Pure Land Buddhism

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Pure Land Buddhism (traditional Chinese: 淨土宗; simplified Chinese: 净土宗, Jìngtǔzōng; Japanese: 浄土教, Jōdokyō; Korean: 정토종, jeongtojong; Vietnamese: 浄土宗, Tịnh Độ Tông), also sometimes referred to as Amidism^[1][2], is a broad branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism and currently one of the most popular schools of Buddhism in East Asia, along with Chán. In Chinese Buddhism, most monks practise it, some combining it with Chan (Zen).^[3] It is a devotional or "faith"-oriented branch of Buddhism focused on Amitābha Buddha.

Pure Land Buddhism is often found within Mahāyāna Buddhist practices such as the Chinese Tiantai school, or Japanese Shingon Buddhism. However, Pure Land Buddhism is also an independent school as seen in the Japanese Jōdo Shū and Jōdo Shinshū schools. There is not one "school" of Pure Land Buddhism per se, but rather it is a large subset of the Mahāyāna branch of Buddhism.

One key concept behind Pure Land Buddhism is that Nirvana has become increasingly difficult to obtain through meditative practices. Pure Land Buddhism teaches that through devotion alone, to Amitābha Buddha, one will be reborn in the Pure Land, a perfect heavenly abode, in which enlightenment is guaranteed. Pure Land Buddhism was popular among commoners and monastics as it provided a straightforward way of expressing faith as a Buddhist. In medieval Japan it was also popular among those on the outskirts of society, such as prostitutes and social outcasts, who were often denied spiritual services by society but could still find some form of religious practice through worshiping Buddha Amitābha.

Contents 1 Overview 2 The Pure Land 3 Pure Land Practice 4 Eastern Pure Land 5 See also 6 Notes 7 Further reading 8 External links

[edit] Overview

Pure Land Buddhism is based on the Pure Land sutras said by some to have first been brought to China as early as 148 CE, when the Parthian monk Ān Shìgāo (安世高) began translating sutras into Chinese in the imperial capital of Luòyáng [洛陽 (洛阳)] during the Hàn [漢 (汉)] dynasty at the White Horse Temple [白馬寺 (白马寺) Báimǎ Sì]. The Kushan monk Lokakśema, who arrived in Luòyáng two decades after Ān Shìgāo, is often attributed with the earliest translations of the core sutras of Pure Land Buddhism. These sutras describe Amitābha and his heaven-like Pure Land, called Sukhāvatī.

Although Amitābha Buddha was mentioned, or featured in, a number of Buddhist sutras, the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life is often considered the most important and definitive. In this sutra, the Buddha describes to his assistant, Ānanda, how Amitābha, as an advanced monk named Dharmakara, made a great series of vows to save all beings, and through his great merit, created a realm called the Land of Bliss (Sukhāvatī).^[4] This paradise would later come to be known as the Pure Land in Chinese translation.

Pure Land Buddhism played a minor role in early Indian Buddhism, particular the Mahāyāna branch, but first became prominent with the founding of a monastery upon the top of Mount Lushan by Hui-yuan in 402. It spread throughout China quickly and was systematized by a series of elite-monastic thinkers, namely, Tanluan, Daochuo, Shandao, and other. 613–681). The religious movement spread to Japan and slowly grew in prominence. Hōnen (1133–1212) established Pure Land Buddhism as an independent sect in Japan, known as Jōdo Shu. The Buddhist Encyclopedia published another version of lineage that includes 13 Patriarchs of Pure Land Buddhism. Today Pure Land is, together with Chan (Zen), the dominant form of Buddhism in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Contemporary Pure Land traditions see the Buddha Amitābha preaching the Dharma in his buddha-field (sa. buddhakṣetra), called the "Pure Land" (zh. 净土, pinyin jìngtǔ, jp. 浄土 jōdo, vi. Tịnh độ) or "Western Pureland" (Ch. 西天, pinyin xītiān), a region offering respite from karmic transmigration. The Vietnamese also use the term Tây Phương Cực Lạc (西方極樂) for "Western Land of Bliss", or more accurately, "Western Paradise". In such traditions, entering the Pure Land is popularly perceived as equivalent to the attainment of enlightenment. After practitioners attain enlightenment in the Pure Land, rather than becoming a Buddha and entering nirvana, they will return to the six realms as bodhisattvas and help deluded beings in samsara.

