as you do it with this level of concentration and persevere for a long time. one day you will understand all and everything and experience a Great Awakening (awaken to the Way). you should reserve a special period of time to concentrate exclusively on such activity. During the Ch'ing period. Even if you were to understand the sutras to the point of pushing away the clouds and revealing the shining moon. He had entered the Order in midlife and was completely illiterate. meditating. Thus. before long he suddenly experienced a Great Awakening. ♦ ♦ ♦ However.
come and death is waiting. Why do you wish to understand and penetrate all Dharma methods in such a manner? I only fear that such confusion and indecisiveness will. what need is there to keep the precepts. there is the possibility that the power of evil karma accumulated from time immemorial will lead you to develop wrong views and reject Cause and Effect. All the while. making the True Dharma very difficult to attain! For this reason. using the Sixth Patriarch's teaching "if the mind is pure. wherever the power of mantras goes. you could not use the least bit of such knowledge! If you can follow the Sutra Recital method described above. Your evil karma will then know no bounds! ♦ ♦ ♦ I used to think that you and your friend were thorough believers in the Pure Land method. anger and desire/grasping will gradually disappear and you will develop wisdom. in time. the Lotus Sutra. etc." to justify your actions. so that it will not flare up. discriminating feelings and views will surely rob you of great benefits. the Parinirvana Sutra. the Surangama Sutra. unsettle and cloud your mind. my mind is undecided and I do not know whether or not I should follow Pure Land." There are many such hazards along the path of cultivation. killing. Otherwise. claiming that "to break the precepts without breaking the precepts is true keeping of the precepts." Look at yourself and see what your capacities are. You can recite the Avatamsaka Sutra. therefore. when I saw the draft of your letter seeking advice from Hsu Chun. the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment. thinking that nothing should be an obstacle. be it on a wisp of air or a grain of dust. If you are indifferent and lack restraint and respect. I learned of your intention to recite mantras and investigate the Precept-keeping (Discipline) method. You also said: "I have not seen anything mentioned in Pure Land as lofty and sublime as the blessings and virtues derived from reciting mantras. he has said that "according to the Tantric method. In either case. You should therefore take Buddha Recitation as your principal practice and Sutra Recital as an auxiliary method. However. relying on the compassionate power of Amitabha Buddha to extinguish evil karmic power. you should follow the principles I explained earlier. sentient beings 82 . the various karmas of greed. the afflictions of lust. one after another or you can limit yourself to one sutra. stealing and lying will come to the fore one after another like a raging fire. the Diamond Sutra. not only will you fail to derive any true benefits. the various Patriarchs have generally advocated cultivation of the Pure Land method. As for Hsu Chun. You may even sometimes mistake yourself for a Mahayana luminary.
Ten Practices. and be reborn immediately in the Pure Land. He therefore wrote: Even if the sages of the Four Fruits." having no true position. Mahayana methods are all complete. on the verge of death. others low level and wanting. The Patriarch Shan Tao uttered these words because he anticipated that those of future generations would "stand on one mountain while dreaming of the other. offering to transmit a loftier method to you. these golden words were not followed even by those who venerated him as their direct teacher – much less by those who have not heard or understood them! To be exposed to a method so well adapted to the conditions and capacities of sentient beings and yet to abandon it for the murky path of karmic consciousness – practicing neither Zen nor Pure Land – is this not incitement by evil karma accumulated from time immemorial? What a pity indeed! ♦ ♦ ♦ The Non-Dual Truth represents No-Self and No-Dharma. so as to perfect the fruit of Enlightenment? Moreover. Ten Dedications and Ten Grounds. perfect and sublime. you cannot go back on your Vows. 83 . Does the Pure Land method bring such benefits?" You should know that while reciting mantras brings limitless blessings and virtue. However. why would the Buddhas and Patriarchs. When the Patriarch Shan Tao – believed to be an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha – was teaching "uninterrupted practice. dedicating the merits to rebirth in the Pure Land. Do you not also realize that in the Avatamsaka Assembly. This is because. in countless sutras and commentaries. may. some high level and mature.e. recite the Buddha's name a few times. as well as the Buddhas of the ten directions who fill the empty space of the Dharma Realm.. have all carefully and earnestly recommended its cultivation? In truth. should all appear – their bodies emitting rays of light – and request you to abandon the Pure Land method." he was concerned that cultivators were unsettled in mind and will. it is only because sentient beings differ in conditions and capacities. having previously resolved with utmost determination to follow the Pure Land method. do not dare to follow their words. when the marks of the hells appear. the Bodhisattvas at the stages of the Ten Abodes. transcendental method. reciting the Buddha's name also has unimaginable power! Do you not recall this passage from the Meditation Sutra: Even those who have committed the Five Grave Offenses or the Ten Evil Acts. even those Bodhisattvas who have attained the Equal Enlightenment stage (i. if the Pure Land were not a lofty. virtual equality with the Buddhas) must still make the Ten Great Vows. that the benefits derived from these methods are different.there will all be liberated.
