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The all-embracing compassion of Sakyamuni and Amida
Has awakened in me the aspiration to become a Buddha;
Having been endowed with the transcendent wisdom of faith,
I gratefully acknowledge the Buddhas’ benevolence.
Shozomatsu Wasan

The Six Aspects As the Process of Spiritual Development

The Six Aspects are the natural process of spiritual development for those who encounter Amida.

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Expanding: One opens one’s heart to a possibility of infinite
growth with enlightenment as the goal. The first step is “hearing” the Dharma, which leads to “thinking” deeply and then to “accepting” what Amida offers. Contact with Amida, in whatever way it may be made whether visually by seeing a picture or statue, or aurally by hearing the Name serves to expand one’s spiritual horizon.

When one hears Amida’s Name, rejoices in faith even once through his empowerment and aspires to be born in his land, one will quickly attain birth and dwell in the stage of non-retrogression.
Larger Sutra

The right practice is fivefold: to chant the Pure Land sutras with singleness of mind; to meditate and think deeply on Amida and his land; to worship Amida with singleness of heart; to recite his Name with singleness of mind; and to admire and praise his virtue and make offerings to him with singleness of mind.
Shan-tao, Sanzen Gi
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