Pure Land Buddhism

Buddhism is a general term for the philosophy taught by Siddhartha Gautama. He is also known as Buddha Sakyamuni or "the historical Buddha." At the time when Buddha Sakyamuni was alive there was only one tradition. After his passing many people had different views on how to practice, and what were the most important surtas. Different groups started to form with people who had similar ideas. There were traditionalists, called Theravadians. Mahayanist, the other major group, divided into many sub groups. One group forming out of Mahayana Buddhist thought is Pure Land Buddhism.

Pure Land Buddhism is based on three surtas taught by Buddha Sakyamuni. The Amitabha Sutra, Infinite Life Sutra, and the Contemplation Sutra all discuss a practice that focuses on devotion to a Buddha named Amitabha. These surtas are said to be special, because Buddha Sakyamuni taught them without being asked. The Buddha was sitting quietly and suddenly smiled. Ananada, his faithful attendant, asked, "You seem different today. What is it?" The Buddha then spoke of Amitabha for the first time.

The Amitabha Sutra is a description of a King who became a monk, Dharmakara, who lived long a ago. Dharmakara practiced Buddhism for many lifetimes, and made forty-eight vows. In his vows, Dharmakara, explained all his wishes that he wanted after he became a Buddha. All deal with the creation of a Buddha land where we can be reborn. Amitabha's land is called Sukavati, and is the perfect environment to become enlightened. Our world, Samsara, is filled with too much suffering to become enlightened, since it's the Dharma Ending Age in Buddhism. Vows 18-20 are said to be the most important.

Vow 18 states: "Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who after having heard my name, and thus awakened their highest faith and aspiration of rebirth in that country of mine, even if they have recollected such a thought for ten times only, they are destined to be born there, with the exception of those who have committed the five deadly sins, and who have blasphemed the orthodox law, otherwise may I not attain enlightenment."

Vow 19 states: "Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who have directed their thoughts towards the Bodhi and cultivated their stock of various merits with a fervent craving for rebirth in that country of mine, if at that moment of their death, should I not appear with an assembly of retinue before them, the may I not attain the enlightenment."

Vow 20 states: " Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters, after having heard my name always longing for that country of mine and cultivating various essential merits for the purpose of realizing their earnest wish to be born in my country, should their fulfillment be failed, then may I not attain enlightenment."

When asked if Dharmakara had become a Buddha yet Buddha Sakyamuni replied, "Yes." All forty-eight vows have been completed. If you wish to be born in Amitabha's land just follow the vows 18, 19, or 20. All that's required is faith in Amitabha, a vow to be reborn in Sukavati, and the practice of calling his name.

Faith is the settling of doubts. The Avatamsaka Sutrateaches: "Faith is the basis of the Path, the mother of virtues nourishing and growing all good ways... Faith can assure arrival at enlightenment." "If we lose Faith, not only will our base for progress in the Way crumble, but none of our liberating deeds will succeed. This Faith is not blind faith, but is Faith grounded in wisdom, based entirely on the words of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Patriarch's, as taught in the sutras," explained Dharma Master Thich Thien Tam. Faith may be small at first, but as time goes on it grows to be as large as a mountain.

Vows are needed to confirm that you undoubtedly want to be reborn in Amitabha's Land. Vow's also express humility and compassion. Dharmakara made 48 vows to save every being ever born in samara. That's true limitless compassion. We should follow his example and vow to born in Sukavati, so we may offer help to others. Dedicating merits, the good karma produced from positive actions, to all others is a display of compassion also.

A popular Pure Land Buddhism vow:

I vow as my life is ending,
that all obstructions will be swepted away.
I will see Amitabha Buddha,
and be reborn into His Land of peace and bliss.

Practice is the act of calling on Amitahba Buddha. In vow 18 it states that only ten thoughts are needed to be reborn in Buddha's land. Pure Land practitioners commonly chant the sacred mantra, "Namo Amitabha Buddha." This mantra is chanted ten times, then the vow above is chanted. The more chants the better your focus becomes, so chanting all day is a practice used to calm the mind. Besides the ten chant method, and the unlimited chant method, another way is the use of a mala. A mala has 108 beads and is good for meditation chanting.

China practices a traditional form of Pure Land and takes the vows literal. They chant as much as possible and dedicate all merits to be reborn in Amitabha's land. The sacred mantra in Chinese is, "Namo Amitoufo." Chinese Pure Land Buddhism suggests that there are nine stages in Sukavati, and the more merits that are accumulated the higher the rebirth.

Japanese Pure Land Buddhism is known as Jodo Shinsu. Named after Shinran Shonin a former Tendi Buddhist monk. Shinran was unhappy with his practice and sought help from Honen. Honen was the monk who taught Shinran about Pure Land Buddhism. Shinran then developed his own views on Buddhism. Shinran taught that regardless of merit, race, class, ect. Amitabha saves all. Shinran believed that faith was a gift from Amitabha, called shinjin. He believed that awakening to the saving grace of Amida Buddha was the central matter. Continuous chanting of the sacred mantra, known as nembutsu, was not necessary. The nembutsu should be said as a form of gratitude, and not as a way to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. Nembutsu in Japanese is, "Namo Amida Butsu."

Pure Land Buddhism is very popular in Asian countries. It is beginning to surface in the US and the UK as more sutras are being translated into English. Buddhism is an excellent path for health reasons, spiritual reasons, or any reason at all! Some benefits are compassion, tranquility, and wisdom.