The Pure Land Text of Master Ciyun Chan
The source of “The Pure Land Text of Master Ciyun Chan” (also known as the “Small Pure Land Text”) is a work composed by the Song Dynasty Tiantai master, Venerable Ciyun Zunshi (964–1032).
Main Benefits and Practice Rewards
- Eliminating karma and increasing blessings: Through the karmic connection of reciting the Buddha’s name, and by relying on Amitabha Buddha’s compassionate vows, one can eliminate sins from past lives and increase wholesome roots, blessings, and merit.
- Peaceful at the end of life: May one, at the time of death, know in advance when the time has come, with the body free from illness and suffering, the mind free from attachment, and the thoughts unconfused, peaceful as if entering meditation.
- Received and guided by the Buddha: May Amitabha Buddha and the holy assembly come to welcome one, holding golden platforms in their hands, and in the blink of an eye be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
- Swiftly realizing Bodhi: In the Pure Land, upon the opening of the lotus flower one sees the Buddha, instantly awakens to the Buddha’s wisdom, and then is able to widely save sentient beings, fulfilling the great vow of perfect Buddhahood.
The original text is as follows:
With one mind, I take refuge and entrust my life to Amitabha Buddha of the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
May your pure light shine upon me, and may your compassionate vows gather me in.
Now I maintain right mindfulness, recite the Tathagata’s name, and for the path to Bodhi seek rebirth in the Pure Land.
In the Buddha’s former fundamental vow, if any sentient being wishes to be born in my land, with sincere faith and delight, even up to ten recitations, and if they are not born there, I will not attain perfect enlightenment.
By this karmic connection of reciting the Buddha’s name, may I enter the Tathagata’s great ocean of vows.
Relying on the Buddha’s compassionate power, all sins are extinguished and wholesome roots increase.
If, at the end of life, one knows for oneself that the time has come, with the body free from illness and suffering, the mind free from attachment, and the thoughts unconfused, as if entering meditation.
May the Buddha and the holy assembly appear before me to welcome me, and in an instant may I be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
When the lotus opens, may I see the Buddha, immediately hear the Buddha’s teaching, instantly awaken to the Buddha’s wisdom, widely save sentient beings, and fulfill the vow of Bodhi.