Thus, adherents believe that Amitābha Buddha provided an alternate practice towards attaining enlightenment: the Pure Land. In Pure Land Buddhist thought, Enlightenment is difficult to obtain without the assistance of Amitābha Buddha, because people are now living in a degenerate era, known as the Age of Dharma Decline. Instead of solitary meditative work toward enlightenment, Pure Land Buddhism teaches that devotion to Amitābha will lead one to the Pure Land from which enlightenment will be guaranteed.

In medieval East Asian culture, this belief was particularly popular among peasants, and individuals who were considered "impure", such as hunters, fishermen, those who tan hides, prostitutes and so on. Pure Land Buddhism provided a way to practice Buddhism for those who were not capable of practicing other forms. In fact, in the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life the Amitābha Buddha makes 48 vows, and the 18th Vow states that Amitābha will grant rebirth to his Pure Land anyone who can recite his name as little as 10 times.^[5].

[edit] The Pure Land

The Pure Land is described in the Limitless Life Sutra as a land of beauty that surpasses all other realms. More importantly for the Pure Land practitioner, once one has been "born" into this land, birth occurs painlessly through lotus flowers, one will never again be reborn. In the Pure Land one will be personally instructed by Amitabha Buddha and numerous Bodhisattvas until one reaches full and complete enlightenment. In effect, being born into the Pure Land is akin to achieving enlightenment, through escaping samsara the Buddhist concept of "the wheel of birth and death."

[edit] Pure Land Practice

It is believed, that if practitioners chant Amitābha Buddha's name, or the nembutsu, when their current life comes to an end they can be received with their karma by Amitābha Buddha (帶業往生). This fairly simple form of veneration has contributed greatly to its popularity throughout East Asia. This practice is called nembutsu in Japanese, or Buddha recitation or "Being Mindful of the Buddha."

Another alternate practice found in Pure Land Buddhism is meditation or contemplation of Amitābha and/or his Pure Land. The basis for this is found in the Contemplation Sutra, where The Buddha describes to Queen Vaidehi what Amitābha looks like, and how to meditate upon him.^[6] Visualization practices for Amitābha are more popular among esoteric Buddhist practices, such as Japanese Shingon Buddhism, while the nianfo is more popular among lay followers.

[edit] Eastern Pure Land

In esoteric Vajrayāna Buddhism, Amitābha's Western Pure Land (Sukhāvatī) is the counterpart to Akṣobhya's Eastern Pure Land, or Abhirati. While especially recognized by the Japanese Shingon sect, Eastern Pure Land Buddhism is less popular than Western Pure Land Buddhism.

[edit] See also

Japanese Buddhism

Schools Tendai • Shingon Pure Land • Zen Nichiren

Founders Saichō • Kūkai Hōnen • Shinran Dōgen • Eisai • Ingen Nichiren

Sacred Texts Avatamsaka Sutra Lotus Sutra Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra Infinite Life Sutra

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• Jōdo Shū
• Hongaku Jodo
• Jōdo Shinshū
• Hōnen
• Shinran
• Ippen
• Yuzu Nembutsu
• Buddhism in China
• Faith in Buddhism
• Phowa
• Chionin Temple

[edit] Notes

[edit] Further reading

• Eitel, Ernest J. Hand-Book of Chinese Buddhism, being a Sanskrit-Chinese Dictionary with Vocabularies of Buddhist Terms in Pali, Singhalese, Siamese, Burmese, Tibetan, Mongolian and Japanese (Second Edition). New Delhi, Madras: Asian Educational Services. 1992.

[edit] External links

• Jōdo Shū Buddhism official website
• Jōdo Shinshū Official Site
• Amitabha Buddhist Society of U.S.A.
• The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
• Amitabha Pure Land Web (in English)
• Pure Land Buddhism: The Path of Serene Trust, a short overview of Pure Land Buddhism
• Amitabha Education Network
• Master Chin Kung, a promoter of Pure Land Buddhism
• Hongaku Jodo Compassionate Lotus tradition An American Pure Land Buddhist Association
• Amida Trust A UK Pure Land Charity
• Tibetan wishing prayer of Sukhavati/Dewachen, The pure realm of great bliss
• A brief teaching on The wishing prayer of Sukhavati/Dewachen, The pure realm of great bliss

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