9th Condition to Arise Bodhi Mind
Aspiring Toward Rebirth in the Western Pure Land
Master Xing’an (1686–1734), the 11th Patriarch of the Chinese Pure Land School, has composed “An Inspiration to Give Rise to the Bodhi Mind” when he experienced sudden enlightenment and generated the great vows of enlightenment for all sentient beings.
Master Xing’an emphasized the importance of generating the true Bodhi mind and making a vow in cultivation, urging that our goal is to be reborn in the Western Pure Land and then we will return to this world to liberate other sentient beings.
An Inspiration to Give Rise to the Bodhi Mind
Ninth Criterion: Aspiring toward rebirth in the Pure Land
Why should we aspire to rebirth in the Pure Land?
While cultivating in this world, it is very difficult to make progress on the Way. In the Pure Land, it is very easy to attain Buddhahood.
Because it is so easy, one may attain Buddhahood in one lifetime. Because it is so difficult here, one may not attain it even after many kalpas.
Therefore, sages and saints of the past have all followed this direction. It is discoursed in ten thousand sutras and treatises, and numerous teachings point to this Way. It is the most ideal method of cultivation in the Age of Declining Dharma.
But the sutra also states that little merits and virtues will not cause one to be reborn in the Pure Land; only abundant merit does. It is said that to increase merits, the best way is to chant the Buddha’s name; to increase wholesomeness, the best way is to initiate the Bodhi mind.
A moment of chanting earns more merits than a hundred years of giving. One instance of initiating a great mind surpasses many kalpas of cultivation. In chanting the Buddha’s name, one inherently hopes to become a Buddha; if one does not initiate a great mind, then how is it useful to recite the Buddha’s name?
Making the initiation of a great mind is inherent to cultivation. If one is not reborn in the Pure Land, then even with the initiation of a great mind, it is easy to retreat.
Therefore, one must first sow the seed of Bodhi, plow by chanting the (Amitabha) Buddha’s name, and then the fruit of Buddhahood will naturally increase. If we board the boat of great vows and sail into the sea of the Pure Land, then we will certainly be reborn in the Pure Land. This is the ninth cause and condition for the initiation of Bodhi mind.
Continued …
Tenth criterion: Being mindful of the importance of preserving the right dharma for a long time
Ten Causes and Conditions that Help Initiate the Bodhi Mind
The Bodhi mind is the king of all wholesomeness, yet there must be some causes and conditions that lead one to set one’s mind on Bodhi. Here are ten causes and conditions that help one to initiate the Bodhi mind.
- Being mindful of the Buddha’s deep kindness.
- Being mindful of our parents’ deep kindness.
- Being mindful of our teachers’ deep kindness.
- Being mindful of our benefactors’ deep kindness.
- Being mindful of all sentient beings’ deep kindness.
- Being mindful of the suffering of life and death.
- Having respect for our own spiritual being.
- Being repentant of karmic hindrances.
- Aspiring toward rebirth in the Pure Land.
- Being mindful of the importance of preserving the right Dharma for a long time.
The above is excerpted from the masterpiece “An Inspiration to Give Rise to the Bodhi Mind” (勸發菩提心文) authored by Master Xing’an 省庵大師 (1686–1734), originally composed in Chinese and was translated into English. Translation credits to Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center.
