In the beginning of the Visualization Sutra, Queen Vaidehi, having encountered overwhelming family misfortunes and having thus truly experienced suffering, entreated Sakyamuni Buddha, “The world is filled with suffering. Isn't there a better place, a world without evil? I wish to be reborn there.” Through his transcendental powers, the Buddha compassionately displayed all the Buddha Lands in the ten quarters of the universe for her to observe and choose from.
As Sakyamuni Buddha expected, she chose Amitabha Buddha's Western Pure Land, also known as the Land of Ultimate Bliss, and requested Sakyamuni Buddha to teach her how to attain rebirth there.
Before the Buddha started on the required practices for rebirth, he taught her to practice the Three Conditions, explaining that they were “the true causes of pure activities of all Buddhas of the three time periods.” This important statement tells us that all Buddhas of the three time periods of the past, the present, and the future, rely on the Three Conditions as the foundation for their cultivation and attainment of Buddhahood.
The First Condition is:
1. Be filial to and care for one's parents
2. Be respectful to and serve teachers
3. Be compassionate and do not kill any living beings
4. Cultivate the Ten Virtuous Karmas. Physically, we are to refrain from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct. Verbally, we are to refrain from false speech, harsh speech, divisive speech, and enticing speech. Mentally, we are to refrain from giving rise to greed, anger, and ignorance.
The Second Condition is:
5. Take the Three Refuges
6. Abide by the precepts
7. Behave in a dignified, appropriate manner
The Third Condition is:
8. Generate the Bodhi mind
9. Believe deeply in causality
10. Study and chant the Mahayana sutras
11. Encourage others to advance on the path to enlightenment
related post: The Six Harmonies
Source Of Information:
《Going Home To The Pure Land》, by Venerable Wuling, translated by J.C.Cleary, published by Pure Land College Press in 2010, 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.
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