What Dharma Is Cultivated in the Lotus Pedestal After Rebirth?

Original Text of the Amitabha Sutra: In that land, there are constantly various kinds of marvelous, variegated birds. White cranes, peacocks, parrots, sari birds, kalavinkas, and jivamjivaka birds. All these birds, throughout the six periods of day and night, produce harmonious and elegant sounds. Their voices expound and proclaim the Five Roots, the Five Powers, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, the Eightfold Noble Path, and other such Dharmas. Upon hearing these sounds, the beings of that land all bring forth mindfulness of the Buddha, mindfulness of the Dharma, and mindfulness of the Sangha.

Explanation: This passage introduces the circumstances of cultivation for beings in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. In the Land of Ultimate Bliss, there are constantly various kinds of marvelous birds with brilliantly mixed colors, including white cranes, peacocks, parrots, sari birds, kalavinkas, and jivamjivaka birds. These birds produce harmonious and elegant sounds throughout the six periods of day and night. The content they vocalize is the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment. These harmonious sounds are sung for the beings residing within the lotus thrones in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. After hearing them, the beings will recall the kindness and merits of the Three Jewels.

Therefore, beings reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss still need to cultivate the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths and the auxiliary practices of the Path. They still must first contemplate the five aggregates as non-self, laying the foundation for severing the view of self and preparing for the realization of the mind's nature, blossoming to behold the Buddha. When we study Buddhism and cultivate in the Saha World, if we do not study the Agama Sutras, do not understand the Four Noble Truths, and do not cultivate the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment, can we succeed? Cultivating more Dharma and understanding more principles will each add a measure of assurance for rebirth. After reaching the Land of Ultimate Bliss, cultivation will be swifter. Beings reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss are classified as either Mahayana or Hinayana practitioners based on their past vows, aspirations, and the Dharma they cultivated. However, regardless of whether they are Mahayana or Hinayana, all must contemplate the Four Noble Truths and the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment within the lotus throne. Only after subduing afflictions can they emerge from the lotus throne to see the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, hear the Dharma, and have the opportunity to realize the fruits of the Path and perceive the true nature of the mind.