Continual

If sentient beings in the six paths of any mundane world had no thoughts of killing, they would not have to follow a continual succession of births and deaths.

—Buddha Shakyamuni, Surangama Sutra 6:20

The Further Shore

Discerning persons, learned, do not develop attachment, aversion, or indifference because of pleasure or pain. This is the difference in skillfulness between wise and ordinary persons.

For learned persons who have fathomed the Dharma, clearly seeing this world and the next, desirable things don’t charm the mind, undesirable ones arouse no resistance. Their delight and rejection are scattered, gone to their end, do not exist.

Knowing the dustless, sorrowless state, they discern rightly; they have gone —beyond becoming— to the Further Shore.

—Buddha Shakyamuni, Sutra of the Arrow

Nobly

Noble disciples who grow in five ways grow nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life. What five? Noble disciples grow in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. Noble disciples who grow in these five ways grow nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life.

—Buddha Shakyamuni

Before & After

Since ordinary beings lack the power to save others, we should just remain exclusively mindful of the Buddha, gain birth in the Pure Land, realize the emptiness of phenomena, then return to the triple realms to rescue sentient beings from suffering and undertake enlightened activities far and wide.

—Senkan, Jūgan hosshinki

Three Benefits

There are three types of benefits to be obtained by constantly remaining mindful of the name of the Buddha. First, various unwholesome attentions and internal dialogues will ultimately be prevented from arising. Moreover, obstructions arising from past karma will vanish.

Second, good roots leading to Buddhahood will increase. The practice also enables us to plant the seeds that bring about the karmic conditions for seeing the Buddha.

Third, its influence will help mature those seeds, and we will be able to remain mindful of Amideva at the hour of death.

—Chiko, Muryojukyoron shaku

Even Now

At the time of death, those who possess wholesomeness will obtain, just as they wish, Buddhahood. Why would those possessed of wholesomeness who have removed obstructions not obtain Buddhahood even now?

—Asanga, Mahayanasamgraha

Freedom

When Right View is supported by five factors, it has freedom by compassion and freedom by wisdom as its fruit and benefit. What five? Ethics, learning, contemplation, serenity, and discernment.

When Right View is supported by these five factors, it has freedom by compassion and freedom by wisdom as its fruit and benefit.

—Buddha Shakyamuni