Four Lands in the Pure Land

In Rebirth in the Pure Land a comment of “quite a caste system” was made. It was a very helpful comment since to those new to Pure Land Buddhism, it might well seem like there is a separation of beings in the Pure Land. With further study, we will better understand the nine levels and four lands.

Think of the levels and lands not as physical places but rather as mental states. This mental state is the land we dwell in.

The awakening beings in the Pure Land all practice and learn together even as they dwell in different lands, different mental states.

In a similar way, we also live in different lands in our world. Some people live in what might be called the "Land of Ceaseless Craving" or the "Land of Recurring Anger." But others standing next to them could be living in the "Land of Compassion" or the "Land of Patience."

The land we live in, our mental state, is entirely up to us for it depends on our thoughts.

One day, a student asked the Buddha about the land he dwelled in. The Buddha touched the ground with his foot. When he did so, the student saw the land the Buddha dwelled in, a land very different from the student's. But although the two lands were different, the Buddha and the student were together in the same place and talking with one another.

It is our practice and subsequent level of meditative concentration that determine the "land" we are reborn into and dwell in, not the determination of someone else or of a societal system. As our meditative concentration becomes higher, our mental state becomes higher. And since our environment is a reflection of our thoughts (why the Buddha saw things differently from the student) as our thoughts attain higher levels, our land will change to reflect our thoughts.

Once we are in the Western Pure Land, regardless of our mental state, our land, we will continue to practice and to interact with and learn from Amitabha Buddha and all the bodhisattvas who also dwell in the Pure Land.

“[O]nce reborn there, living in an auspicious and peaceful environment, always in the company of Buddha Amitabha and the Bodhisattvas, the practitioner will swiftly achieve success in whatever Dharma method he chooses. He is like a log rolling down a high mountain, which just keeps going and never stops, even for a moment.

“In summary, Buddha Recitation is easy for three reasons: easy practice, easy achievement of rebirth in the Pure Land, easy attainment of Buddhahood. Therefore, the results achieved through Buddha Recitation from time immemorial can be compared to the clear and limpid sound of precious stones striking against genuine gold, or the sight of “smiling lotus blossoms with their fresh and fragrant grades of rebirth.” Within these levels and grades, the path from sentient being to Buddhahood contains many ranks, yet is also without rank.

“This is because, once reborn in the Pure Land, the practitioner has transcended Birth and Death—and to recite the Buddha’s name is to become Buddha. This is like the silkworm, the chrysalis and the butterfly, which are inseparable; there is very little difference between saying that a butterfly is originally a worm or that the worm is the butterfly.” (Seeker’s Glossary, p 618)

Haste Makes Waste, Just Ask Rufus

Avoid doing things in a hurry,

since acting in haste will lead to many mistakes.

Rufus and his five brothers were very happy. They had always wanted to join the army so they could defend their country. But the country had been at peace so the king had little need for new soldiers. Also the brothers didn’t have any helmets and weapons. Nor a chariot or a horse to pull it.

So why were they so happy? The king had announced that since many soldiers had retired, he needed new ones! The brothers were happy because now they would be able to protect the country and its citizens. Rufus quickly called Acme Armor Supply to place an order. The brothers were in luck. Acme had a special promotion and was giving away a free spear with every helmet and armor set!

Now the only problem was transportation. This one had them stumped and gave Rufus a few sleepless nights while waiting for the express delivery from Acme. Then Rufus had an idea. (He may have been the youngest, but he had always been the one with the bright ideas. His brothers were sweet, but a bit slow.)

Anyhow, Rufus was out in the stable (actually it was a shed since they had no horses) poking around and thinking when he noticed the big basket they had all woven while in school. Rufus eyed it and then looked at the stone grinding wheel near it. He had it! Excitedly, he began rummaging around until he found an old axle and the spare handle for the plow.

He got the brothers together and they began to work under his direction. Soon they had everything together and boy was it a beauty. Three of the brothers ran next door to ask if they could borrow their neighbor’s horse. Being a good citizen (and won over by the gleeful brothers) he agreed. The brothers brought the horse home and went to hitch it up.

But there was a slight problem.

In haste, Rufus’ brothers had hitched the handle and axle to the back of the basketariot (their name for their new vehicle) instead of the front! The brothers were all standing around scratching their heads, and Rufus was looking particularly pained when the delivery van drove up. The driver gave them their packages, congratulated them on their patriotism, and drove off before they could try out the spears.

The brothers were delighted because now they could join the army. Then they remembered they couldn’t hitch the horse to the basketariot. Rufus had another idea. He’d push! The brothers ran happily into the house, put on their armor, and quickly kissed their parents goodbye. They ran out and piled into the basketariot while Rufus went behind to push.