To awaken to the Way (experience a Great Awakening) is to be in a state of thorough understanding. your determination to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land cannot be restrained. Once truly awakened to the Way. the Bodhisattvas of the first "ground" do not know the comings and goings of those of the next "ground. existence and emptiness. the shutters thrown open to reveal the mountain range. Hence the name "True Mark. the Heart Sutra states: Thus. you naturally do not become arrogant toward those at a higher level. an ordinary being endowed with the Bodhi Mind achieves a level of insight and understanding equal to that of the Buddhas. The truth of Emptiness of all Dharmas is precisely the True Mark. Furthermore. nor do you develop a mind of retrogression. the Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara overcame all ills and suffering. the Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara illumined the five skandas and saw that they were empty. like the clouds dissipating to expose the moon. it is like someone with clear vision recognizing the way home. dusting off your feet and sitting down to rest. impermanence. as well as followers of the Two Vehicles. body and mind immediately disappear. it is like taking treasures from the trove to spend as you wish. Thus.No-Self (emptiness of self) means true understanding that the five skandas. To achieve Enlightenment is like following a well-trodden path home. As far as attaining Enlightenment is concerned. which together represent body and mind. It is as though you had a diamond sewn into the hem of your shirt but. Therefore. conforms very much to the Truth. but ordinary humans. unaware of it. not even by ten thousand buffaloes! ♦ ♦ ♦ 84 . extinction. No-Dharma (emptiness of all phenomena) means true understanding that the five skandas are empty [not only because they are aggregates] but by their very nature. permanence. are all born of causes and conditions. the Heart Sutra continues: Thus. There is no real "self" as master. the principle that the Dharma-body – while being the basis of all marks – is completely apart from such marks as birth. must endure poverty and deprivation." This True Mark is common to sentient beings and Buddhas." Understanding the meaning of awakening to the Way and attainment of Enlightenment. or a tramp unexpectedly discovering a treasure trove. attained through eradication of delusion. Rather. When these come apart. deludedly reject it and therefore cannot take advantage of it.
how dare you fail to redouble your efforts at uninterrupted Buddha Recitation. Moreover. At times like these. it is a feat just to remain alive. prices have more than doubled. There is fighting between north and south. I fear that in the future.Look at the times we are in. insurrection and strife are spreading within China and abroad. dreaming of methods which are not suitable for the times? If you do not strive to concentrate on this one method now. so difficult to obtain. Because of these events. earthquakes and epidemics occur with alarming frequency. seeking rebirth in the Pure Land? How can you waste this human body. sublime shortcut! ♦ ♦ ♦ 85 . the number of dead over the last three or four years can be counted in the millions – we have not heard of such tragedies throughout history. you will no longer have the unique opportunity to encounter such a straightforward. Sometimes drought and flooding both create havoc several times within a single year. The flames of war are now raging. floods. disasters such as typhoons.
he is careless and considers the two practices to be equal. Outside of these two groups. This is because the true words of Buddha Sakyamuni and the Patriarchs should be proof enough. if the mind is not utterly sincere. If the mind is utterly sincere. However. each and every Dharma method elicits a wonderful response. It includes all methods in full without omitting a single method. A single recitation of the Buddha's name encompasses all the teachings of the Tripitaka. ♦ ♦ ♦ Only those who are well-versed in all Buddhist traditions and teachings can be true Buddha Recitation practitioners. no method is effective. Those who have no firm position and are only guided by the results of others are greatly to be pitied! ♦ ♦ ♦ 18 Letter to another layman in Yungchia. (Chinese ed. I. he should make a clear distinction between the main and the subsidiary practice – in which case the subsidiary practice naturally points to the main practice. If. On the other hand. can also become true practitioners. The wise must not abandon the words of the Buddhas to follow those of human beings. you should not develop a single thought of doubt. the dull. p. it means that you lack complete faith in the Buddha's words – and thus your practice certainly cannot bring results. Since you are already determined and have no further doubts about Pure Land practice. why inquire about the results that other practitioners obtain? Even if no one else in the whole world obtains results. the correctness of practice depends on the cultivator's diligence and on whether or not he is practicing in accordance with the teachings.Letter 18 Buddha Recitation and Mantras18 The Pure Land practitioner may recite mantras as well as the Buddha's name. Vol. who are ignorant of everything but how to follow instructions sincerely. even the main practice is no longer the main practice! The Ten-Thousand-Arm Avalokitesvara Mantra (Cundi Dharani) is neither more nor less efficacious than the Great Compassion Mantra. 134) 86 . on the other hand. If you continually inquire about the results other practitioners obtain.
