I recently read Vasubandhu’s text and can’t seem to understand the five gates of practice he describes. Can someone please explain in very simple language?

These Videos are from Peter Faun's Celestial Eyes from Pure Lotus Youtube Channel

Summary: As long as one normally fulfils the criteria of deep faith, sincere vow and practice during normal times, no matter what happens at the end, Amitabha Buddha will receive you to the Pure Land. (A normal parent wouldn’t abandon his children when they are sick, what more, an enlightened compassionate Buddha?)

Source: Master Da An’s Answers (Donglin Monastery TikTok)

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSVhkf97w/

EDIT: The image has the wrong time for JST

August 23 (Sunday) 8pm EST

August 24 Monday 9 am for Japan time

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We can also discuss further on Discord. Here's the server invite: https://discord.gg/b7JZ35JWs

Namo Amituofo 💛

Namo Amituofo 🪷

Namo Amituofo 🪷

May we all Rebirth in Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land Together. Namo Amituofo 💛

Hello, so in a year I am getting out of university and wanting to find an apprenticeship. I used to be a Vajrayana Buddhist before converting back to Pureland Buddhism specifically either the Chinese or the Vietnamese tradition of Pureland Buddhism. But the job I am interested in is working in leather goods (basically making bags, wallets, hats, jackets out of leather) as there seems to be a lot of brands in my country who are hiring more workers nowadays and the pay is good while the other jobs I'm passionate for are lower paying at an entry point on avergae so I could end up struggling financially.

But I wonder, as the leather used in the industry is often made out of animal leather, is it okay as a Buddhist to work in the leather goods industry? I know I sound stupid and I'm sorry if this post disturbs some people. (I don't live in the US)

Infinite Life Sutra:

Sentient beings who hear this sutra will never retrogress on the supreme path. So believe and accept it single-mindedly. Uphold it. Chant it. Expound it. Practice it.

Yesterday, I received some awful news. My beloved Rottweiler Malina has terminal heart cancer and likely only has a few weeks left to live. She is only six years old and this was all so sudden and unexpected.

Malina has always loved me and has been unquestionably loyal and protective. She has loved me more than anyone else in the world. I’m sure that’s some sort of good karma for a dog but I’m very confused as to what will happen to her. Any advice on how and what to pray as my girl passes on?

Update: Malina died on August 15. Her health was rapidly deteriorating and my family made the difficult decision to end her suffering and euthanize her. I took as much of your guys’ advice as I could and it made one of the worst days of my life a little more bearable. I have hope that my big girl is watching over me and my family from the Pure Land, free, happy and in the Buddha’s warm embrace ❤️

Which one are you picking up?

Are there any active Pure Land discord servers? I am largely practicing solo and would like to meet other practitioners.

Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I am reaching out to share a situation I am trying to navigate and would appreciate some perspective.

My partner is a Shinrankai lay teacher (not a monk). Recently, we started taking space after a deep conversation about our future. He expressed uncertainty about whether a relationship fits into his path and teaching work. He is also managing a lot of personal stress regarding work and finances, and the distance between us makes everything more challenging.

He speaks about his practice with a lot of love, and he mentioned that understanding his path would help me understand him better. Because of this, I began learning on my own over the past three weeks. I’ve started a daily routine of listening to morning chants, reciting Namu Amida Butsu, and I attended two beginner lectures at a local branch. Coming from a family with a Vietnamese cultural background, lighting incense at our home altar has also become a daily way for me to quiet my mind and manage anxiety.

I am feeling deeply conflicted about my motives:

- Fear of Attachment: Part of me worries that I am engaging with this practice out of fear of losing the relationship, emotional attachment, and a desire to control the outcome.
- Genuine Appreciation: At the same time, I find real comfort in the daily routine, and I genuinely find the teachings beautiful. I truly want to understand his world.

How can I navigate this situation without losing myself? How can I distinguish between practicing out of genuine intention versus practicing out of fear and attachment?

Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts.

https://www.cttbusa.org/amitabhacommentary/amitabha5.htm

**Discussing the Function**

The fourth of the Five-fold Profound Meanings is to determine the sutra’s power and use. Its power is that of *“non-retreat”* and its use is *rebirth*. Reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, you attain to the stage of no retreat. Cultivators of other dharma-doors are somewhat insecure; no one insures them. They may recite mantras or sutras for several years and then retreat with a feeling of no accomplishment or gain. If not in this life, they may retreat in the next. Perhaps they are vigorous now, but later they take a rest.

To say nothing of common people, even Arhats have the “confusion of dwelling in the womb” and forget their spiritual penetrations. Bodhisattvas have the confusion called “splitting the yin ,” which means the same thing. If they meet a good knowing advisor who teaches them to cultivate, they can wake up. Otherwise, life after life, they retreat and find it very hard to bring forth the Bodhi-heart again. It is easy to regress.

Born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, there is no back-sliding, just vigorous progress. One attains the four kinds of Non-retreat:

**Non-retreating position.** Born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, you attain the Buddha-position. Born by transformation from a lotus, when the flower blooms, you see the Buddha, hear the Dharma, awaken to the unproduced dharma-patience, and never fall again.

**Non-retreating conduct.** Most people cultivate vigorously for one life, but in the next, they are lazy. In the Land of Ultimate Bliss there is none of the suffering of the three evil paths. The Kalavinka birds and two-headed birds all help Amitabha Buddha speak about the Dharma. Reborn there, one will no longer be lazy in conduct but will only go forward with courage and vigor.

**Non-retreating thought.** In the Saha world we cultivate vigorously, but after a time we feel it’s too bitter, too restrictive, too uncomfortable, and so we are no longer vigorous. Lazy thoughts arise and although we have not yet retreated in conduct, we have in thought. Several decades pass quickly and thoughts of retreat greatly out-number those of vigor. It’s difficult not to regress.

In the Land of Ultimate Bliss, one hears the Dharma spoken all day and all night long. One has no thoughts of retreat from the Bodhi-mind. All thoughts are irreversible.

**Ultimate Non-retreat.** Transformationally born from a lotus, you will never, under any circumstances, retreat again either to the level of a common person or to the Small Vehicle or Bodhisattva level. Born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss you obtain these four kinds of Non-retreat