Fundamental origin | by Venerable Jing Ping

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In the Infinite Life Sutra, Amitabha Buddha’s 18th Vow is recorded as follows:

"If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the ten directions, who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, and aspire to be born in my land—even if only invoking my Name as few as ten times—should not be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment."

The six characters we often chant, "Namo Amituofo" (南无阿弥陀佛), have their fundamental origin in this 18th Vow.

Amitabha Buddha's supreme status as the King of All Buddhas is rooted in this transcendental Vow.

Think about it:

Without the 18th Vow, Amitabha Buddha would not exist;

without this Vow, the method of reciting the Buddha’s Name would not have arisen in the world;

without this foundational cause, the entire Pure Land tradition could not have been established;

without this fundamental pledge, no matter how much we recite the Buddha's Name, it would all lose its true meaning.

Conversely, precisely because of this Vow:

Amitabha Buddha was born;

this Vow gave rise to the supreme method of Nianfo (reciting the Buddha’s Name);

this foundation supports the magnificent edifice of the Pure Land Dharma Door;

this pledge ensures that reciting the Buddha's Name will certainly result in rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Ultimately, it is solely because of the 18th Vow that we can, today, recite the Buddha’s Name with complete assurance and aspire to be born in the Pure Land. This everlasting pledge, made countless kalpas ago, is eternally inscribed in the Infinite Life Sutra.

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⧉ Excerpt from The Complete Collection of Venerable Jingping’s Teachings

⧉ Pure Land Buddhism ⧉

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｜Namo Amitabha Buddha｜