“The Buddha said
to Ananda, ‘The lifespan of Amitayus (Amida) is so long that it is impossible
for anyone to calculate it. To give an illustration, let us suppose that all
the innumerable sentient beings in the worlds of the ten directions were reborn
in human form and that every one became a sravaka or pratyekabuddha. Even if
they assembled in one place, concentrated their thoughts, and exercised the
power of their wisdom to the utmost to reckon the length of the Buddha’s
lifespan by the number of kalpas, even after a thousand million kalpas they could
still not reach its limit. So it is with the lifespan of sravakas,
bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, and human beings in His land. Similarly, it is
not to be encompassed by any means of reckoning or by any metaphorical expression.
Again, the number of sravakas and bodhisattvas living there is incalculable.
They are fully endowed with transcendent wisdom and free in their exercise of
majestic power; they could hold the entire world in their hands.’”[1]
This fragment is
related with the 13th Vow of Amida, which I already explained in the
section dedicated to the 48th Vows.