HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche
In short, everyone should generate faith in Amitabha Buddha and strongly aspire
to be reborn in Sukhavati. You must complete the recitation of one million
Amitabha names (in Tibetan).
If you have completed this number and are not able to be born in Sukhavati at
the end of this life, then I would be deceiving you. And, not only me, even
Shakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha would also have deceived you. However, it
is impossible for them to deceive. You ought to have comprehending-faith in the
excellent speech of the World-honored One (Lord Buddha).
The qualities of Sukhavati and so forth are expounded in detail within the
Great Amitabha Sutra. During these fifteen days of the Dharma assembly, I will
teach this Sutra every afternoon. This way, you will gain understanding from
it.
In this Sutra, it is also stated "with the exception of those who have
slandered the authentic Dharma and those who have committed the five
uninterrupted karmas". Therefore, do not commit such grave karmas from now
on — such as killing, slandering/belittling the Dharma and so forth —
otherwise, there is no way you can take birth in Sukhavati right after this
life.
Aside from these negativities, all non-virtues and downfalls committed in the
past should be confessed and purified. In the Sutrayana, there are no methods
taught that can completely purify the karma of slandering the Dharma and the
five uninterrupted karmas. However, there is a way in the Vajrayana.
The supreme antidote for purifying karmic obstacles that is repeatedly praised
is the six-syllable heart-mantra of Vajrasattva (Om Benza Sato Hung). If one
recites this mantra one hundred thousand times in the correct manner, even the
karmic obscurations of having broken root samayas can be purified. This has
been said.
Moreover, it is stated in the Tantras, "The number that is prescribed
during the Age of Perfection must be multiplied by four times during the Age of
Strife." Going by this perspective, the aforementioned karma of slandering
the Dharma and the five uninterrupted karmas can be purified by completing the
recitation of four hundred thousand Vajrasattva heart-mantras in the correct
manner.
Therefore, if one does not lose faith or aspiration while reciting Amitabha’s
name one million times and the Vajrasattva heart-mantra four hundred thousand
times; and, furthermore, does not create new heavy negative karma from now on,
one will be reborn in Sukhavati. I myself have comprehending-faith of this
point.
