Mindful Visualization of the Middle Grade of Rebirth (to Western Pure Land)
A Mindfulness Practice Taught by Sakyamuni Buddha
Mindful Visualization of the Middle Grade of Rebirth to the World of Sukhāvatī (the Land of Ultimate Bliss) is the 15th 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 reborn in the highest level of the Middle Grade of Rebirth are those who have upheld the Five Precepts, observed the Eight Abstinences, have cultivated the practice of the precepts, have not committed the Five Grave Offenses, and are free from various other faults. Transferring the merits of these roots of virtue for rebirth, they aspire to be reborn in the Realm of Ultimate Bliss in the Western Quarter.
“When their lives are about to end, these beings will be met by Buddha Amitabha, who surrounded by a host of bhiksus and attendant-followers, sends forth golden rays of light. Coming to each person, they proclaim the teachings of suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self, praising the renunciation of the world which enables one to be freed from suffering.
“After seeing this, each aspirant’s heart is filled with great joy, and each is then self-seen sitting on a lotus-flower pedestal. Dropping to their knees, the aspirants press their palms together, bowing to the Buddha in homage; and even before their heads are raised, rebirth in the Realm of Ultimate Bliss is attained.
“Immediately, the lotus flower opens, and when the flower unfolds, each aspirant hears a variety of sounds and voices praising the Four Noble Truths. Instantly, the aspirant attains the Stage of an Arhat, acquires the three kinds of transcendent knowledge, and the six supernatural powers, and realizes the eight samadhis of liberation. These are called the sentient beings in the highest level of the Middle Grade of Rebirth.
“The sentient beings reborn in the middle level of the Middle Grade of Rebirth are those who, for at least one day and one night observe the Eight Abstinences; or for one day and one night observe the shramanera [novice] precepts; or for one day and one night observe the complete set of precepts for monks, their majestic deportment lacking nothing. Transferring the merit of these virtuous acts for rebirth, they aspire to be reborn in the Realm of Ultimate Bliss.
“Permeated with the fragrance of these precepts, such an aspirant, when life is about to end, sees the Buddha Amitabha and the host of attendant-followers approaching. Sending forth golden rays of light, the Buddha comes before this practitioner carrying a seven-jeweled lotus flower. The aspirant then hears a voice from the sky saying, ‘Child of a good family, as you are a virtuous person who has followed the teachings of the Buddhas of past, present, and future, I have come to welcome you.’ The aspirant is then self-seen sitting on a lotus flower which then closes, and rebirth in a jeweled lake of the Realm of Ultimate Bliss of the Western Quarter ensues.
“After seven days pass, the lotus flower unfolds. When the flower is fully open, the aspirant, whose eyes are now opened, places palms together and praises the World-Honored One. Hearing the Dharma, the aspirant is filled with joy, and attains the Stage of a Stream-Winner; then after half an eon, the Stage of Arhat is attained. These are called the sentient beings of the middle level of the Middle Grade of Rebirth.
“The sentient beings reborn in the lowest level of the Middle Grade of Rebirth are those good sons or good daughters who attend dutifully to their parents and do benevolent deeds for others.
“When the lives of these people are about to end, they encounter a virtuous and learned teacher who fully explains the bliss of the Land of the Buddha Amitabha and also expounds the Forty-Eight Great Vows of the Bhiksu Dharmakara. Having heard these things, they soon come to the end of their lives, and in the time it takes for a vigorous person to bend and extend an arm, the aspirants are reborn into the Realm of Ultimate Bliss of the Western Quarter.
“Seven days after that rebirth, the practitioners meet Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta. Hearing the Dharma, they are filled with joy and attain the Stage of Stream-Winner; then after one small eon passes, they attain the Stage of Arhat. These are called the sentient beings of the lowest level of the Middle Grade of Rebirth. Performing this visualization is called the right visualization. If one performs other visualizations, that is called an incorrect 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: Superior Grade of Rebirth | Next: Lowest Grade of Rebirth ]
Resources:
Visualization Sutra — Full sutra text
Five Pure Land Sutras
Amitabha Mindful Chanting Music Collection