Letter 19 Mind-Only Pure Land19 The main tenets of the Pure Land method are Faith. To reduce them to a question of "whether Vows and Practice are separate or together" is to lack the eye of discernment in the Dharma! 19 Letter to a layman. All this is due simply to a fine silk thread before your eyes. You are just like someone who has not begun his journey but is already thinking of what it will be like when he returns home. How regrettable! The true Pure Land practitioner always fully combines the three criteria of Faith. Thus. and from the line of reasoning of the monk [from Hangchou]. Like a three-legged incense burner. their ideas actually reinforce and complement one another. why do you ask whether "Vows and Practice come separately or together"? Why do you say such things as "with Vows. He is like an infant longing for his mother. if it lacks one leg. Chien Mi and Ou I to pull apart and divide. you seem to be attached to the idea that there is a dichotomy between Vows and Practice. Vows and Practice. (Chinese ed. Vows and Practice during recitation. You therefore cannot have complete understanding and synthesis. lonely and crying. adorned with ten thousand halos. he searches for her. no Mind outside Buddha" without utmost earnestness? Can you really reach that stage without Faith and Vows? While Elder Masters Ch'e Wu and Chien Mi may differ in words. there suddenly arise numerous impediments and obstacles. Vol. you take the very Dharma pronouncements of ancient masters – which were designed to counteract differentiation and discrimination – to create yet more differentiation! Let me ask you this question: Can you really reach the stage of "no Buddha outside Mind. one can neither have Vows and Practice concurrently nor non-concurrently"? This is creating problems where there are none! From your letter. However. When. p. Therefore. within the unimpeded. it is difficult to focus the mind completely." or "in Buddha Recitation. it would appear that neither of you really knows how to practice Buddha Recitation properly. 149) 87 . it cannot stand. Therefore. he certainly never lacks Faith or the desire (Vow) to see her. of Elder Masters Ch'e Wu. perfect and wonderful Dharma. causing the bright moon. I. You have diligently practiced Buddha Recitation and have no more doubts about the first criterion of Faith.
This aim is something external to the Pure Land method. meditate on the Self-Nature Amitabha and the Mind-Only Pure Land. it is enough merely to recite the Buddha's name with utmost sincerity. when you make your Vow for rebirth in the Pure Land. You should realize that reading the text of the Vow is to rely on that text to make your own Vow – do not think that reading through the text once is equivalent to making the Vow! Except for morning and evening. but merely seek an undisturbed mind as the ultimate goal.As for the words of Elder Master Ou I. basing myself on principle and noumenon. I have spoken in general. ♦ ♦ ♦ 88 . the Vow for rebirth in the Pure Land should be made early in the morning and again at night after recitation is completed [using one of the available Vow compositions]. On the level of practice and phenomena. they represent a Dharma medicine intended for those cultivators who. why do you bring it up here and compare it to the criteria of complete Faith and Vows of genuine cultivation – thus creating opportunities for confusion? ♦ ♦ ♦ So far. following Zen practice. They are not cultivating in accordance with Pure Land tenets.
You should think thus: "It is difficult to obtain a human rebirth. etc.' it is difficult to hear the Dharma and even more difficult to encounter and learn about the Pure Land method.Letter 20 Do Not Mistake a Thief for Your Son!20 I am delighted to learn from your letter that you are deeply devoted to the Way. If the owner mistakes them for members of the household. I am bound to descend upon the three Evil Paths in accordance with the heavy evil karma of this life or of past lives. Greed. They are like thieves who have broken into the house. However. as long as you recognize them for what they are. fear only the late awareness of them as such. delusion. How can your riches not be squandered and lost? ♦ ♦ ♦ Your Buddha Recitation is not earnest because you have not learned to recognize the Saha World as a place of suffering and the Western Pure Land as a realm of joy. Vol. When greed. all the valuables in the house will be stolen. he recognizes the thieves as such and immediately chases them away. 161) 89 . subject to long periods of suffering. If. However. it is difficult to be reborn in a 'central land. however. If. you take them for the true masters of your household. anger. you will awaken and be earnest. p. anger and delusion arise. once the ghost of impermanence arrives. I. on the other hand. the ancients have said: Fear not the early arising of thoughts [greed. his valuables will be safeguarded and he will be at peace. these thoughts will immediately be destroyed. if you are aware that they are diseases.]. If I do not recite the Buddha's name singlemindedly now. including the need to review a commentary. 20 Letter to Ch'en Hui-ch'ao. anger and delusion are afflictions common to everyone. (Chinese ed." If you keep these thoughts constantly in mind. because of numerous commitments. their power should not be overwhelming. with no liberation in sight. it is no different from mistaking a thief for your son. In this connection. my answer to you has been somewhat delayed.
