"Witnessing Buddha Shakyamuni radiating light and showing wonderful signs, Venerable Ananda gave rise to a rare heart and requested an explanation…" (Infinite Life Sutra) In response, the Most Honored One spoke of this convenient, ultimate, straightforward and yet rare treasure of truth.

Convenient means the sutra is both easy to understand and to practice.

Mahayana sutras, such as The Lotus Flower Sutra and The Flower Adornment Sutra, explain the way of becoming enlightened. Nevertheless, both of them are difficult to comprehend and even more so to practice.

The Infinite Life Sutra provides a convenient method while it aims for the highest goal - to become a Buddha.

"At that time, the Buddha radiated a glorious and awe-inspiring light …like that of melting gold. As in a finely polished mirror, the reflection shone through the Buddha's translucent body." (Infinite Life Sutra) All these signs indicated the enlightened nature of his body and mind, like that of a perfectly clear crystal.

"He reflected great radiance and manifested myriad changes." (Infinite Life Sutra) All these were causes for giving this teaching of the sutra.

Why is the Buddha so supremely radiant? Because he is incomparably joyful. This is the happiest day for Buddha Shakyamuni. At last, the opportunity has arisen to give this ultimate and convenient teaching.

While Buddha Shakyamuni was contemplating on Buddha Amitabha, all other Buddhas in the ten directions were contemplating on Buddha Amitabha and propagating this sutra as well. Uniting with others, this brilliant power of concentration was focused through Buddha Shakyamuni, thus making him appear extraordinarily magnificent.

Our face is a reflection of our state of mind. If one harbors a kind heart, it is reflected in a compassionate appearance. If one has a corrupted mind, it is reflected in a cruel face.

The Buddha's appearance is a perfect one. As we are mindful of the Buddha, we will gradually acquire the body and mind of a Buddha; this in turn will be reflected in our bearing.

In all the years Venerable Ananda had been with Buddha Shakyamuni, he had never seen him so magnificent as he was at that time. On the behalf of all sentient beings, Venerable Ananda requested this teaching.

"Venerable Ananda rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt on one knee and placed his palms together in veneration and addressed the Buddha." (Infinite Life Sutra)

When requesting instructions from our teacher, it is appropriate to rise from our seat.

In India, when people wished to show the utmost respect for someone, they would bare their right shoulder and kneel on their right knee. Kneeling on the right knee enables one to rise at anytime to serve the teacher.

When palms are placed together as one, they represent concentration and respect. Separated fingers indicate a scattered mind.

With concentration, one is ready to accept the Buddha's instructions.

Venerable Ananda asked, "World Honored One, today you have entered the great Samadhi…could you explain to me its significance?" (Infinite Life Sutra)

The Buddha was in the Contemplating Buddha Amitabha Samadhi, a perfect
Samadhi.

On this day, Buddha Shakyamuni was practicing a very special method. He was about to speak of a way that equally helps all beings to become enlightened.

In The Diamond Sutra, Venerable Sari-putra had raised two questions. First, where should our minds dwell? Second, how do we overcome our wandering minds? The answer is simple. In the Pure Land School, dwelling in mindfulness of Buddha Amitabha overcomes our wandering thoughts.

All the Buddhas contemplate Buddha Amitabha and the magnificence of the Western Pure Land. This is the way they guide all beings together on the path to enlightenment.

The greatest teacher is one who, without discrimination or bias, teaches all the ways to attain Buddhahood.

Contemplating Buddha Amitabha is contemplating his forty-eight vows, in which every vow is to equally help all sentient beings to become enlightened.

All the Buddhas of the past, present, and future are mindful of Amitabha. Likewise, Buddha Amitabha is mindful of them.

Glossary

Affliction. Condition or cause of pain, distress, and suffering which disturbs the mind and body.

Amitabha (Skrt). A Buddha's name, primarily meaning Infinite Life.

Arhat (Skrt). One who has reached self-realization, a state in which one possesses no erroneous perceptions, views, speech or behavior.

Attachments. Fixed to certain ideas or objects.

Bodhi mind (Skrt). The great compassionate and sincere mind, with every thought to help others.

Bodhisattva (Skrt). One who helps others to reach realization after achieving their own.

