The Sutra of the Buddha's Discourse on the Visualization of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life: Rebirth in the Three Grades and Nine Levels

The World-Honored One expounds in the Sutra of Contemplation that sentient beings can be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss through nine grades, categorized into upper, middle, and lower tiers. Rebirth in the upper tier is attained by those who resolve to cultivate the Mahayana path, tread the great Bodhi way, vow to awaken to their innate wisdom and perceive their true nature, and extensively benefit immeasurable sentient beings. Rebirth in the middle tier is for those with the aspiration of the Hinayana, seeking only personal liberation from the suffering of birth and death. Rebirth in the lower tier is for those who have committed grave misdeeds but, at the moment of death, manifest virtuous roots and decisively attain rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Those of the highest grade of the upper tier, upon rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, do not dwell within a lotus but directly behold Amitābha Buddha and hear the Dharma from him. This is because such individuals, while in the Sahā world, had already awakened to their innate wisdom and perceived their true nature, having eradicated beginningless ignorance and the view of self. Thus, they need not undergo further cultivation of the Mahayana within the lotus palaces. When they see the Buddha, they can comprehend the profound Mahayana Dharma taught by Amitābha and immediately attain the patient endurance of the uncreated, thereby entering the Tathāgata’s family as a bodhisattva on the stages of realization. They attain vast and profound wisdom, then emanate bodies throughout the ten directions to make offerings to all Buddhas and liberate sentient beings according to conditions.

Those of the middle grade of the upper tier have not yet awakened to their innate wisdom and perceived their true nature but can recite and study the extensive Mahayana scriptures. Upon reaching the Land of Ultimate Bliss in the snap of a finger, they dwell within a lotus for one night in the Pure Land, equivalent to half a great kalpa in the Sahā world. They then emerge from the lotus and, after seven days in the Pure Land, see the Buddha and hear the Dharma, attaining enlightenment as non-regressing bodhisattvas. After one small kalpa in the Pure Land, they become first-stage bodhisattvas and enter the Tathāgata’s family.

One day in the Land of Ultimate Bliss equals one great kalpa in the Sahā world, which is as long as 16.8 million years multiplied by eighty. Those of the lowest grade of the upper tier dwell within a lotus for one day and night in the Pure Land, equivalent to one great kalpa in the Sahā world. They then emerge from the lotus and, after seven days in the Pure Land, see the Buddha, though not yet clearly. After another twenty-one days in the Pure Land, they hear the Dharma from the Buddha, awaken to their innate wisdom, and perceive their true nature. After three small kalpas in the Pure Land, they become first-stage bodhisattvas and enter the Tathāgata’s family.

Rebirth in the middle tier generally pertains to those of Hinayana disposition who have not aroused the Mahayana Bodhi mind and do not need to recite Mahayana scriptures. Those of the highest grade of the middle tier, upon reaching the Pure Land, directly see the Buddha and, upon hearing the Dharma, become great Arhats endowed with the three insights and six supernatural powers, equivalent in status to Śāriputra and Mahāmaudgalyāyana. Those of the middle grade of the middle tier dwell within a lotus for seven days in the Pure Land. After emerging, they attain the fruit of Stream-Entry and, after half a kalpa in the Pure Land, become Arhats of the fourth fruit. Those of the lowest grade of the middle tier dwell within a lotus for twenty-one days in the Pure Land. After emerging, they hear the Dharma and attain the fruit of Stream-Entry. After one small kalpa in the Pure Land, they attain the fourth fruit of Arhatship and, empowered by the Buddha’s blessings, forever refrain from entering the remainderless nirvāṇa. Instead, they turn their minds to practicing the Mahayana Dharma.

Rebirth in the lower tier is for those who have committed grave misdeeds, and they dwell within the lotuses of the Pure Land for an extremely long time.