Mistakened Aspirations

The ultimate goal of all Buddhist methods and practices is to escape Birth and Death and achieve Buddhahood, as the Buddhas did. This being the case, any other aspirations are mistaken and not in accord with the true intention of the Buddhas. Thus, such aspirations as rebirth as a male or as a king in the realms of gods and men, or even as a high-ranking master known far and wide, are questionable. These goals fall short of the ultimate aim of liberation. They can even be dangerous, given the weak nature of sentient beings, as power and influence provide the opportunity for heavy transgressions. Thus, the merits accrued in this lifetime are potential enemies of the third lifetime. (Pure-Land Zen, Zen Pure-Land)