you should think about the sufferings of the various hells and develop the Bodhi Mind. No ordinary virtues of good roots can compare with it in severing karmic obstructions and increasing merits and wisdom. thus escaping the influence and control of external circumstances. This is true cultivation. Pure Land practitioners circumambulate the altar at the beginning of a Buddha Recitation session. standing. it is like a tool which has been electrified. Therefore. ♦ ♦ ♦ Laymen like yourself. it is better to determine the length of the session with a clock rather than fingering a rosary. all afflictions will decrease naturally. ♦ ♦ ♦ 90 . If your mind is filled with correct thoughts. In this way the mind becomes master of itself. you should make allowances for your health or habits and skillfully select the practice that fits your circumstances. If you become attached to a fixed position. When reciting. although he may be dwelling in the prison of Birth and Death. your body may tire easily and your mind may find it difficult to merge with the Mind of the Buddhas. waiting for the drowsiness to go away before sitting down again. you can circumambulate the altar or recite standing up. You may recite the Buddha's name sitting. As a result. then sit down and. but you should not be attached to any set ways. Traditionally. whenever you are affected by feelings of anger or joy. as doing so may make it difficult to focus the mind and keep it empty and pure. it acquires tremendous power and speed.Moreover. finally. such states of mind show clearly on your face. Therefore. kneel. If you become drowsy while seated. you should sit down and recite. kneeling or circumambulating the altar. Once this Mind develops. afflictions and karmic habits are gradually eliminated. However. or have evil or wholesome thoughts. ♦ ♦ ♦ You are swayed by the environment and external circumstances because your cultivation is still shallow. if you feel tired when circumambulating or kneeling. The Bodhi Mind is the Mind striving to benefit oneself and others. the true cultivator always trains himself strenuously. etc. residing at home [unlike monks and nuns] can practice as you wish. To reap benefits.
why not seek instruction from him. When we realize that body. he adopted the name "Corpse. From reading it.Letter 21 Buddhism and the Tao21 The Taoist Master "Ocean Corpse" recently conveyed your letter to me. the source of suffering. since you had the poor judgement to have inquired of me. to practice the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Buddhism teaches us. false. out of the ocean of teachings. for my part. anyone who encounters such a corpse in the sea of Birth and Death will. However. dark place? Is it not turning your back on your hopes and aspirations? The Taoist Master Ocean Corpse was originally well-versed in Buddhist teachings and schools. That is why you have not followed the grasping view of the God of Water. that is. without doubt. their various schools differ greatly in their practices today. Hopefully. demonstrates that in previous lifetimes." In truth. which is the foremost practice in Buddhism. mind and phenomena are impure. bright ground he represents for a low. (Chinese ed. impermanent. p. without self. 163) 91 . Since you are acquainted with Master Ocean Corpse. in their essence. have learned to seek the shore of Ultimate Liberation. 21 Letter to Li Yin-sou. all feelings as suffering. feelings. dream-like and illusory. wholesome roots in the Buddha Dharma. I learned that you have been practicing Taoism assiduously for a long time and that your achievements are profound. speedily reach the other shore and peacefully return home. reply to you in accordance with my shallow opinions. you planted deep. why leave the lofty. the [ordinary] mind as impermanent and all phenomena as devoid of self. to contemplate the body as impure. That you are now inquiring into the Pure Land method. Vol. Is it not better to approach him than to ask a lowly monk who lacks full understanding of the Dharma? Nevertheless. I. the True Thusness Nature will manifest itself. Because of his modesty. but. first of all. my answers may assuage some of your doubts! ♦ ♦ ♦ I venture to think that. I shall. Buddhism and Taoism spring from the same source. has practiced both Zen and Pure Land and is no less than the boat of Great Vows in the sea of Birth and Death.
you will naturally be able to rely on the compassionate power of Amitabha Buddha to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. in the company of the Ocean-Wide Assembly and gradually attain the fruit of Non-Birth and the rank of a One-Life Bodhisattva. while bathing." which are the crystallization of the cultivation of precepts. concentration and wisdom and not the result of "balancing energy currents. Keep your investigation of Zen and other teachings to a minimum. For example. teaches that body and mind are intrinsically false. faith." An exception is the practice of "balancing energy currents. If you are utterly sincere in your Faith. Buddhist relics do not come only from the transformation of flesh. At that time. you should diligently practice the Pure Land method. once upon a time. but also derive from many other circumstances. saw his hair turn into a string of relics.Buddhism encompasses all methods and dharmas. it does not neglect the small issues of human morality. There are instances of relics emerging from the mouths of practitioners earnestly reciting the Buddha's name." It also means "miraculous remains. A Zen Master. justice. Not only that. Therefore. loyalty. an Elder Master. as these methods are broad and profound and not easy to study. now that you are advanced in age. Vows and Practice. Buddhism. Do not develop doubts when you encounter something you cannot yet understand. Once reborn you will be close to Amitabha Buddha. such as "filiality. bones and hair during cremation. A printer setting the text of a famous 92 . decency and shame. you will discover that the two are as different as a dark ravine from the blue yonder! ♦ ♦ ♦ "Sarira" is a Sanskrit word translated as "relics". on the contrary. disappearing also through conditions. mind and life. From your letter. "remains of the body. However. having a tonsure. propriety. Not only does it clearly explain the issues of body. You should read the Pure Land sutras and commentaries without delay and practice in accordance with their teachings – with deep faith in the words of the Buddhas and Patriarchs." It is the symbolic mark of the cultivator who has reached the state of union between Mind and Buddha. Buddhism forbids the practice entirely. born of conditions. you would still need to return to the Pure Land method to resolve the problem of Birth and Death in this very lifetime. looking back at your original intention of becoming an Immortal in the assembly of the Lord Brahma. Even if you were to reach the ultimate source. suddenly obtained some relics. This is because while Taoism regards the preservation of body and mind as an ideal. and comparing it to your current status." about which not a single word is said in the Buddha Dharma. They are not the Self-Nature True Mind. respect for elders. it seems that you already know that "Immortals" have a definite life-span while the Buddha's life is without limit.
