We can be reborn in the Pure Land if we can see or visualize it
It is recorded in the Contemplation Sutra that Shakyamuni Buddha used his power to enable Queen Vaidehi, an unenlightened, ordinary, mortal being like us, to see Amitabha’s Land of Bliss. Thus, Vaidehi could attain rebirth immediately. So the answer to the question in the title of this article should be yes!
Vaidehi also confirmed, “Through the Buddha’s power, even I have now been able to see that land. However, after the Buddha’s passing, sentient beings have become defiled and evil, and oppressed by the five kinds of suffering. How then will those beings be able to see the Land of Bliss?”
Vaidehi raised this question because she was told that an unenlightened, ordinary, mortal being with weak and obscured spiritual powers cannot attain the“divine eye,” and cannot see afar. Without the Buddha’s power, there is no way for us to see Buddha lands like the Land of Bliss.
Shakyamuni Buddha passed into parinirvana over 2,500 years ago and entered nirvana. If an ordinary being, without divine eyes, cannot practice meditative virtues in order to see or visualize Pure Lands, he is unable to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land.
We may visualize and be reborn in the Pure Land if we have Divine Eyes
In the era of Shakyamuni Buddha, many practitioners, such as Anagamin, attained the third fruit of the sravaka, and could see afar with their divine eyes. Technically speaking, if they followed Shakyamuni Buddha’s instructions to practice meditative virtues further, they could visualize the Ground of the Land of Bliss.
In the “Third Contemplation of the Ground,” Shakyamuni Buddha told Ananda, foremost in hearing the Buddhist teachings, “Keep these words of the Buddha in your mind, and expound this method of visualizing the ground, for the benefit of the multitude of future beings who will seek emancipation from suffering.”
Shakyamuni Buddha further said, “If one has attained a vision of the ground of that land (the Land of Bliss), the evil karma which one has committed during eighty kotis of kalpas in samsara will be extinguished; and one will certainly be reborn in the Pure Land in the next life. Do not doubt this.”
All other people can be reborn in the Land of Bliss only by Amitabha’s power
In response to Vaidehi’s question, Shakyamuni Buddha comforted her by explaining that all buddhas have a special power that enables ordinary beings without divine eyes to see the Pure Land. This includes Buddhists who practice non-meditative virtues, such as the Three Meritorious Deeds.
Without directly answering Vaidehi’s question, Shakyamuni Buddha continued to expound how to contemplate the trees, the ponds and the various objects of the Land of Bliss. When the Buddha was about to speak the Seventh Contemplation, the Throne, Amitabha Buddha and the two bodhisattvas suddenly stood in the air above.
Master Shandao, the de facto founder of the Pure Land school, explained this auspicious incident as follows: As Shakyamuni Buddha responded to Vaidehi’s question, he focused his mind on Amitabha Buddha in the west; Amitabha Buddha immediately appeared in his shadow in the east.
This poetic verse indicates that, when a person thinks of Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha immediately knows and appears before him. Shakyamuni Buddha explained in the Ninth Contemplation that Amitabha Buddha’s true body is “light” that permeates everywhere, and embraces without forsaking, all sentient beings who think of him.
How can sentient beings of the future see Amitabha Buddha, and be reborn through his vow power?
After Vaidehi had this vision of Amitabha Buddha, she knelt down in worship at Shakyamuni Buddha’s feet and said to him, “World-Honored One, through your power I have been able to see Amitabha Buddha and the two bodhisattvas; but, how can sentient beings in the future see them?”
Upon seeing Amitabha Buddha in the Seventh Contemplation, Vaidehi was thoroughly happy and excited! She realized that the Buddha has the special power to enable ordinary beings without divine eyes to see that the Pure Land is Amitabha Buddha! Thus, she “revised” her question to Shakyamuni Buddha.
Vaidehi was also aware that seeing Amitabha Buddha is more important than seeing the Land of Bliss, although most ordinary beings are more concerned about their rebirth in the Pure Land (through self-power), rather than focusing on entrusting in Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance (through his vow-power).
We can be reborn through the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha
This majestic throne was originally produced by the power of the Bhikshu Dharmakara’s Vow, which represents Amitabha Buddha himself. It is manifested even for those who have no knowledge of Amitabha Buddha; but, simply follow others in reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha and/or think of his awesome power, as said in the Sixteenth Contemplation.
In this respect, we should know that Amitabha’s deliverance is pro-active, equal and unconditional. Amitabha’s teaching of deliverance is very different from that of Shakyamuni Buddha, who expounded the different Dharma teachings in accord with the aptitudes and capacities of individual Buddhist practitioners.
Followers of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings of meditative and non-meditative virtues believe they can achieve Buddhahood in this defiled Saha World. Followers of Amitabha Buddha’s teaching of the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha anticipate achieving buddhahood in the Western Pure Land of bliss.
As classified by Nagarjuna Bodhisattva, the former is known as the Difficult Path, while the latter is the Easy Path. The Easy Path is a free offer to all sentient beings, including iniquitous sentient beings in the Dharma-Ending Age; to attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss after this lifetime, as assured by Amitabha Buddha in his 18th Vow.
To conclude, the special power refers to the power of Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow, the 18th Vow, which enables ordinary beings to be reborn through the easy practice of exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha, as stated in the passage of the lowest level in low tier in the Contemplation Sutra.
Related features from BDG
A Correct Understanding of the Core Teaching in the Amitabha Sutra
The Meaning of the Name of Amitabha’s Pure Land
How Much Do We Know About Amitabha’s Name?
