Amitabha Buddha Personal Deity Secret Pith Instruction should be referring to with a “single-minded concentration”, which means “mind and thought with single-mindedness, and not distracted.”
“Single-minded concentration” means “single-mindedness and not confused.”
As long as one is with a single-minded concentration and firmly believes in Amitabha Buddha’ original vow, one can achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Living Buddha Lian Sheng believes that Amitabha Buddha’s Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss liberates countless beings because there are nine grades of lotus rebirth in that world. These nine grades are:
Highest Birth in the Superior Grade, a virtuous person who cultivates to the highest level of Mahayana Buddhism. At the time of death they are received by Amitabha Buddha, riding on a vajra lotus throne, instantly attaining rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They see the Buddha, transcend birth and death, and attain the fruition of Tolerance of Non-Arising Dharmas.
Middle Birth in the Superior Grade, a virtuous person who cultivates and is second only to those who cultivate to the highest level of Mahayana Buddhism. At the time of death, they are received by Amitabha Buddha, ride on a purple-golden lotus throne, and are reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They see the Buddha and attain non-retrogression. After one small kalpa, they attain the fruition of Tolerance of Non-Arising Dharmas.
Lesser Birth in the Superior Grade, a virtuous person who cultivates and is just below those who cultivate to the higher levels of Mahayana Buddhism. At the time of death, they are received by Amitabha Buddha, ride on a golden lotus throne, and are reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They see and hear the dharma and after three kalpas, they attain the fruition of the Joyful Stage.
Highest Birth in the Medium Grade, a virtuous person who cultivates to the highest level of Hinayana Buddhism. At the time of death, they are received by Amitabha Buddha and are reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They hear the Four Noble Truths and attain Arhatship.
Middle Birth in the Medium Grade, a virtuous person who cultivates the lesser good deeds of Hinayana Buddhism. At the time of death, they are received by the Buddha and are reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. After half a kalpa, they attain Arhatship.
Lesser Birth in the Medium Grade, a person who performs worldly good deeds. At the time of death, they hear of the Buddha’s virtues and are reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. After a kalpa, they attain Arhatship.
Highest Birth in the Minor Grade, a person who has committed minor offenses of the ten evil deeds. At the time of death, they recite the Buddha’s name, they can eliminate the karma of five billion kalpas of birth and death and be reborn in the jeweled pond of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. After forty-nine days, the lotus flower will open, and then they will be able to hear the Dharma.
Middle Birth in the Minor Grade, a person who has committed minor precepts-breaking offenses. At the time of death, they recite the Buddha’s name and they can be absolved of the karma of one billion kalpas of birth and death and be reborn in the jeweled pond of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. After six kalpas, the lotus flower will open, and then they will be able to hear the Dharma.
Lowest Birth in the Minor Grade, a person who has committed the five heinous crimes. At the time of death, if they recite the Buddha’s name ten times, while reciting they can be spared the sins of eight billion kalpas of birth and death and be reborn in a lotus flower in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. After twelve kalpas, then they will be able to hear the Dharma.
This is the distinction among the nine grades of lotus rebirth. And I also understood that, within these nine grades, even those who have committed minor sins of the Ten Unwholesome Deeds, minor sins of breaking the precepts, and serious sins of the Five Heinous Crimes can be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss just because they single-mindedly recite the Buddha’s name at the moment of death.
It can be seen how transcendent the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is, Amitabha Buddha’s original vow is indeed magnificent, this is an Immeasurable Life Buddha who is foremost in saving sentient beings.
Personally, I think that to be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, one only needs to recite the Buddha’s name with “single-minded concentration.” It seems easy, but it is actually quite difficult because “single-minded concentration” also requires the “Ten Grades of Faiths” as a foundation. To be able to recite the Buddha’s name, one must first have faith, and that faith must be firm and unwavering.
These “Ten Grades of Faiths” are:
The mind and truth is in harmony, unwavering and steadfast, extinguishing all delusional thoughts, this is called “Mind of Faith”.
Though in the midst of innumerable kalpas, relinquishing one body and taking on another, this one present thought is decided not to be forgotten, this is called “Mind of Mindfulness”.
To be free from distraction is called concentrated, not retrogression is called progressing. Focusing solely on one Buddha is called “Mind of Diligence.”
When the mind is pure and one practices diligently, wisdom naturally arises, this is called “Mind of Wisdom.”
When all distractions are shattered to pieces, the essence of the mind is profoundly clear and still, this is called “Mind of Concentration.”
As the light of meditative concentration manifests, one progresses in cultivation without slacking, this is called “Mind of Non-Regression.”
When one advances diligently and one’s practice becomes pure, preserving it without loss, and one’s spiritual current becomes connected with the Buddhas of the ten directions, this is called “Mind of Protecting the Dharma.”
Preserving the power of cultivation, intersecting with the light of the Buddhas, this is called “Mind of Dedication.”
Abiding in pure precepts, with the light of mind constantly focused, this is called “Mind of Precepts.”
Traveling throughout the ten directions, instructing and guiding sentient beings, fulfilling all their wishes, this is called “Mind of Vows.”
With these “Ten Grades of Faiths”, one is certain of rebirth in the Pure Land.
The Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is extraordinary due to its four Pure Lands:
the Land where Sages and Ordinary Mortals Dwell Together,
the Land of Expedient Liberation,
the Land of Real Reward and Adornments, and
the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light.
The Land where Sages and Ordinary Mortals Dwell Together, in particular, allows one to be reborn there with unresolved karma. This is regarded as a great expedient means throughout all ages. In this supreme lotus paradise realm, one can transform the impermanent mind of an ordinary person into the non-arising and non-ceasing Bodhicitta.
When practitioners of Tantric Buddhism cultivate esoteric practices, they visualize themselves as the only present Amitabha Buddha in this world, with the past Amitabha Buddha above and the future Amitabha Buddha below. The Amitabha Buddha above transforms into light drops and descends, while the Amitabha Buddha below transforms into light drops and ascends. Thus, the past, present, and future merge into one, and the ten directions of the world merge into one, transforming into the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
This is the extremely profound secret teaching of “extending vertically through the three periods of time as one instant, and pervading horizontally throughout the ten directions as one whole.”
The mantra to recite is “Om Ah Mee Deh Wah Seh.”
The mudra is “Dharma Realm Meditation Mudra.”
One can do the esoteric practice of Amitabha Buddha Personal Deity, with unwavering faith, single-minded concentration, then at the moment of death they can recite the sacred name Amitabha Buddha, seal all the pores of the body while leaving the Brahmarandhra [crown apex opening] unsealed, and chant the syllable “Hum” once. The Primordial Spirit will shoot out through the crown whereupon the Three Nobles ones of the West will manifest before one and one will be lotus reborn.