In another case. The Bodhisattva. Therefore. if the water is turbid or muddy. all-pervading power. the cultivator is not utterly sincere and singleminded in his recitation. to bring them benefits. Our Mind-Nature is similar to the water. the moon appears. or takes the form of various beings along the Six Paths in the Dharma Realm of the ten directions. She accomplishes whatever deeds are of benefit to sentient beings and takes whatever form is necessary to rescue them and teach them the Dharma. She preaches every kind of method to teach and transform sentient beings in accordance with their individual capacities and nature. favorable or unfavorable. "visualized" (concentrated on) the nature of hearing and thus attained perfect. Pratyeka Buddha. If. This does not mean that the Bodhisattva resides only on P'u T'o Mountain and not elsewhere. in the causal stage. She also manifests Herself everywhere. been a Buddha with the name of True Dharma Light. P'u T'o Mountain is the place associated with this Bodhisattva. A laywoman embroidering Buddhist images and sutras found relics under her needle point." 93 . However. Arhat. If you read the section on P'u T'o Mountain in my compendium of letters you will understand this yourself. because of Her boundless concern and compassion." Moreover. She also appears in all lands and realms. since time without beginning. From the oceans to the tiniest dewdrops. suddenly saw relics emerging from one of the statues. Standing beside Amitabha Buddha. without insisting on any particular Dharma method. the image of the moon will be blurred or hidden. These accounts demonstrate that relics are due to the power of cultivation [not internal energy currents]. wherever there is limpid water. his "mind water" will be turbid and it will be difficult for him to obtain a response. hidden or overt. As an analogy. as Buddha. She employs all kinds of expedients. While residing in the Land of Eternal Stillness. the single moon in the sky appears in ten thousand rivers and lakes. If sentient beings concentrate singlemindedly on the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. a practitioner who had returned from afar and was wholeheartedly paying respect before his altar. the Bodhisattva manifested Her Parinirvana (earthly demise) on this mountain. In the result stage (as a Bodhisattva). Bodhisattva. ♦ ♦ ♦ The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Kuan Yin) has. Her approach is called "all-sided. She visualizes the voices of sentient beings calling upon Her and goes to their rescue – hence the name "Regarder of the Cries of the World. on the other hand. the Bodhisattva's methods are boundless and all-encompassing.Pure Land commentary saw relics among the wooden typefaces. In order to provide sentient beings with a focal point to express their sincerity. The meaning of this is very profound.
These books provide a full explanation of the theory and practice of cultivation and attainment.. In fact.♦ ♦ ♦ What I have just discussed are some "superficial" issues. My answers have followed the order of your questions. a teaching that can bring you full benefits. ♦ ♦ ♦ 94 .. if I were to give a more detailed explanation. I fear it would be lengthy and waste more paper and ink. You should obtain and read the Longer Amitabha Sutra. which you are not familiar with because you have not examined them. the Meditation Sutra. However. the Biographies of Pure Land Sages and Saints . these answers do not cover the Pure Land method.
oblivious to the passage of time. 22 Letter to the layman Fan Ku-nung. In Zen. perfection of understanding" before you can receive real benefits." Only by striving to the utmost can the cultivator forget altogether about body. However. The common disease of sentient beings is to be diligent and earnest when catastrophe strikes but lax and remiss in normal times. delusive views with respect to internal and external realms. he puts his entire mind and thought into it. This is not unique to the Visualization Method of Pure Land. If you are indifferent or careless. Vol. we can illumine our Mind and see our True Nature. Though it has not yet reached the body. in no time flames and smoke will cover everything. remaining completely still and tranquil. (Chinese ed. mind and the world around him. perfection of understanding"? The Sixth Patriarch of Zen has said: Simply by reading the Diamond Sutra. Do Not Verbalize!22 The tenets of the Pure Land method are Faith. constantly meditating on it. remiss in seeking help through reciting the Buddha's name. living in this current period is no different from lying peacefully on a huge pile of dried wood under which a fire has already started. leaving no possibility of escape. you must reach the level of "development of true practice. Only then does he achieve Great Awakening. p. until he reaches the point of extinguishing all discriminating. Vows and Practice.Letter 22 Cultivate. I. Is this not "development of true practice. Is this not also "development of true practice. perfection of understanding"? The word "development" should be understood here as "[developing to] the utmost. your understanding and perception are shallow indeed! ♦ ♦ ♦ When cultivating various Dharma methods. as though of one hue. Only with true Faith and earnest Vows can Practice be assiduous and pure. 174) 95 . a meaningless koan (kung an) becomes the "very life and mind" of the cultivator. be it days or months.
