Non-retrogressive Stage
by Harold Stewart
The Stage Beyond Relapse, or Right Established State, is that reached on receiving from Amida the gift of pure and perfect Faith through calling his Name. This Non-Retrogressive Stage is the whole-hearted acceptance of the saving and enlightening power of his Vows and Name, after which the devotee can never again fall back into Samsara, the Round of Becoming, to be reborn in one of the unfortunate realms of existence. Although during the remainder of his days on earth the receiver of Amida's Faith must live out the residues of his still unexhausted karma, whose law of equal and opposite action and reaction makes the Wheel of Existence revolve, he is definitely assured of posthumous Rebirth in the virtual Nirvana of the Pure Land, from which actual Nirvana is certain to be attained on hearing Amida Buddha expound the doctrines of the Dharma in his Western Paradise.
