Not just 3 aeons, it's 3 great asam-kheya kalpas. And if you
fall into 3 evil realms, it's gonna be a very long time.
Don't mention hell for the moment, just talk about the hungry
ghosts realm. A rebirth there guarantees you a very long lifespan.
Long enough for you to feel as if you are in hell for you
constantly feel hungry and thirsty and whatever comes near your
mouth burns instantly into ashes.
Why choose to take the super long path, when a chance to gain
liberation in one lifetime is before us?
I seriously don't think anyone of us here wants to follow in the
path of Devadatta. The statement come from the Lotus
Sutra and it does gives hope and reassurance, as it is from
Buddha himself. Nevertheless, it is the wish of all Buddhas that
all sentient beings achieve complete liberation as quickly as
possible.
According to Master Chin Kung or some verses in scriptures, even
the most shallow level of hell is quite unconceivable
in degree and length of period of suffering.
I remember an analogy by the Buddha towards Venerable Ananda:
"If an arrow shoots into your chest, how painful do you feel?"
"Very painful indeed."
"Hellish suffering is equivalent to thousand arrows shooting
into your chest at the same time, Ananda."
The above example refers only to hell sufferings after death.
What about while we are alive? Is there no hell on earth? There is.
Famine, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis and so on..
If you think these are very serious, wait till you suffer in the
most shallow of hells after death, it's almost unspeakable...
No matter what path you take, you will still have to practice to
attain Buddhahood. And it depends on how you practice -- if you do
evil, of course you end up in hell. But not every practitioner will
do evil such as Devadatta.
Of course, being reborn in pure land is much better than to be
reborn in hell. As my dharma teacher said it depends on one's
capacity also, if a person is dying and is not enlightened or
liberated, it is best to ask him to chant Amitabha and seek rebirth
in pure land. If that person's practice is already there, my dharma
teacher wld simply remind him/her of the dharma and chant heart
sutra mantra for him. He wld be liberated into clear light at the
time of death.
Also... I do not think going to pure land means you no longer
need to practice. Pure land simply provides the favourable
conditions for you. If you did not attain enlightenment while you
are still living, you will still have to practice for a very long
time in pure land before the lotus flower opens and you meet
Amitabha and realise the unborn. Those who realised the unborn in
this lifetime may not need to go through this period of time, and
immediately see Amitabha, or simply enter into Ji Guang Jing Tu
immediately after death and not having a 7th consciousness or
'zhong yin sheng'.
Another thing is that to even be reborn in pure land, we still
have to practice to gain the conditions to be reborn in pure
land.
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol7no2e.htm
9. Besides chanting Amitabha Buddha, what else should one
practise?
Practitioners
of the method of chanting the Buddha's name not only recite
"Amitabha Buddha", but in addition should also cultivate merits. It
is stated in the Amitabha Sutra that rebirth in the Western Pure
Land is not possible via conditions that are lacking in virtuous
roots, blessings and merits. For instance, when we have practised
and perfected the Six Parameters (1. Observing the Precepts, 2.
Endurance, 3. Giving, 4. Zeal and Progress, 5. Meditation, and 6.
Wisdom), then to be reborn in the Western Pure Land is a simple
matter. If you have accomplished a mind that is as pure as the
Amitabha Buddha's, then there is no necessity for Amitabha Buddha
to come and guide you to the Western Pure Land. At that time you
are already a great Bodhisattva. Not only can a great Bodhisattva
go the Western Pure Land; he can go to any pure land as he
pleases.
