[Buddha-l] Website of the Arya Sanghata Sutra

[Mike Austin]

"[DPD CDT] Shen Shi'an" <shian at kmspks.org> writes

"... even beings who have done utmost evil can be born in Pure Land if 
they repent in time and connect to Amitabha Buddha (Amituofo) via 
practice of mindfulness, to let him share his bountiful merits with one, 
so as to enable the birth. Because the amount of evil done can never be 
greater than a Buddha's perfect ocean of merits, the evil is seriously 
diluted by it. It's beating the law of karma with itself :-] It's 
sometimes taught that the Pureland method is the only way to escape from 
an otherwise hellish rebirth."

My practice is concerned with overcoming delusion and ignorance. However 
karma ripens on me, it is the mind at the time of the ripening that will 
determine whether it is dukkha.  I have the responsibility for purifying 
my own mind. I wonder whether 'Pure Land' really means 'Pure Mind'. If I 
clear out negative emotion and confusion from my mind, it will be 'born' 
into a better state.  The way for me to escape falling into lower states 
is to cultivate respect for the Buddha and the Dharma he taught, because 
that respect guides and strengthens my practice.

-- 
Metta
Mike Austin