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| A palace for those of the embryonic birth - Larger Sutra Mandala |
In these sections Shakyamuni Buddha
explains the causes and characteristics of two types of beings born in the Pure
Land: 1) those born in “the embryonic
state” and 2) those “born by
transformation”.
I already explained the Primal Vow (18th) in detail and
showed that faith in Amida’s Power is the cause of birth in the Pure Land. However,
the situation is that not all practitioners are able to give up entirely the
attachment to their personal power in reaching birth in the Pure Land:
“If there are sentient beings who do various meritorious deeds,
aspiring for birth in that land while still entertaining doubt, such beings are
unable to comprehend the Buddha wisdom, inconceivable wisdom, ineffable wisdom,
boundless Mahayana wisdom, and incomparable, unequalled, and unsurpassed
supreme wisdom. Although they doubt these wisdoms, they still believe in
retribution for evil and reward for virtue and so cultivate a store of merit,
aspiring for birth in that land.’Such beings are born in a palace, where they
dwell for five hundred years without being able to behold the Buddha, hear his
exposition of the Dharma, or see the hosts of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas. For this reason,
that type of birth in the Pure Land is called the ‘embryonic state.’”
