Pure Land and Pure Mind

by Master Tsung-pen

Layman Wang of Lung-shu said: 

There are those in the world who specialize in studying Zen who say: "The Pure Land is mind-only: how could there be another pure land? Amitabha is inherent nature: it is not necessary to see another Amitabha." 

This is all wrong. Why? These words are very lofty, but I am afraid it is very hard to reach the level [they indicate] . 

                *** 

In the Pure Land in the west, there is no covetousness, no craving, no hatred, no ignorance. Can our minds be free of covetousness, craving, hatred, and ignorance? 

In the Pure Land one has only to think of clothing and food, and receive them; one has only to think of being still or going, and one can be still or go. [Here on earth,] when our minds think of clothes, but we have no clothes, we are afflicted by cold. When our minds think of food, but we have no food, we are afflicted by hunger. When our minds want to be still, but we cannot be still, we are vexed by movement. When our minds want to go, but we cannot go, we are vexed by being tied down. So the Pure Land of mind-only which they talk about is really not easy to reach. 

Amitabha Buddha is fully endowed with merit and wisdom. His supernatural powers are vast. He can change hell into a lotus flower land as easy as turning his hand over. He can observe infinite worlds right before his eyes. 

For us, karmic barriers are serious, and we fear falling into hell: how can we change it into a lotus flower land? We cannot even see things on the other side of a wall, so how can we see infinite worlds? Thus it is really not easy to reach the level of the so-called Amitabha of inherent nature. 

Those who study Zen must not ignore the Pure Land and not cultivate it; they must not abandon Amitabha and not wish to see him. The Greater Amitabha Sutra says: 

In the ten directions there are countless bodhisattvas who go to the Pure Land. 

If even these bodhisattvas want to be born in the Pure Land, who are we not to want to be born there? Are we better than the bodhisattvas? 

Thus [the talk of] mind-only Pure Land and inherent nature Amitabha is high-sounding, but impractical. Those who practice without reaching [this level] mislead many people . . . 

It is better to walk on solid ground and cultivate practice by reciting the buddha-name. Then you can be born in the Pure Land directly and escape the cycle of birth and death straightaway. This is as far apart from the empty words without substance [of those who reject Pure Land Buddhism in favor of Zen] as heaven from earth. 

                *** 

Some say, "Certainly it is hard to see reality-nature by studying Zen. But what about studying [Taoism] to become an immortal?" 

I respond: Not to cultivate the Pure Land and instead to want to study [Taoism] to become an immortal is like throwing away a fine jade that's in front of your eyes to seek an imitation jade that you cannot necessarily get. Isn't this a delusion? 

Why so? According to the Heroic March (Surangama) Sutra: 

There are ten kinds of immortals, who all live from a thousand to ten thousand years. But when their lifespans are exhausted, they again enter into the cycle of birth and death. Because they do not comprehend real nature, they are grouped with the six planes of sentient beings as the seventh level. They are all creatures in the cycle of birth and death. 

When the people of the world study [Taoism] to become immortals, not one in ten thousand succeeds. Even if they do, they still do not avoid the cycle of birth and death, because they are attached to their bodies and their spirits, and cannot relinquish them. Body and spirit are false concepts that appear within true nature: they are not real. Therefore [Master] Han-shan's poem says: 

Even if you get to be an immortal, 
It is just like holding onto a dead man's ghost; 
It is not as good as the Buddhists 
Who are unconstrained by birth and death. 

Source Of Information:
《Pure Land Pure Mind 心净佛土净》, by Master Chu-hung and Tsung-pen, translated by J.C.Cleary, distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.

This World and the Pure Land

by Master Tsung-pen

Zen master Tsung-tse of Ch'ang-lu said: 

Now let us compare this world "Endurance" with the Pure Land. 

Here, birth in a flesh and blood body is painful. There, you are born by transformation in a lotus flower, and are free from the pains of birth. 

Here, the seasons succeed each other and you weaken and grow old day by day. There, there are no hot and cold seasons, and you are free from the pains of aging. 

Here, the physical body is hard to temper and often becomes sick. There, your transformed body is fragrant and pure and free from the pains of sickness. 

Here, those who live to be seventy are rare and impermanence is swift. There, the lifespan is measureless and you are free from the pains of death. 

Here, you fondly love those who are close to you, but you are sure to be separated from those you love. There, there are no parents or spouses or children, and you are free of the pain of being parted from loved ones. 

Here, enemies hate you, and you are sure to be with those who resent you. There, those of the highest virtue are assembled together and you are free of the pain of being with those who hate you. 

Here, you may be exhausted, and suffer from hunger and cold, and have unsatisfied cravings. There, food and clothing and precious things are provided ready-made for you to use. 

Here, you may have a body that is ugly and defiled and has many defects. There, your countenance is dignified and your body shines with light. 

Here, you revolve in the cycle of birth and death. There, you experience birthlessness. 

Here, there are outcrops and depressions and brambles and thorns and the landscape is filled with filth and evil. There, the ground is made of gold, jewel trees reach to the sky, towers of precious stones rise up above you, and flowers of all colors are spread at your feet. 

Here, Shakyamuni Buddha has already passed away and Maitreya Buddha has not yet come. There, Amitabha Buddha is preaching the Dharma right now. 

