CONTENTS 23--Preface 1 25--Preface 2 29--Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra 39--Mantra and Sutra of Usnisa Vijaya Dharani that Eradicates Karmic
Obstruction 42--The Tang Dynasty Records of Buddhapala in Wu Tai Mountain 44--The Miracle Stories of the Revised Usnisa Vijaya Dharani 51--Efficacious Records of Usnisa Vijaya Dharani
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Diligently cultivating the three profound skills to eliminate the three poisons, turning oneself away from defilement and being awakened to enlightenment, have been the principles propagated through the ages. With reference to complete practice and cultivation, there are eighty-four thousand Dharma-doors of which each and every Dharma-door will lead to the shore of Nirvana. However, prevailing in this Dharma-ending Age are sentient beings Iiving in the evil world of the five turbidities with poor foundation in Dharma cultivation, with the five skandhas blazing in strength, and their karmic hindrances deep and formidable. Hence, the chosen Dharma-door must be suitable for this period and in accordance with the cultivator's original qualities. Therefore, one should not be ignorant of the right selection. Buddha's Power Protects and Saves Beings Though there are many Dharma-doors within the Buddha
Dharma for cultivation leading to Buddhahood, essentially there are only two main
Dharma-doors - those depending on "self effort" and those depending on
"others' effort" (with the power and assistance of the Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas). The "self effort" of sentient beings is very limited and to
achieve some rneasure of success, it would be extremely difficult. However, the "Pure
Land" and "Dharani" Dharma-doors employing "others' effort" in
cultivation display phenomenal success. For example, an ordinary layman, so long as he
believes, vows, upholds and recites Amitahha Buddha's name for seven days to achieve a
single mind without any confusion, would be ablc to obtain a rebirth in the Land of
Ultimate Bliss. Even those sentient beings who have committed various bad karma, just
before the end of their lives, if they repent and reform, and are able to be mindful of
Amitabha Buddha in ten successive thoughts, would all be reborn in the Pure Land. Once
reborn in Ihe Land ofUltimate Bliss, they could immediately leap beyond the three realms
(i.e. realm of desire, form and formless), not falling into transmigration, non-retreating
until they become Ekajati-pmtibadda and |