All Practices are Unified in Buddha-Remembrance

by Master Tsung-pen

Zen master Wan-tsung said: 

The samadhi of reciting the buddha-name is called one-practice samadhi. 

This is because the people who practice it comprehend its profound intent and are able to uphold it singlemindedly without becoming involved with other practices, so they are only mindful of the Pure Land, and only remember Amitabha Buddha. They know that Amitabha's body and the Pure Land are not two, and mindfulness of the Pure Land and remembrance of Amitabha are one. Hence, the name "one-practice." 

Nevertheless, though it is called one-practice, those who practice it also must use as aids in the Path all the countless worldly and world-transcending dharmas, and all the meritorious practices, and thus proceed quickly to be born in the Pure Land. 

Therefore all practices are Pure Land, and no divergent roads are cultivated. It is called unified practice. This can be compared to the myriad streams which all flow into the sea, and all get the same name, "the sea." The myriad virtues all return together and get the name "one-practice." Thus all forms of mindfulness, correct effort, and awakening to the Path, the four great vows [to bring universal salvation], and the six perfections (paramitas) [of bodhisattvas] are all Pure Land practices ... 

related post:  Revealing True Nature Apart from Form: Women go to 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.