Mindful Visualization of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth (to Western Pure Land)
A Mindfulness Practice Taught by Sakyamuni Buddha
Mindful Visualization of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth to the World of Sukhāvatī (the Land of Ultimate Bliss) is the last of the sixteen visualization techniques directly extolled by Sakyamuni Buddha to Queen Vaidehi, the queen of the city Rajagrha, some 2,500 years ago in response to her yearning for a place to be reborn that is free of afflictions and sufferings.
Queen Vaidehi requested Sakyamuni Buddha to teach her how to visualize such a place where she may hear no evil words, see no evil beings, and be reborn there. Among all the Buddha-lands that were revealed, the Queen chose to reborn in the Western Pure Land (the Land of Ultimate Bliss). This preaching, known as the Visualization Sutra, was then passed on to all of us sentient beings in this world.
What’s better than learning to practice mindfulness directly from our teacher, the Buddha? Let’s dive into the words of the Buddha for this Visualization.
The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi,
“The sentient beings in the highest level of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth are those who have committed myriad evil acts. Although they do not slander the Vaipulya sutras, these deluded beings repeatedly perform evil deeds, yet feel no remorse.
“When their lives are about to end, they meet a virtuous and learned teacher who praises for them the names and titles of the Mahayana sutras of the twelve divisions. By hearing the names of these sutras, the heavy and evil karma binding them to birth-and-death for a thousand eons is eliminated. This learned teacher also teaches them to press their palms together and recite ‘Namo Buddha Amitabha.’ Because they recite the Buddha’s name, the evil karma binding them to birth-and-death for a hundred million eons is eliminated.
“At that time, the Buddha sends a miraculously created Buddha, a miraculously created Avalokitesvara and a miraculously created Mahasthamaprapta, who appear before the aspirants and praise each of them, saying, ‘Well done, child of a good family! Because you have recited the Buddha’s name, your evil karma has been eliminated. We have come to welcome you.’
“After these words have been spoken, each aspirant immediately sees the miraculously created Buddha, whose rays of light completely fill the room. Having seen this, the aspirants are filled with joy and their lives come to an end. Riding atop a jeweled lotus flower, each practitioner follows behind the miraculously created Buddha and is reborn in a jeweled lake.
“After seven weeks, the lotus flower opens. When this flower unfolds, the greatly compassionate Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta send forth great rays of light and, standing before the aspirant, expound the profound sutras of the twelve divisions. Upon hearing this, the aspirant accepts it in faith and awakens the mind that aspires for the Highest Perfect Enlightenment. After ten small eons pass, the aspirant attains the hundred wisdom gates of the Dharma and enter the first stage of a Bodhisattva.
“These are called the sentient beings in the highest level of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth; and being able to hear the name of the Buddha, the name of the Dharma, and the name of the Sangha — that is, the Three Treasures — these sentient beings immediately attain rebirth.”
The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi,
“The sentient beings in the middle level of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth are those who violate the Five Precepts, the Eight Abstinences, and the complete set of precepts for monks. Such deluded people steal the property of the Sangha, take the personal belongings of the monks, preach the Dharma with impure intent, and feel no remorse. These deluded people defile themselves with these evil deeds, and because of this will fall into hell.
“When the lives of such people about to end, and the fires of hell simultaneously close upon them, they meet a virtuous and learned teacher who, with great compassion, praises and explains the majestic virtue, and ten powers of the Buddha Amitabha, praises fully the transcendental powers of that Buddha’s light, and further praises the virtues of that Buddha who accomplished the precepts, the meditation, the wisdom, the liberation, and the awareness of that liberation.
“When these people have heard these things, the evil karma binding them to birth-and-death for eight hundred million eons is eliminated. Hell’s fierce flames are then transformed into pure, cool breezes that gently blow upon heavenly flowers. On top of each flower is a miraculously created Buddha and miraculously created Bodhisattvas who come to welcome these people. And in a single moment of thought, they are each reborn inside a lotus flower in a seven-jeweled lake.
“After six eons pass, the lotus flowers unfold. When the flowers open, Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta reassure them using the Brahma voice and expound the profound Mahayana sutras. Upon hearing this Dharma, each person at once awakens the mind that aspires for the highest enlightenment. These are called the sentient beings of the middle level of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth.”
The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi,
“The sentient beings in the lowest level of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth are those who commit such evil acts as the Five Grave Offenses and the Ten Transgressions, and are burdened with various kinds of evil. These foolish beings, because of their evil karma, shall fall into the evil realms of existence, and experience endless suffering for many eons.
“When the life of such a foolish person is about to end, this person meets a virtuous and learned teacher who provides various kinds of comfort, expounds the exquisite Dharma, and urges mindfulness of the Buddha. If that person is too tormented by pain to be mindful of the Buddha, the virtuous friend says, ‘If you are unable to be mindful of the Buddha, you should recite the name of and take refuge in the Buddha of Immeasurable Life.’ And so, with a sincere mind and an uninterrupted voice, this person says, ‘Namo Buddha Amitabha’ even as few as ten times, and because this person says the Buddha’s name, with every repetition, the evil karma binding this person to birth-and-death for eight million eons is eliminated.
“When the lives of such people come to an end, a sun-like golden lotus flower appears in front of them. And in the interval of a single thought-moment, each person will immediately attain rebirth inside a lotus flower in the Realm of Ultimate Bliss.
“After twelve great eons, the lotus flower opens. When the flower unfolds, Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta, using the Brahma voice, proclaim for each person the way to eliminate evil karma through the realization of the true nature of all existence. Upon hearing this, each person is filled with joy and, at that moment, awakens the mind that aspires for enlightenment. These are called the sentient beings of the lowest level of the Lowest Grade of Rebirth. This perception of the sentient beings in the Lowest Grade of Rebirth is called the sixteenth visualization.”
Consider it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come across and practice this method, as one will then achieve non-retrogression (no falling back to lower realms) to ultimately attain the Highest Perfect Enlightenment.
By the power of his forty-eight vows, Amitabha has made it possible for all sentient beings who call upon him to be reborn into the Western Pure Land, there to receive direct Dharma teachings by him, and ultimately become Buddhas in their turn. From there, these same Buddhas will return to our world to help yet more people to reborn in the Land of Sukhāvatī.
If anyone is interested in learning the entire sixteen visualizations, one may read the full sutra text of the Visualization Sutra.
Set aside time to practice it everyday. Immerse your mind in this visualization and cultivate a pure mind with the Land of Sukhāvatī. Amitabha Buddha is speaking the Dharma there right now.
[ Previous: Middle Grade of Rebirth ]
Resources:
Visualization Sutra — Full sutra text
Five Pure Land Sutras
Amitabha Mindful Chanting Music Collection
