Buddhahood in 7 days

Khenpo Tsultrim Lodro

Many scriptures in Sutrayana mention that all Bodhisattvas in Sukhavati on the first bhumi (and above) can attain Buddhahood within 7 days if they so choose.  If they do not wish to attain Buddhahood so quickly but prefer to benefit beings in the form of a Bodhisattva, they can delay the attainment of Buddhahood by some hundreds, thousands or even hundreds of millions of great eons.  The 7 days mentioned here refer to the duration of 7 days in the human realm. 

(Note: A person who is reborn in Sukhavati through the Mahayana path attains first Bhumi immediately after the lotus opens and he beholds Buddha Amitabha. This is due to the blessings of Amitabha.)

From this perspective, if a practitioner concentrates on reciting Amitabha from now till his passing, say, some decades later, and immediately takes rebirth in Sukhavati, it merely takes several decades to attain Buddhahood, even including the 7 days in Sukhavati. 

Although this is not (as fast as the Vajrayana method of) attaining Buddhahood in this very life, if we consider that one can attain Buddhahood so rapidly in Sukhavati, then it seems that there is not a great difference between (these two paths).  Therefore, the practice of Amitabha also brings accomplishment very swiftly (like Vajrayana).

In all the 84000 Dharma methods, apart from these two practices, is there any other practice that allows an ordinary person to attain Buddhahood within a few decades?  The answer is a definite no.  In short, one way is Vajrayana, the other way is Amitabha practice.  These two methods are the most crucial practices.  Tibet has many other Sutric and Tantric practices; Chinese Buddhism also has Chan and other methods, and although these practices each have their unique qualities, there is not one that can compare to Dzogchen and Amitabha practice.

Dzogchen can bring accomplishment very swiftly. However, Dzogchen has its requirements.  The main requirement is the capacity of the student.  Then, one has to find a realized teacher who can give the empowerments and confer the pith instructions.  Dzogchen can only be realized when all the various requirements are fully met.