all of practice is theory – practicing all day at the phenomenal level is practicing at the noumenon level. Thus. Little do they realize that when the phenomenal aspect is abandoned. noumenon becomes hollow and meaningless as well! I hope that you will explain cultivation at both the phenomenal and noumenal levels to everyone. You will be engaged in an entirely mundane. ordinary activity. How can you. few care to cultivate. Thus. entirely within the realm of discriminatory views and understanding." they consider the meaning to be profound and sublime. which loathe the effort and difficulties of Buddha Recitation." People today prefer empty talk. but you will still be making the distinction between subject and object (yourself and the Buddhas). achieve true benefits? That is why. their mind and thoughts were like withered trees. lethargic minds. they immediately grasp at noumenon and abandon the phenomenal. They also find it consonant with their lazy. with a definite emphasis on practice. The benefits will be great indeed! ♦ ♦ ♦ 96 . their lofty conduct was known far and wide and later generations continue to admire and esteem them. When those who lack clear understanding of noumenon and phenomena hear the words "practice at the noumenal level. you may practice Visualization and Recitation. then.If your cultivation has not reached the highest level. Pure Land should include both theory and practice. when the ancients were in meditation. counselling them accordingly. Why? It is because for the person who thoroughly comprehends theory. These benefits are all due to the single word "utmost.
these states then become more sublime and the mind grows purer and more focussed. Not only are you not in communion with the Buddhas. Taking advantage of this. there should be no attachment to them. The Patriarch Shan Tao has said: 23 Letter to the layman Wu Hsi-chen.Letter 23 This Mind is the Buddha23 There are. if you are unfamiliar with the realms visualized and have not comprehended the essence of the Dharma. in general. On the other hand. the Buddha appears. If you reach that point. demons will cloud your mind and plunder your Self-Nature. the benefits of Visualization are significant. therefore. Among the four methods." Once you understand that realms and states do not come from the outside and avoid developing attachments to them. you should carefully read the Meditation Sutra and clearly understand such principles as "This Mind is the Buddha. At that point. even if a living Buddha were to appear. oral recitation has the broadest appeal. but are over-eager to see [auspicious] realms. you have failed to apply your mind correctly. It is not only easy to practice. I. Visualization (contemplation by thought) and True Mark Recitation. contemplation of a Buddha image." "All realms and states are Mind-Only. you even begin to create the causes of demonic events (hallucinate). four methods of Pure Land practice: oral recitation (Holding the Name). you will not be able to realize that these realms are demonic apparitions. He would have no way of rescuing you! ♦ ♦ ♦ You should. p. it does not lead to "demonic events." If you wish to practice the Visualization method. (Chinese ed. take your capacities and circumstances into consideration and not aim for what is too lofty and beyond your reach – seeking benefits only to receive harm. Vol. the more agitated and deluded your mind becomes. 177) 97 . you are overcome with joy. everything is delusion. Therefore. your thoughts and feelings are not peaceful and calm." "If the mind is pure. This is because the more eager you are to see realms. Since from the outset.
the Great Sage [Buddha Sakyamuni] took pity and specifically recommended oral recitation because He feared that those who were not skillful in using their minds would be lost in demonic realms. you need only ensure that singleminded thought follows singleminded thought. Visualizing lofty realms with such coarse minds is certainly difficult to accomplish!" Therefore. utmost sincerity and earnestness are also wonderful methods to treat the deluded mind and demonic realms. ♦ ♦ ♦ 98 . To achieve rebirth in the Pure Land."Sentient beings in the Dharma-Ending Age have agitated. Moreover. Cultivation through oral recitation is very easy. inverted minds. You should think this over carefully and strive with all your mental strength to cultivate.
Who knows how many eons of transgressions along the three Evil Paths have been erased by this single illness! The Buddhas' power is difficult to imagine. so that those near and far may achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. develop the great Bodhi Mind and refer to your own circumstances to counsel your family. You should not grow discouraged or develop doubts. I. From now on. You should. you should cultivate diligently and counsel others to practice Buddha Recitation. it can be done silently or audibly. softly or loudly. your friends and all who have the right conditions. but only when we have actually had a near-death experience. (Chinese ed. Buddha Recitation should be practiced according to one's strength. Vol. 24 Letter to the layman Liu Chih-k'ung. who.Letter 24 The Bodhi Mind24 I just received your letter and am glad to learn that you have finally recovered from your long illness! The great issue of Birth and Death. heavy karma into light karma. of course. This is precisely the way to avoid ingratitude toward the Buddhas. Your diligent Buddha Recitation must have transformed future karma into current karma. p. if you look deeper. 181) 99 . because your were not skillful. Only in this manner can the benefits spread far and wide. feel great remorse and develop stronger faith. Why did you insist on reciting in such a loud voice that you became exhausted and fell ill? Although the immediate cause of your grave illness was shortness of breath. therefore. This is. their compassion is difficult to repay! You should rejoice. the swiftness with which the ghost of impermanence can strike – these are things which we have all heard of and fear. have awakened you. ♦ ♦ ♦ You wrote that you suffered from overexertion as a result of reciting the Buddha's name too rapidly and hurriedly. through your illness. the underlying cause must really have been the force of evil karma accumulated from time immemorial. do these realities truly hit home.
