Only we can help ourselves

in the Western Pure Land. The Patriarch replied that
the Pure Land is very near for those of superior wisdom
but very far for those of inferior roots. He added,
“The deluded person recites the Buddha’s name seeking
rebirth there, while the wise person purifies his own
mind.” From this it is obvious that our mind (or heart)
is very important.
In the Buddha’s teaching the world is the creation
of consciousness or mind. A pure mind creates a happy
world, an evil mind creates a woeful world. So purifying
the mind is most important for rebirth into a happy
world, not chanting or praying or making vows.
This is another important principle of kamma we
should remember. No one can change the working of
the natural law of kamma. All beings are subject to the
law of kamma-vipāka, even the Buddha. The Buddha explained
the Truth or Reality of the natural laws of existence
to us, but they exist all the time, whether we understand
them or not.
KAMMA AND CONDITIONS
The result of kamma is different for different people (A.N.
3.99). Besides the factor of intention, it also depends on
the person who does the kamma and the person the
kamma is done to. For instance, a small evil deed done
by a person who is undeveloped in moral conduct, mind
29