Vaidehi attained rebirth by seeing the Land of Bliss through Shakyamuni’s light

In the Contemplation Sutra, Vaidehi saw two buddhas, Shakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha, emitting light on different occasions. In the preface, on Vaidehi’s request (“I beseech you, World-Honored One, to reveal to me a land of no sorrow and no affliction where I can be reborn”), Shakyamuni Buddha emitted from between his eyebrows a flood of light.

The light of Shakyamuni Buddha, it is said, “was the color of gold and illuminated the innumerable worlds in the ten quarters. Returning to the Buddha, the light settled on his head and transformed itself into a golden platform resembling Mount Sumeru. On the platform appeared the pure and resplendent lands of all the Buddhas in the ten directions.”

With the Buddha’s power, Vaidehi was able to see Amitabha’s Land of Bliss, and she decided to select this Pure Land for rebirth. Vaidehi further requested Shakyamuni Buddha to teach her: “I wish to be born in Amiatbha’s Land of Bliss. I beseech you, World-Honored One, to teach me how to contemplate that land and attain Samadhi.”

As said in the Third Contemplation: “When the visualization of the water has been accomplished, it is called the ‘general perception of the ground of the Land of Bliss.’ If you attain a state of samadhi, you will see this ground so clearly and distinctly that it will be impossible to describe it in detail.

“If one has attained a vision of the ground of that land, the evil karma which one has committed during 80 kotis of kalpas of samsara will be extinguished, and so one will certainly be born in the Pure Land in the next life. Do not doubt this.”

Thus, after Vaidehi saw Amitabha’s Land of Bliss, she further asked Shakyamuni Buddha a question for us: “World-Honored One, through the Buddha’s power, even I have now been able to see that land. But after the Buddha’s passing . . . how will sentient beings then be able to see Amitabha’s Land of Bliss?”

We are “defiled and evil ordinary beings and are oppressed by the five kinds of turbidity.” Shakyamuni Buddha told Vaidehi: “You are unenlightened, and so your spiritual powers are weak and obscured. Since you have not yet attained the divine eye, you cannot see that which is distant. But the buddhas, tathagatas, have special ways to enable you to see afar.”

This is a practical, yet very important question. What are tathagatas’ special ways that enable us to see the Land of Bliss, and attain rebirth there? It is our greatest priority to end the suffering of samsara—the evil karma which one has committed during 80 kotis of kalpas of samsara will be extinguished, and so one will certainly be born in the Pure Land in the next life, as stated by the Buddha.

Vaidehi attained the perseverance of No-Birth by seeing Amitabha’s radiance*

In the Seventh Contemplation, Vaidehi saw the Buddha’s light for the second time. When Shakyamuni Buddha began to talk about the method of removing suffering, Amitabha Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva suddenly appeared in the air above. Their radiance was so brilliant that it was impossible to see them in detail.

After Vaidehi had this vision of Amitabha Buddha, she knelt down in worship at the Buddha’s feet and said to the Buddha, “Through the Buddha’s power, I have been able to see Amitayus and the two bodhisattvas, but how can sentient beings of the future see them?” This is the second time that Vaidehi requested the Buddha for us: how to see the Buddha himself, instead of the Pure Land?

In the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, Master Shandao pointed out that Vaidehi attained the “perseverance of no-birth” when she saw Amitabha Buddha’s radiance in the Seventh Contemplation. He explained that, with reference to Chapter of Benefits at the end of the sutra, as Vaidehi rejoices and praises, she attains the perseverance of non-production of dharmas.

Master Shandao further said: “How do we know this? It is said below in the Chapter of Benefits: having envisioned the Buddha and the two bodhisattvas, [Vaidehi] rejoiced in her heart in a way she never experienced before. She attained great awakening with clarity of mind and attained the perseverance of no-birth of dharma.”

Master Shandao corrected the comments of many other patriarchs, who thought that attaining perseverance of no-birth of dharma happened when Vaidehi saw the Land appearing at the light altar over Shakyamuni Buddha’s head, as depicted in the preface. Actually, they are two different kinds of benefits of the Buddha’s light.

Two kinds of the Buddha’s lights render two kinds of benefits

Shakyamuni Buddha’s light emits from the eyebrows so that the pure lands of all the buddhas in the 10 directions appear. By seeing Amitabha’s Land of Bliss, whether through meditative practices as said in the Third Contemplation or through the Buddha’s power to see as said in the preface, one can attain rebirth in Amitabha’s Land of Bliss, so as to end the suffering of physical birth and death in stages, related to reincarnation within the Six Realms.

However, by seeing Amitabha Buddha’s radiance, a person can rejoice in his heart, then he can attain the perseverance of no-birth of dharma, which is equivalent to “dwelling in the state of non-retrogression” (Skt: avinivartaniya), or even “attaining buddhahood in one more lifetime” as they can make offerings to the buddhas in the 10 directions.

The above two benefits are considered to be the second and third milestones in the course of achieving buddhahood, and can only be attained by “seeing” Amitabha Buddha, for those who attain rebirth with recourse to “other-power” through exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name, “Namo Amituofo,” as promised by Amitabha’s 11th Vow and the 22nd vow respectively.

With deep faith in the Buddha’s wisdom and vow power, one can “see” the Buddha and sacred beings (the direct reward) in the Land of Bliss, which is called perception in detail. For those who have doubts or no knowledge of the Buddha’s wisdom and vow power, they can only “see” the ground (the circumstantial reward) in the Land of Bliss, which is known as perception in general.

Having said that, the latter have already been reborn in the Land of Bliss, the Reward Land of Amitabha Buddha, so they are assured of achieving buddhahood without any retrogression, although some of their lotus flowers bloom sooner and some bloom later.

* “Perseverance of No-Birth” literally means “not even one single thought arising from mind” or “ending two kinds of birth-and-death forever”, so it is equivalent to “dwelling in the state of non-retrogression” or “entering the path of assurance.” It is a milestone reached and realized by all bodhisattvas along the path of cultivation toward buddhahood because, after this point, they are assured to become a buddha for ultimate emancipation (or to attain the perfect enlightenment) without any retrogression.

Related features from BDG

Additional Benefits of Attaining Rebirth Through Amitabha-Recitation: the Perseverance of No-Birth by “Seeing” the Buddha
Those with Faith in the Name Should Aspire to Rebirth in the Land of Bliss
Shakyamuni Buddha’s Benefits of Being Reborn in the Land of Bliss

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