What is the skilful means of the Bodhisattvas, by which they transfer all merit to others? It consists in five practices: bowing, praising, making vows, contemplating, and dedicating whatever merit and stock of good they have accumulated to all beings.
They do not wish for themselves alone to indulge in the uninterrupted bliss of Amideva’s support and maintenance, but desire to eradicate the suffering of all the sentient beings in the world. They thus pray that they will accept and sustain all beings, and together with them be born in the Pure Land of Bliss.
—Arya Vasubandhu, Treatise on the Pure Land
