“Then Ananda rose from his seat, stepped forward, and
said to the Buddha, ‘World-honoured One, what should we call this sutra and how
should we receive and retain the essentials of its teaching?’
The Buddha answered, ‘Ananda, this sutra is called the
‘Visualization of the Land of Utmost Bliss of Buddha Amitayus and of
Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta.’ It is also called
the ‘Purification and Elimination of Karmic Hindrances for Attaining Birth in
the Presence of All Buddhas.’ Hold fast to this sutra and do not forget it.
Those who practice this samadhi will be able to see, during their lifetime,
Buddha Amitayus and the two Mahasattvas. If good men or women simply hear the Name
of this Buddha or the names of those two Bodhisattvas, the evil karma that
would bind them to birth and death for innumerable kalpas will be extinguished.
And so, how much more merit will they acquire if they
concentrate on them! You should know that all who are mindful of that Buddha
are like white lotus flowers among humankind; Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara
and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta become their good friends. They will sit in
the seat of Enlightenment and be born into the family of the Buddhas.’
The Buddha further said to Ananda, ‘Bear these words
well in mind. To bear these words in mind means to hold fast to the Name of
Buddha Amitayus (Amida).”
When the Buddha had spoken thus, Venerable Mahamaudgalyayana,
Venerable Ananda, Vaidehi, and all the others greatly rejoiced to hear the Buddha’s
discourse.”[1]
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