First and foremost, Pure Land cultivators who wish to enter and penetrate this Dharma must:

• Believe the existence of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is real; and
• Amitabha Buddha will always readily protect and rescue any sentient being who take refuge in him and respectfully have Faith by reciting his virtuous name: Namo Amituofo.
  

Once the Faith is established, the Pure Land cultivators must develop a genuine mind and sincerely pray for liberation from this suffering Saha World in order to gain rebirth to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. This will then enable the cultivators to rely on the unimaginable peace and purity of that Western Pure Land to practice diligently and to attain the ultimate end, thus Enlighten Self, then Enlighten Others

This component is known as Vow and is the second essential necessary for Pure Land cultivators.

After developing Vow, it is absolutely essential for Pure Land cultivators to recite the Amitabha Buddha’s virtuous name, which is to Practice reciting Namo Amituofo.

Continue to practice reciting to the point when the line “Namo Amituofo” and the cultivators’ minds are in harmony and become one (i.e. single-mindedness recitation). Doing so will establish an unfathomable deep connection with Amitabha Buddha as He will rescue and deliver them (to the Pure Land upon death). This component is known as Practice and is the last of the three absolute essentials for those cultivating the Pure Land path.

The three essentials of Faith, Vow, and Practice must follow and accord with one another much like a shadow is to a body or a leg to a three-legged table as all three are equally important. These three components are absolutely essential and cannot be missing from those cultivating Pure Land Buddhism.