It is mentioned in the Amitabha Sutra that, by focus-ing the mind one-pointedly on the continuous chanting of the Buddha's name for a period of one to seven days, one can be reborn to Sukhavati.1 This is the exoteric school's method to achieve Buddhahood in seven days. That is, during the several days before one dies, if one engages in the chanting of the Buddha's epithet with a one-pointed mind, one will encounter Amitabha and his two attendants from the Western Pure Land. The three holy beings from Sukhavati will manifest to guide one to be reborn there. This is known as the method of "attaining Buddhahood in seven days."

In esoteric or Tantric Buddhism, there is also a very secret and special method of "attaining Buddhahood in seven days." Has anyone already learned of this practice? If no one has, then I will talk about it. Otherwise, if you already know, there is no need to talk about it. It seems that none of you have heard of it. Today you are really getting a bargain - you can attain Buddhahood in seven days. You have earned for yourself the round-trip tickets just by listening to this talk.

Actually, the Buddha-Tantric way of attaining Buddhahood in seven days is very simple, just as simple as that of the exoteric way. Consider this, chanting the Buddha's name using the exoteric way, from one to seven days, with a one-pointed mind, one is able to attain Buddhahood.

How does the Buddha-Tantric way of attaining Buddhahood in seven days work? It only entails "visualization." What does one visualize? One visualizes the seed syllable of all Buddhas: AH.

At the time of dying, one visualizes a moon disc with the seed syllable AH in the middle of the moon disc.

The seed syllable AH represents the Buddhas. This is known as the visualization of the seed syllable AH. The left half of the seed syllable AH looks like the number 5. Isn't there a hook? When you are dying, visualize the appearance of this AH. Then, you visualize yourself transform into the syllable HUM. Just these two syllables: AH and HUM.

You visualize your body transforming into the syllable HUM. Your head becomes a sun disc. What is a sun disc? Doesn't the top part of the syllable HUM consist of a circle with a dot on top? It is a circle, a hoop. You visualize your head turn into this circle and your body into the rest of the syllable HUM. In the Empty Space, there is a moon disc with an AH. The hook of the AH lowers itself until it engages the circle of the syllable HUM. Can you do this visualization?

From the Empty Space, the syllable AH lowers the hook of its left side until it goes through the sun disc of the syllable HUM of your body. As you are lying there, focus on the image of the engagement of these two syllables (AH-HUM, AH-HUM, AH-HUM) while chanting their sounds.

The sound AH is very easy to enunciate! As soon as we are born, it is the uttering of the sound AH that we cry out. When someone hits us, we yell, "Ah, it hurts!" At the time of dying, when one is in pain, one also utters, "Ah! I can't take it anymore!" Take a look at the crows here in Seattle. They are calling out "AH" every morning. This syllable AH is the origin of all seed syllables. Human beings cry out "AH" at the time of birth as well as at the time of death.

So, by remembering the hook from AH engaging the circle of the HUM, you will not fall down. You are already being hooked up! As soon as you die and stop breathing, this linkage will pull you up to attain Buddhahood. This is the Buddha-Tantra's method of "attaining Buddhahood in seven days."

As long as your visualization of AH-HUM ripens, you will be linked with the syllable AH, which is the common seed syllable of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and you will not fall but will be reborn to Sukhavati.

To an old person who has never learned or practiced the Buddhadharma, you can teach him what the syllable AH looks like. After he has learned to visualize it, you then teach him the syllable HUM and its visualization. Next show him how to use the hook from the AH to link up with the circle of the HUM. Then teach him to chant just these two sounds, AH-HUM, AH-HUM, AH-HUM...., and he will not fall down but will be reborn to Sukhavati. This is because, once one dies and stops breathing, when one's HUM and one's AH are mature, the hooking and connection of the two will result in rebirth to Sukhavati. Since AH is the Buddhas, when you are being hooked onto the Buddhas, how can you fall into the hells? You will not be born into the six realms of transmigration. This is the esoteric way of attaining Buddhahood in seven days.

In the exoteric way, you have to chant the Buddha's name with a one-pointed focus of mind until the three holy beings from Sukhavati manifest to guide you to attain Buddhahood. If they do not manifest, it is possible that you may fall down to the realm of hells.

The esoteric way is different! The syllable AH is the Buddhas, and the Buddhas will definitely emerge because you are the one who is visualizing it. The syllable HUM will definitely emerge, because your body has already been transformed into HUM. When you chant AH-HUM from morning until night and visualize yourself transformed into HUM which is hooked by AH, this linkage will absolutely ensure your spirit and consciousness to be reborn to Sukhavati!

This is a secret very few people are aware of: the hook from AH engages the sun disc of HUM and pulls you upwards to be reborn to the Pure Land of Amitabha.

A one-pointedness of mind assures Buddhahood. A maturation of the visualization assures Buddhahood. It is very simple! You can achieve this visualization effectively even in one day and attain Buddhahood. You don't even need seven days. At the critical moment when you don't have time to do anything else, you can engage in this visualization and attain Buddhahood in a flash! This is because you have the seed syllable from the Buddhas hooking onto you and hauling you up.

There are tremendous benefits in this practice. This is the only method that Tibetan rinpoches and lamas would teach at the time when one is dying. Quickly think of the syllable AH, then think of your body turning into the syllable HUM, and quickly engage the hook from the AH through the HUM.

Why is this visualization so effective? Because Sanskrit and Tibetan words originated from the spiritual realm. They have been transmitted by the Brahmadeva and represent the original consciousness of the Buddhas. The syllable AH is employed in many practices in the Buddha-Tantra.

During ordinary times, engage in the visualization of AH. When the time arises, transform your body into the syllable HUM. When they hook up with each other, you arrive in Buddhahood!

Om Mani Padme Hum!

Question from a student, "Does this practice require an empowerment?"

Grand Master replies, "One only needs the empowerment of the Visualization of the Syllable AH! Amitabha!"

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