Is it not better that way? ♦ ♦ ♦ 100 .♦ ♦ ♦ There is no need to come to P'u T'o Mountain. Reciting the Buddha's name at home will bring progress and results just as easily. while saving money and preserving your health. considering the travel expenses involved.
while your will is as low as the ground." This is because the Mind-Nature is like a tree. You should also refrain from killing. you should. p. Vol. he will be glad to instruct you. Having now returned to the Dharma. fulfill your moral obligations. If you believe that you can keep the precepts without transgressing. If you cannot yet eat frugally all the time. I did not invent these teachings. at least do not be too demanding in your diet. in fact. perform wholesome deeds. you will receive great benefits. If you wish to receive the five lay precepts. you will not go counter to the compassionate Mind of the Buddhas. protect sentient beings and be vegetarian several days a month. Only then will you avoid being deceived by misguided persons into seeking merits and blessings in future lives or trying to become an Immortal through the practice of balancing energy currents. You should realize that they are based on the essence of the sutras or the enlightened words of the Patriarchs and other Dharma teachers. you are. Since your name is "Precious Wood. you should read my compendium of letters carefully and follow closely the teachings described therein. Do not doubt the words in the compendium. it withers and dries up. 182) 101 . when consumed by the fire of afflictions. If you reflect carefully upon what I have just said. Although you claim to follow my teachings. no externalist can cause you to vacillate. first of all. however.Letter 25 Self-power/Other-power25 I see from your letter that you have developed faith and wish to take refuge in the Buddhas and their teachings. (Chinese ed. ♦ ♦ ♦ Your aspirations are as lofty as the heavens. merely 25 Letter to the layman Chou Chih-mao. afflictions will not arise and the tree of the Mind-Nature grows naturally healthy and verdant. In this way. If you truly understand the teachings set out in my compendium. examine your mind. develop Faith and Vows and practice Buddha Recitation." I shall give you the Dharma name "Verdant Wisdom. seeking rebirth in the Pure Land. When taking refuge in the Triple Jewel. Once you have wisdom. you may ask the layman Hua San about self-administration of the precepts before your altar. I. you should cease all evil actions.
This is the only prudent. limited capacities. you cannot rely on your own strength (self-power) to eradicate karmic delusion and transcend Birth and Death. such high determination will only make others sigh and laugh. if you do not believe that the power of the Buddhas and the virtues of the Self-Nature are boundless. to avoid sinking into the Three Evil Realms is enough cause for rejoicing. Without solid Faith. holding fast all times without letting go. Faith constitutes the very basic of Pure Land teaching. you must still follow the method of reciting the Buddha's name seeking rebirth in the Pure Land. Thus." Little do you realize that without rebirth in the Pure Land. How can you then say that you are "following my words and singlemindedly reciting the Buddha's name"? You are currently engaged in an ordinary profession and do not yet have a lofty. Ideas such as yours fail to conform to the teachings of the Buddhas and are contrary to my own advice. Although this treatise presents the essence of the Dharma. it is difficult to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land.pursuing your own biased views. safe course. concentrating instead on studying the Pure Land sutras. magnanimous character. You should not look at your humble. hungry ghosts. You do not even realize the loftiness of this method. once you begin practicing. limited capacities and consider rebirth in the Western Pure Land as too lofty and beyond your reach. Reread the letters I sent to Kao Shao-lin and Miss Hsu and practice accordingly. Even if you study and understand it thoroughly. you should keep your thoughts and actions in conformity with the tenets of Buddhism. even those guilty of the Five Transgressions and the Ten Evil Deeds can achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. even those fully versed in the various schools and teachings have no hope of escaping Birth and Death – unless they have severed all delusive karma. You are not yet versed in the various schools and teachings. that is. it is not too helpful for those of limited capacities and shallow roots. Now. Buddha Recitation is the perfect shortcut to escape from the wasteland of Birth and Death. As for the Consciousness. descend upon the three Evil Paths [hells. how can you expect to grasp all their subtlety and profundity? ♦ ♦ ♦ Your mind has such high aspirations but you do not know how to adjust their loftiness to your capacities! Yet you also think that "with humble. You should cling to the Buddha's name as to your life and mind. animality]. yet harbor the ambition to study the treatise Awakening of the Faith. put 102 . Zen and Sutra Studies schools. You should completely abandon your ambition to become a great scholar. Moreover. in the future. how can you achieve liberation? You should know that no one who seeks rebirth in the Pure Land with deep and earnest Faith and Vows will fail to achieve it. you will. With solid Faith. severing all doubts. Therefore.