Buddha (Skrt). One who has reached perfection in both self-realization and helping others to reach realization.

Delusion. False beliefs, wrong views.

Dharma (Skrt). 1) The teachings of the Buddha (generally capitalized in English); 2) Things, events, phenomena, everything; 3) Duty, law, doctrine.

Dharma-ending Age. The Dharma Perfect Age began with Buddha Shakyamuni's demise and lasted five hundred years, during which Enlightenment was often attained. The Dharma Semblance Age began after that and lasted one thousand years, during which Enlightenment was seldom attained. The Dharma Ending Age that we are now in began after that and will last for ten thousand years during which Enlightenment will rarely be attained.

Eight Afflictions. Absence of embarrassment and shamefulness, and the presence of jealously, stinginess, misdeeds, drowsiness, sleep and agitation.

Five Desires. Wealth, lust, food-drink, fame and sleep.

Five Guidelines. Following: 1) The Three Conditions 2) The Six Principles of Harmony 3) The Three Learnings 4) The Six Paramitas or Principles and 5) Samantabhadra's Ten Great Vows.

Good Fortune. Happiness, intelligence, wellbeing, prosperity etc.

Karma (Skrt). Laws of Cause and Effect, results from thought, speech and behavior.

Mahayana (Skrt). One of the two major branches of Buddhism. Bodhisattva path of helping all sentient beings to attain universal liberation.

Mindfulness of Buddha. Initially the mind remembers Buddha and does not forget. After further cultivation, one constantly contemplates Buddha.

Nine Realms. All ten realms minus the Buddha realm.

Pratyekabuddha (Skrt). One who attains his enlightenment alone, independent of a teacher, with the object of attaining Nirvana for himself rather than that of others.

Pure Land. See Western Pure Land.

Pure Mind or Purity of Mind. One without discrimination or attachments.

Saha world (Skrt). Refers to our solar system, filled with suffering and afflictions, yet gladly endured by its inhabitants.

Samadhi (Skrt). Meditative absorption. Usually denotes the particular final stage of pure concentration and contemplation. There are many degrees and types of Samadhi.

Sangha (Skrt). Group of four or more peoples who properly practice the Buddha's teaching together.

Sentient being. A living being that is aware of itself, one that can experience feeling or sensation.

Six Paramitas or Principles. Giving, precept observation, patience, diligence, concentration and wisdom.

Six Principles of Harmony. 1) Share the same viewpoints or goals. 2) Observe the same precepts. 3) Live and practice together harmoniously. 4) Not quarrel. 5) Experience the inner peace and happiness from practicing together harmoniously. 6) To share benefits equally.

Six Realms. Three upper realms are heavens, asuras and humans. Three lower realms are animals, hungry ghosts and hells.

Six Senses. Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and idea.

Sutra (Skrt). Teaching by the Buddha, initially given verbally, later compiled and written down by the Buddha's students.

Ten Directions. North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, Northwest, Above and Below.

Ten Good Conducts. No killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, abusive language, backbiting, seductive words, greed, anger or ignorance.

Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra. 1) Pay respect to all Buddhas 2) Praise 'Thus Come One" 3) Make offerings extensively 4) Repent of Karmic obstacles 5) Be joyful over others meritorious deeds 6) Appeal to the Buddha to turn the wheel of Buddha's teachings 7) Request the Buddha to reside in this world 8) Constantly be a diligent follower of Buddha's teaching 9) Accord with all sentient beings 10) Dedicate all merits.

Ten Realms. Six realms plus those of Sound-hearers, Pratyekabuddhas, Bodhisattva, Buddhas.

Three Conditions. The first includes being filial and respectful to one's parents and teachers, being compassionate and not killing any living beings and the Ten Good Conducts. The second is following the Three Refuges, precepts, laws and customs, and committing no misdeeds. Third is to generate the Bodhi mind, deeply believe in the Principles of Cause and Effect, recite Mahayana sutras and encourage others to advance on the path to Enlightenment.

Three Learnings. Self-discipline, concentration and wisdom.

Three Poisons. Greed, anger and ignorance.

Western Pure Land. World created by Buddha Amitabha. An ideal place of cultivation, those who are born there are no longer subject to reincarnation.