Here, you look up in vain to the glory of Kuan-yin and Shih-chih. There, you are on intimate terms with these two bodhisattvas, and they are your special friends. 

Here, a myriad of demons and heretics attempt to confuse correct cultivation. There, the Buddha's teaching unifies everything, and there is no trace of demons or heretics. 

Here, lust misleads practitioners. There, your body is pure and clean, and there is no sexual desire. 

Here, evil beasts and monsters beat their wings with an evil sound. There, the water birds and the forest trees all communicate the wondrous Dharma. 

Comparing the two worlds, the landscape is as different as can be. The Pure Land is superior in countless ways: there is no time to mention them all. 

Therefore all the scriptures of the complete meaning of the Great Vehicle point the way to the Pure Land. The worthy sages of the past and present all make vows that they themselves and others will be born in the Pure Land. 

Whoever wants to save people, must first recite the buddha-name himself or herself. Unfortunately, people do not think in long range terms: they only worry about things close at hand. Once the human body is lost, it is hard to regain it even in ten thousand eons. Thus I urge all sentient beings to recite "Amitabha Buddha" a hundred times or a thousand times or even ten thousand times [every day]. Transfer the merit to those who share the affinity [for the Pure Land], and vow to be born in Amitabha 's land. . . . 

related post: Pure Land and Pure Mind

Source Of Information:
《Pure Land Pure Mind 心净佛土净》, by Master Chu-hung and Tsung-pen, translated by J.C.Cleary, distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.

Yen-shou (Yung-ming) Advocates Pure Land

 by Master Tsung-pen

Question 

[In Zen] we just see reality-nature and awaken to the Path, and immediately transcend birth and death. What is the use of tying the attention to Amitabha Buddha and seeking to be born in his land? 

Answer 

People who genuinely cultivate practice must examine themselves. It is like a person drinking water who knows for himself whether it is cold or warm. Now I will present some guidelines to break up the many forms of delusion. 

Good people, you must observe yourselves. In your practice and your understanding, have you really managed to see reality-nature and awaken to the Path? Have you received the Tathagata's prediction of enlightenment and succeeded to the station of the patriarchs like Ashvaghosa and Nagarjuna? Have you attained unobstructed powers of argument and witnessed lotus flower samadhi like Chih-i of T'ien-t'ai? Have you mastered and practiced all the teachings of the Zen school like National Teacher Chung? 

All these great beings understood the teachings imparted by Buddha and all of them urged people to be born in the Pure Land. In this they were benefitting both self and others. How could they have been misleading people and fooling themselves? Buddha himself praised [the Pure Land] and instructed people again and again [to seek to be born there]. I hope you will follow the virtuous ones of olden times and accept the Buddha's commands. They are surely not wrong. There are also the many clear stories of lofty people ancient and modern recorded in the Pure Land biographies. You should carefully read through them so that you may reflect on them. 

You should also consider whether or not you are certain that you will be free to go or stay when you are about to die. 

Are you sure that the barriers of evil karma from time without beginning will not appear before you? 

Are you sure that this body of yours will escape from the cycle of birth and death? 

Are you sure you can appear and disappear freely and without affliction on the evil paths of the three mires and nonhuman incarnations? 

Are you sure there will be no impediment to your being born as you wish in the worlds of devas and humans? 

If you are not sure, then do not make yourself sink down for eternal ages because of your temporary feeling of lofty self-satisfaction, and lose the advantages [of practicing Pure Land Buddhism]. ... 

[Yung-ming's essay entitled] Four Choices says: 

First: Zen without Pure Land. Nine out of ten people take the wrong road here. If objects appear before them [as they meditate], they immediately follow them off. 

This choice means that people only [strive to] illuminate reality-nature, and do not make vows to be born in the Pure Land. But as long as they flow along in this world "Endurance," there is the danger of falling back [into delusion] . . . 

Second: Pure Land without Zen. Of ten thousand who practice [Pure Land Buddhism], ten thousand go [to the Pure Land]. They just get to see Amitabha Buddha: what worry is there that they won't be enlightened? 

This choice means that they have not yet illuminated reality-nature, but they just vow to be born in the Pure Land. Because they are riding upon the power of Buddha, they are sure to be free from doubt. 

Third: Both Zen and Pure Land. This is like putting horns on a tiger [adding to its already formidable powers]. In this life these people will be teachers, and in lives to come they will be buddhas and patriarchs. 

Since they profoundly comprehend the Buddha Dharma, they can be teachers to devas and humans. Moreover, they take vows to go to the Pure Land and ascend quickly to the stage from which there is no falling back . . . 

Fourth: Neither Zen nor Pure Land. This brings the torments of hell for ten thousand eons, with no one to rely on. 

They do not understand the principles of Buddha, nor do they make vows to be born in the Pure Land. They sink down [into the sea of suffering] for eternal ages with no way to get out. 

Good people, if you want to transcend birth and death, and experience enlightenment, choose well among these four options! 

related post:  This World and the Pure Land

Source Of Information:
《Pure Land Pure Mind 心净佛土净》, by Master Chu-hung and Tsung-pen, translated by J.C.Cleary, distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.