Journey to Heaven

Journey to Heaven: Depictions of the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land (2)

   
 

Question:

Over the past few days, Guan Yin Bodhisattva had given me the privilege to observe the wondrous scenes of the Pure Land.

My writing skills are limited; it is impossible for me to describe and depict the Pure Land with the requisite detail. I pray for forgiveness from Guan Yin Bodhisattva, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the Dharma protectors.

23 October 2018 –About the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land

Soft clouds and mist were drifting over a mountain range, golden-coloured phoenixes were flying and dancing in the sky. Their long tails were glittering with gold, looking absolutely stunning. There were Bodhisattvas passing by in the sky towards a pagoda that sat atop the mountains. Inside, the greater Bodhisattvas were teaching the lesser Bodhisattvas. The roof of the pagoda was gold and sparkling, the railings were made from white jade, as were the very pavements. It was an untainted glossy white colour. Outside the corridor of the pagoda was a small pool of incomparably pure water, and at the bottom of the pool was a bed of silky, golden sand that glittered. Then, within the empty pool, a school of carp suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Their colours were all different, and their bodies were shining. After the carp swam around the pool several times, they disappeared into the bed of golden sand.

On top of a white jade table, with a wave of the greater Bodhisattva’s hand, an ethereal image of the universe and various galaxies appeared. It was part of the lesson that the greater Bodhisattva was teaching. Some Bodhisattvas flew towards a massive practice place that was situated inside the mountain range. Outside the entrance of the practice place was a plaque inscribed with the words ‘Guan Yin Village’. In the middle of the village stood a gigantic statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. The Bodhisattvas knelt and paid their respects to the statue. The Guan Yin Bodhisattva statue was shining with an array of dazzling colours.

Outside the practice place, some Bodhisattvas were reciting sutras while sitting, standing or walking around. The Bodhisattvas in the Pure Land could assemble and recite sutras together or discuss the Dharma, or they could choose to meditate and cultivate their concentration alone. That is where the disciples who have attained fruition will go in the future. The Bodhisattva said that they wish that all Buddhists would sincerely and wholeheartedly recite and practise Buddhism so that they could enter the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land when they pass away. There were also many wondrous things that would be shared with the disciples in the future.

24 October 2018 – About the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land

The Pure Land was surrounded by mountains, which were covered by white clouds. Golden lights flickered periodically within the mountain ranges, and where the lights flickered sat a great palace. Palaces could be found throughout the Pure Land. In the middle of a palace were a few huge pool where divine lotuses grew. The pool was surrounded by long corridors on both sides. Monks that were brought to the Pure Land after their death would immerse themselves in the fountain. The pristine water would emit a golden light that would bathe and envelope the monk (sage). After the golden light has retreated, a divine lotus would emerge from the bottom of the fountain and the monk would be sitting on top of it.

Inside the pavilions, Bodhisattvas congregated and dined together. Exquisite dishes and fresh fruits manifested and appeared in front of the Bodhisattvas with a single thought. They consumed and enjoyed the meal with their thoughts. They were absolutely delicious. The Bodhisattvas in the Pure Land would never think about consuming meat dishes. Their thoughts and the words are pure. Buddhists who eat meat could never be reborn in the Pure Land. Unlike the Human Realm, there was no need for tools to cook food. Everything appeared with a single thought. The Guan Yin Villages located in many places of the Human Realm have direct access to the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land, and the practice places of the Guan Yin Villages manifest themselves in the Pure Land.

25 October 2018 – About the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land

It is morning, but there is no differentiation between day and night in the Pure Land. The sky is bright at any time of the day. When a day has passed, the morning bell rings to signal a new day. Bodhisattvas who are deeply immersed in their mediation may not even hear the sound and are concentrated inside their own mental realms. Bodhisattvas in the Pure Land never feel tired; they cultivate, learn the Dharma and recite sutras at any time of day. The lifespan of the Bodhisattvas living in the Pure Lands is infinite; it’s not something that people can comprehend.

Somewhere inside the Pure land, there was a huge stone pillar that was crafted with white jade, and a shiny golden dragon had wrapped itself around it. As I walked closer to the dragon, it slowly flew down from the pillar. A heavenly child got onto its back and flew towards a mountain peak far away. At the mountain peak, there was a Guan Yin Village practice place. The dragon and the heavenly child stopped at a large pavilion, and the dragon wrapped itself around one of the pillars there. Inside, many other heavenly children and dragons were listening to a greater Bodhisattva explaining the sutras.

