Why Could King Ajātaśatru Eliminate His Hellish Karma and Attain Rebirth in the Pure Land?

Due to the obstruction of the karmic retribution for patricide, King Ajatashatru received only a rootless faith (adhimukti) when the Buddha preached to him face-to-face. He did not sever the fundamental view of self to attain the first fruition (Sotapatti-phala), merely reaching the stage preliminary to the first fruition (Sotapatti-phala-pratipannaka). Even this preliminary stage can eliminate the karma leading to the three lower realms, approaching initial liberation, thus enabling rebirth in the Pure Land. Generally, when the Buddha personally preaches and embraces someone face-to-face, as long as their karmic obstacles are not extremely heavy, they will attain fruition—from the first to the fourth fruition. Yet King Ajatashatru did not attain fruition, for the karma of patricide is indeed grave. Nevertheless, this rootless faith was already commendable; attaining the preliminary stage to the first fruition sufficed to eliminate his hell-bound karma.

In a future life, King Ajatashatru may inevitably have to repay his karmic debt by being killed once when he encounters his father again. However, if King Ajatashatru had karmic enmity with his father in a past life, and in this life, he was repaying that past enmity to settle the karmic debt, then the debt would be resolved, requiring no further repayment. In fact, King Ajatashatru’s act of patricide arose precisely due to enmity with his father from a past life; this life was one of retribution. Thus, the karma of patricide was not as heavy, and it was eliminated upon hearing the Buddha’s teaching. Moreover, his father attained fruition; after death, he ascended to heaven and continually followed King Ajatashatru, repenting for his past transgressions, constantly encouraging and blessing him. Consequently, King Ajatashatru developed a mind of shame and remorse, and upon encountering the Buddha’s teaching, his hell-bound karma for patricide was eliminated.

The embracing power of the Buddha, capable of eliminating karma, is immense and unparalleled. King Ajatashatru, whose karma was eliminated, possessed a mind of repentance and remorse; his karmic obstacles were not extremely heavy, and there were antecedent causes. Thus, the result was that King Ajatashatru did not have to descend to hell but was reborn in the Pure Land. Had it not been the Buddha who preached to King Ajatashatru—had it been another Bodhisattva, an Arhat, or an ordinary person—King Ajatashatru might not have attained rootless faith, thereby eliminating his hell-bound karma and achieving rebirth in the Pure Land.

Karma is eliminated through wisdom. Different degrees of wisdom eliminate different levels of karma; when all karma is exhausted, one becomes a Buddha. Eliminating the karma of the six realms of rebirth is the practice level of Arhats of the four fruitions and Pratyekabuddhas. Ordinary beings also eliminate karma, but only superficial karma. Karma has many types and levels; based on individual practice, different levels and types of karma are eliminated. Only by severing all afflictions is karma truly eliminated—eliminated karma is not recreated. Without severing afflictions, some karma, though eliminated, may be recreated when conditions arise. Some people seek not to understand the truth but only to eliminate karma, beseeching Buddhas and Bodhisattvas everywhere to eliminate it. After elimination, they recreate it; such elimination is futile. Only when understanding transforms the mind will karma be eliminated without reappearing. Transforming the mind is one’s own responsibility; others cannot assist.