But there was a slight problem.

They had forgotten their helmets. Rufus ran muttering into the house, grabbed the helmets, and finally they were off.

But there was a slight problem.

Rufus couldn’t see where he was going and all five of his brothers were excitedly yelling directions at the same time. Rufus stopped pushing, rolled his eyes, and through clenched teeth asked for his spear. He cut a hole in the basket and called it the “navigator’s window.” Only the brother whose turn it was to sit at the window could give directions. Delighted with this arrangement, everyone resumed their position and off they quickly went.

But there was a slight problem.

None of the five brothers who were to take turns as navigators knew where they were supposed to go. So they were making good time, but probably going in the wrong direction.

Rufus leaned over and banged his head a few times on the basketariot handles and again muttered under his breath. But he soon got himself under control and ran to get directions from a passerby. When he returned, he carefully told the brothers where the army was. He made them repeat the directions to be sure they all knew where they were going. They quickly started off again and soon came to where they were to cross a river.

But there was a slight problem.

The brothers had gotten confused (what can I say) and they were in the wrong spot. It turned out that they should have crossed two miles back. Rufus, who was now gnashing his teeth and tugging at his hair, quickly turned the basketariot around. Back they went to where they had just come from. They turned where they should have in the first place and crossed the river. By this time, the brothers were all holding on for dear life because Rufus was running so fast the basketariot was almost airborne. They five brothers spotted the army camp and cheered Rufus on to where the recruitment desk was set up.

But there was a slight problem.

As Rufus dragged himself up to the desk, the recruitment officer looked at the muttering, bedraggled, mud-splattered and red-faced Rufus, and then turned to his five grinning brothers in the basket. The army officer shook his head and stamped “REJECTED, No Appeal” on their applications.

MORAL

Acting in haste usually ends in mistakes and disappointment.

Rebirth in the Pure Land

Depending on our chanting efforts, we will be reborn in one of the nine grades [of the three classes] in one of the Four Lands of the Western Pure Land. We need to reflect on our effort. There is no need to consult with others, to tell the land we will be reborn into.

By chanting the Buddha’s name with deep faith and an earnest vow, yet with a scattered mind, we will be reborn in the lower grade of the lower class.

By chanting the Buddha’s name with deep faith and an earnest vow and with a diminishing scattered mind, we will be reborn in the middle grade of the lower class.

By chanting the Buddha’s name with deep faith and an earnest vow and with a concentrated mind, we will be reborn in the upper grade of the lower class.

By chanting with one mind undisturbed, and without being impacted by any greed, anger, and ignorance, we will be reborn in one of the middle three grades.

By chanting with one mind undisturbed, eradicating the afflictions from thoughts and external stimuli, and overcoming the afflictions from ignorance, we will be reborn in the upper three grades.

Therefore, faithful Buddha-name chanting with a sincere vow will enable us to be reborn in [one of] the nine grades.

Furthermore, if we faithfully chant with an earnest vow and overcome karmic obstructions, but still with delusion, we will be reborn in the Land Where Saints and Ordinary Beings Dwell Together;

If we faithfully chant with an earnest vow and eradicate the afflictions that arise from deluded thoughts, we will be reborn in the Land of Expedient Liberation;

If we faithfully chant with an earnest vow and are able to eradicate some levels of delusion, we will be reborn in the Land of Real Reward;

If we faithfully chant with an earnest vow and uphold the practice all the way to perfection such that delusion is eradicated, we will be reborn in the Land of Eternally Quiescent Light.

Therefore, upholding Buddha-name chanting will enable us to attain rebirth in one of the Four Lands.

~ Patriarch Ouyi

Update on June 19, 2009 by Venerable Wuling

Please see the entry on June 18th for an explanation of the four "lands."

Expectations or Aspirations?

Aspirations are our wish to achieve things. Expectations are the strong hope that something will happen.

Aspirations are what happen inside us. They arise from within us and require action on our part. I aspire to help others. I aspire to get a graduate degree. I aspire to enjoy the day whether the sun shines or the rain pours down.

Expectations are what happen outside us. I expect others to appreciate my help. I expect to graduate and then get a good job. I expect the sun to shine and the rain to hold off for another day.

Aspirations show our higher goals. I aspire to be more patient, to spend more time with my children, to be a model of goodness, to meet my parent's ideals for me.

Expectations are more ordinary. And they involve others, which makes them so unpredictable and expose us to much unhappiness. An aspiration is a wish that I act on, but an expectation depends on others to perform or a situation to unfold as I want.

Expectations bind us to disappointment.

Aspirations allow us to soar.

Happiness

Happiness lies in the smile,

not in the object

that inspired the smile.