Not far away, there was an artificial mountain and a flowing river. The flowing river was separated into two, and some of it flowed into a pool at varying paces.  In the depths of the pool were many schools of large carp, and they were shiny and golden, flickering periodically. Not long afterward, the golden lights disappeared and the carp retreated into the bed of golden sand.

Everything in the Pure Land is created with the power of thought. The mountains, rivers, and golden carp could be transformed according to the thoughts of the Bodhisattvas. There was a lotus flower-shaped water fountain in the pool that jetted pristine water into the air which transformed into a golden mist that changed into an array of different vibrant colours and danced around in the air. It was incredibly wondrous. Peacocks roamed on the grassy field and raised their tails to form a shimmering golden fan, singing the sutras that sounded through the air. None of the exotic and magnificent creatures in the Pure Land have a physical body, nor are they formed by sentient beings from the Lower Realms (Evil Paths).

Petals of Mandarava flowers, pink or white, are scattered and drifted in the air throughout the Pure Land. Below a great tree, Bodhisattvas enter a meditative state. They increase their own level of spirituality according to the Dharma sounds that resonate in the background.

26 October 2018 – About the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land

The peacocks, golden dragons and phoenixes that roam the Pure Land were incredibly happy and sang cheerfully constantly. There were Buddhas, sages and noblemen who were arriving from the Amitabha Buddha’s Western Pure Land. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from this Pure Land were invited to listen to the Dharma somewhere in the Land. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas stopped reciting and those who were meditating awakened. The Bodhisattvas who possessed complete supranormal powers stood on top of their divine lotuses and flew towards an open square. The crowd gathered and they were seated high in the sky. Petals scattered across the sky and light fragrance filled the air. Sages of the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land respectfully greeted the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas coming from the Western Pure Land. All of them were glowing and Dharma sounds continuously resonated in the background. The entire realm was filled with Dharma bliss.

27October 2018 – About the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land

In the distance, golden light beamed at the entrance of the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land. A lay Buddhist practitioner who had recently passed away in the Human Realm was brought to the Guan Yin Citta Pure Land. The lay practitioner was blessed by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and escorted to the Merit-Virtue Pool to bathe. The Eight-Treasure Merit-Virtue pool was very big, and the pool of water was glistening with golden light. The lay Buddhist practitioner stepped into the pool and stood atop the water. The water below his feet was churning. It then swirled and slowly engulfed his ankle and then his entire body. All his spiritual body’s defilements, accumulated in the mundane world, were cleansed. Afterwards, his spiritual body recovered its original brilliance. This lay practitioner-turned Bodhisattva had been a permanent vegetarian in his whole life. He recited sutras and cultivated in calmness. He had wholesome thoughts throughout his life and was diligent in performing meritorious deeds. His desire to be reborn in the Land of the Buddha was firm. After his passing, he was blessed and protected by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. With a single thought, he was reborn the Pure Land of the Buddha.

Once cleansed, the lay practitioner-turned Bodhisattva showed an expression of compassion and joy. All the wrinkles on his face disappeared, and his complexion was smooth and vibrant.

Inside the pavilion, an elderly Bodhisattva lightly touched a white jade stone table, and ethereal images of the Saha World and the state of the sentient beings living there appeared. Lower-level Bodhisattvas listened attentively to the wondrous teachings of the Dharma. Seeing the sight of the sentient beings being deluded and confused about what is right and wrong, the Bodhisattvas could not stop lamenting and feel pity.

All the thoughts of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the Pure Land are completely pure. They harbour no ill will nor do they speak evil. All of their thoughts are incomparably pure. Those who desire to be reborn in the Land of the Buddha must cultivate pure mind and speech. There are no unwholesome forms in the Pure Land.

Master Jun Hong Lu’s reply:

Guan Yin Citta Pure Land and the Amitabha Buddha’s Western Pure Land are the same; Just as all clean cities are the same, they are just in two different places. How could any unwholesome form appear in the Pure Lands? But in the Human Realm, can you imagine how many unwholesome forms there are?