This is a fragment from my
Commentary on the Smaller Amida Sutra (Amidakyo)
- work in progress and under constant revision -
The key for
understanding section 3 is the passage where Shakyamuni explains to Sariputra
the origin of the birds in the Pure Land,
“Again,
Śāriputra, in that land there are always many kinds of rare and beautiful birds
of various colors, such as white geese, peacocks, parrots, śāris, kalaviṅkas,
and jīvaṃjīvakas. Six times during the day and night birds sing with
melodious and delicate sounds, which proclaim such teachings as the five roots
of good, the five powers, the seven practices leading to Enlightenment, and the
Noble Eightfold Path. On hearing them, all the people of that land become mindful
of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Śāriputra, you should not assume that
these birds are born as retribution for evil karma. The reason is that none
of the three evil realms exists in that Buddha land. Śāriputra, even the
names of the three evil realms do not exist there; how much less the realms
themselves! These birds are manifested by Amitāyus (Amida) so that their
singing can proclaim and spread the Dharma.”
The
above comes after He described the various other manifestations like trees,
balustrades, decorative nets, ponds, pavilions, lotuses and mandarava flowers,
music, etc. It is clear that just as the birds in the Pure Land are “manifested
by Amitayus (Amida)”, everything there is manifested by Him, because He is
the creator of His own enlightened realm. If beings in the various samsaric
planes of existence have bodies according to their karma and may become objects
of desire for other beings, birds in the Pure Land proclaim Buddhist teachings
and help those born there to naturally “become mindful of the Buddha, Dharma
and Sangha”.
Thus,
the birds of the Pure Land as well as the passages quoted bellow, prove that
the Pure Land is a real enlightened place, outside of Samsara and can naturally
enlighten those who enter it,
“None
of the three evil realms exists in that Buddha land. Even the names of the
three evil realms do not exist there; how much less the realms themselves!”
“Śāriputra,
why is that land called Utmost Bliss? The beings in that land suffer no pain
but only enjoy pleasures of various kinds. For this reason, that land is called
Utmost Bliss.”
“They
(the lotuses of the Pure Land) are marvellous and beautiful, fragrant and
pure.”
“When
soft breezes waft through the rows of jeweled trees and jeweled nets they
produce subtle, wonderful sounds. It is as if a hundred thousand musical
instruments were playing together. Everyone who hears the sounds spontaneously
becomes mindful of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Śāriputra, that Buddha land is filled with such splendid adornmemts”Amida
Buddha provides the dwellers of His Pure Land with all they need to make
offerings to various Buddhas:
“Six
times during the day and night māndārava flowers rain down
from the sky. Every day, in the serenity of early morning, the people of that
land fill the hems of their robes with exquisite flowers and go to make
offerings to a hundred thousand koṭis of Buddhas dwelling in the worlds of all
the other directions. Then they return to the Pure Land for their morning meal.
After the meal they enjoy a stroll. Śāriputra, the Land of Utmost Bliss is
filled with such splendid adornments.”
The
meal is also part of the splendid and enlightened adornments of the Pure Land
which do not give rise to attachment and greed. The fact that meal appears
regularly, such as “morning meal” in the above passage shows that the dwellers
of the Pure Land are constantly and naturally satisfied with spiritual
nourishment.
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