Rebirth of Lady Vaidehi and the Five Hundred Attendants
Lady Vaidehi. She was the consort of King Bimbisara of the Kingdom of Magadha. They had a son named Ajatashatru, who, under the influence of Devadatta, his evil companion, imprisoned his father within a seven-layered chamber. Ajatashatru prohibited anyone, including the court officials, from visiting the king. Thus, Lady Vaidehi, who revered King Bimbisara, bathed and purified herself. She then smeared her body with a mixture of ghee, honey and roasted flour and hid grape juice within her jewelry, secretly bringing food to the king to prevent him from starving. Upon learning of this, Ajatashatru immediately took up a sword with the intention of killing his mother. However, two ministers intervened and persuaded him not to. Ajatashatru then confined Lady Vaidehi to the inner palace, forbidding her from leaving. In her confinement, Lady Vaidehi, worn out with sorrow and worry, faced the direction of Vulture Peak and bowed in deep reverence towards the place where Shakyamuni Buddha was located. She said: "World-Honoured One, in the past, you often sent the venerable Ananda to comfort me. Now my heart is filled with sorrow and worry. You, World-Honoured One, are revered for your great virtue and dignity, and I dare not ask you to come in person. May the World-Honoured One please send Venerable Maudgalyayana and Venerable Ananda to see me." After speaking, she wept bitterly, bowing in the direction of Shakyamuni Buddha.
At that moment, Shakyamuni Buddha, on Vulture Peak, understood Lady Vaidehi's thoughts. He instructed Maudgalyayana and Ananda to descend from the sky, while he himself disappeared from Vulture Peak and appeared directly in the royal palace. After Lady Vaidehi bowed at the Buddha’s feet, she lifted her head to gaze up at the Buddha. The World-Honoured One’s body was purple-gold, and he was seated on a lotus decorated with countless treasures. To his left stood Venerable Maudgalyayana, and to his right, Venerable Ananda. Indra, Brahma, and other heavenly protectors showered divine flowers from the skies. Lady Vaidehi, weeping before the Buddha, asked, "World-Honoured One, what karmic offences have I committed in my past lives to have such a wicked and unfilial son? I humbly request you to teach me about a world free of sorrow and suffering, so that I may be reborn there. I take no joy in the impure and painful world of Jambudvipa. This world of the five defilements is filled with hell-beings, hungry ghosts, and animals, along with countless evil things. May I never hear of evil or see evil people in my future lives. I now turn to the World-Honoured One, repenting and seeking mercy. I humbly pray that the Buddha, whose compassion is like the sun, will teach me how to visualise a world filled with pure, virtuous deeds."
At this, the Buddha emitted a great golden light from the urna (an auspicious sign of the Buddha) between his eyebrows, illuminating infinite worlds in the ten directions. The light then returned and rested atop the Buddha’s head, transforming into a golden tower upon which were revealed the pure and wondrous lands of all the Buddhas of the ten directions. Seeing this marvellous scene, Lady Vaidehi said to the Buddha, "Although all these Buddha-lands are majestic and pure, and all are radiant, I wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. I humbly ask you, World-Honoured One, to teach me how to contemplate and achieve correct mindfulness."
The Buddha replied to Lady Vaidehi, "Amitabha Buddha is not far from here. You should completely focus your mind and visualise his Land carefully. I will now explain this in detail, not only for you but also for future beings who practice the Pure Land dharma gate, enabling them to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Those who wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land should practice three types of merits and blessings. First, they should be filial towards their parents, respect and serve their teachers and elders, refrain from killing with a compassionate mind, and practise the ten virtuous acts. Second, they should take refuge in the Three Jewels, keep the various precepts, and refrain from breaking the rules of conduct. Third, they should generate bodhicitta, believe deeply in the law of cause and effect, read and recite the Mahayana sutras, and encourage others to pursue the path of Enlightenment. These three acts are called the correct causes of pure acts.
The Buddha further taught Lady Vaidehi the sixteen visualisation practices. After hearing the Buddha’s teachings, Lady Vaidehi and her five hundred attendants immediately saw the vast and boundless appearance of the Pure Land and saw the radiant, wonderful appearance of Amitabha Buddha along with the two great Bodhisattvas (Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta). Filled with joy, Lady Vaidehi exclaimed that she had never seen such an incredible vision before. Her mind became clear with deep understanding, and she attained the tolerance of non-arising of phenomena. Meanwhile, the five hundred attendants awakened the Bodhi mind and vowed to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. The Buddha gave them all predictions, assuring them of their rebirth in the Western Pure Land. After their rebirth in the Pure Land, they would all realize the Samadhi of the Presence of All Buddhas. (The Sutra of Visualisation of the Buddha of Infinite Life)
- Excerpt from ‘Records of the Pure Land Sages’