Thus. I frequently refer to the sutras and commentaries that should be read. you will find it difficult to grasp their profound essence. is more honored than courtiers or ministers. you will fail on both accounts. The Pure Land method is a special teaching – just like a prince who. if you still have spare time. becomes an official of high or low rank.a stop to all evil actions and practice all wholesome deeds. in the next life you will certainly be reborn within the cycle of worldly blessings and merits. Once having gone astray and having been reborn in the Triple Realm. As far as the Consciousness. Zen and Sutra Studies methods. who. continue to pursue such lofty ambitions? If you can become a great scholar. I fear that your dream will not come true and will remain just that – a dream! You have not read my compendium carefully enough and. Dharma doors other than Pure Land are ordinary methods. you will still have to sever delusive karma completely to escape Birth and Death. therefore. understanding is difficult. how can you ensure that you will not be deluded and descend upon the three Evil Paths? If you do not achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. your words rise as high as the Milky Way and then descend to the depths of the ocean. but always keep in mind the need for utter sincerity. Zen and Sutra Studies methods are concerned. My only fear is that if you do not succeed and do not have firm faith in the Pure Land method either. This is because the Pure Land method calls upon the compassionate power of Amitabha Buddha (other-power). if you do accrue some limited virtues in this life. you may recite sutras and mantras. Why. it will be a great honor for Buddhism. Even if you do. while other methods rely on self-power. right at birth. self-cultivation alone. then. Think this over: among the wealthy and noble. cultivated without wisdom. If you rush to understand everything at the outset and do not concentrate on utterly sincere recitation of the Buddha's name and the sutras. to begin with. it may be possible to escape perdition for one lifetime. Should not ordinary beings. even thorough understanding will bring no true benefits – not to mention that. how to go about reading them and the difficulty of benefitting from the Consciousness. through his own talents and virtues. but to do so for two lifetimes is rare indeed! 103 . In the compendium. how many can avoid creating evil karma? Today the fate of the nation is in great peril and the people are in misery. methods based on self-power and those based on other-power cannot be compared. even if you pursue them all your life. In addition. Do not rush to fathom meaning and substance. in previous lifetimes. This is all due to the influence of the merits and blessings of those. full of karmic afflictions. They resemble the approach of a scholar in everyday life who. Furthermore. When speaking of this. exercise caution in the selection of a method of cultivation? You admit that human beings have a limited life-span and that your own real strength is limited.
many courses of action are open. All they get is empty fame and no true benefits! ♦ ♦ ♦ 104 . the Surangama Mantra. even if I speak at length. lacking strong and determined will. whatever you wish will be fulfilled. To those with money." If not. to be in accord with the tenets of Pure Land you should include recitation of the Buddha's name and dedicate the merits to rebirth in the Pure Land ..♦ ♦ ♦ Sakyamuni Buddha taught a great many sutras and mantras. [Among these important sutras and mantras are the Heart Sutra." if recited to the level of one-pointedness of mind. are capable of repentance. ancient masters selected only a few important ones for use in daily recitation.] Regardless of which sutra or mantra is recited. your mind will not be focussed and you will not obtain any benefits! ♦ ♦ ♦ It is taught in the sutras: There are two types of heroes in this world: those who do not commit transgressions and those who. whatever you say is useless. having done so. the disease will certainly be cured – with body and mind calm and at peace. How can your illness be cured? If you take the medicine according to instructions. put things out in the sun to warm for one day and then let them freeze for ten days.. If you can concentrate on cultivating one method. the Ten Mantras. the Longer Repentance Liturgy. It is up to the individual to use it wisely. the Amitabha Sutra. you will naturally "understand one thing and penetrate one hundred things. I only fear for those who. Do you really think that reciting the Amitabha Sutra and the Buddha's name cannot eliminate "fixed karma"? The Dharma is like money. The word "repentance" should spring from the depth of the mind. but not other merits? If you follow my instructions in a flexible way. You should know that the very words "Amitabha Buddha. have ample power to lead sentient beings to Buddhahood. No one can recite and uphold them all. Therefore. It is like reading the label on a medicine bottle but refusing to take the medicine. If you do not truly repent and change your ways. Why insist upon reciting this mantra or that sutra to accrue this or that merit. the Great Compassion Mantra.
all obstacles will be swept away. When reborn in the Western Land. To delight and benefit all beings. The Vows of Samantabhadra . And neither will my vows. I will see Amitabha Buddha.I vow that when my life approaches its end. And be born in his Land of Ultimate Bliss and Peace. The Vows of Samantabhadra Realms of worlds in empty space might reach an end. I will perfect and completely fulfill Without exception these Great Vows. karma and afflictions be extinguished. And living beings. But they will never be exhausted.
and finally be reborn together in the land of Ultimate Bliss. repay the four great kindnesses above. and relieve the suffering of those on the three paths below. spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma. Homage to Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha . May those who see or hear of these efforts generate Bodhi-mind.Dedication of Merit May the merit and virtue accrued from this work adorn Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land.
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