Pure Land Buddhism 197710 225420339 2008-07-13T16:25:07Z Yew bo 7353398 /* External links */ {{unreferenced|date=February 2008}} [[Image:Chinese temple bouddha.jpg|thumb|275px|[[Amitabha|Amitābha]] Buddha and two bodhisattvas ([[Avalokiteshvara|Avalokiteśvara]] on his right and [[Mahasthamaprapta|Mahāsthāmaprāpta]] on his left) in a temple near [[Meinong]], Kaohsiung county, [[Taiwan]]]] '''Pure Land Buddhism''' ({{zh-ts|t=淨土宗|s=净土宗}}, ''Jìngtǔzōng''; {{lang-ja|浄土教}}, ''Jōdokyō''; [[Korean language|Korean]]: {{lang|ko-Hang|정토종}}, ''jeongtojong''; [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]: 浄土宗, ''{{lang|vi|Tịnh Độ Tông}}''), also sometimes referred to as '''''Amidism'''''<ref>"Amidism", Britannica Online Encyclopedia, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9007174/Amidism</ref><ref>"Amidism", The Columbia Encyclopedia, http://www.bartleby.com/65/x-/X-Amidism.html</ref>, is a broad branch of [[Mahayana|Mahāyāna]] [[Buddhism]] and currently one of the most popular schools of Buddhism in [[East Asia]], along with [[Chán]] (Zen). In Chinese Buddhism, most monks practise it, some combining it with Chan.<ref>Welch, ''Practice of Chinese Buddhism'', Harvard, 1967, page 396</ref> It is a devotional or "faith"-oriented branch of Buddhism focused on [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] Buddha. Pure Land Buddhism is often found within [[Mahayana|Mahāyāna]] Buddhist practices such as the Chinese [[Tien Tai|Tiantai]] school, or Japanese [[Shingon]] Buddhism. However, Pure Land Buddhism is also an independent school as seen in the Japanese [[Jōdo shū|Jōdo Shū]] and [[Jodo Shinshu|Jōdo Shinshū]] schools. There is not one "school" of Pure Land Buddhism ''per se'', but rather it is a large subset of the [[Mahayana|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. ==Overview== Pure Land Buddhism is based on the [[Buddhist texts#Pure Land Sutras|Pure Land sutras]] said by some to have first been brought to [[China]] as early as 148 CE, when the [[Parthia]]n monk [[An Shih Kao|Ān Shìgāo]] (安世高) began translating sutras into Chinese in the imperial capital of [[Luoyang|Luòyáng]] [洛陽 (洛阳)] during the [[Han Dynasty|Hàn]] [漢 (汉)] dynasty at the [[White Horse Temple]] [白馬寺 (白马寺) Báimǎ Sì]. The [[Kushan]] monk [[Lokaksema|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 [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] and his heaven-like Pure Land, called '''[[Sukhavati|Sukhāvatī]]'''. [[Image:Kamakura Budda Daibutsu front 1885.jpg|thumb|The Buddha [[Amitabha|Amitābha]], [[13th century]], [[Kamakura, Kanagawa|Kamakura]], [[Japan]].]] Although [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] Buddha was mentioned, or featured in, a number of Buddhist sutras, the [[Larger Sutra|Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life]] is often considered the most important and definitive. In this sutra, the [[Gautama|Buddha]] describes to his assistant, [[Ananda|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 ([[Sukhavati|Sukhāvatī]]).<ref>[http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/purelandscriptures/id2.html Larger Sutra: 1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 [[Mahayana|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]]&ndash;[[681]]). Prominent again by influential monks such as Lianchi(蓮池), Ouyi(藕益) and Yin Guang(印光). The [http://Buddhism.2be.net Buddhist Encyclopedia] published a [[Lineage (anthropology)|lineage]] that includes 13 [http://Buddhism.2be.net/Category:Patriarchs_of_the_Chinese_Pure_Land_School Patriarchs of Pure Land Buddhism] The religious movement spread to [[Japan]] and slowly grew in prominence. [[Hōnen]] ([[1133]]&ndash;[[1212]]) established Pure Land Buddhism as an independent sect in [[Japan]], known as '''Jōdo Shu'''. 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 ([[Sanskrit|sa.]] ''buddhakṣetra''), called the "Pure Land" ([[Chinese language|zh.]] {{lang|zh-Hant|净土}}, [[pinyin]] ''jìngtǔ'', [[Japanese language|jp.]] {{lang|ja-Hani|浄土}} ''jōdo'', [[Vietnamese language|vi.]] ''{{lang|vi|Tịnh độ}}'') or "Western Pureland" (Ch. {{lang|zh-Hant|西天}}, [[pinyin]] ''xītiān''), a region offering respite from [[karma|karmic]] transmigration. The Vietnamese also use the term ''{{lang|vi|Tây Phương Cực Lạc}}'' ({{lang|vi-Hans|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 [[bodhisattva]]s and help deluded beings in [[samsara]]. Thus, adherents believe that [[Amitabha|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 [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] Buddha, because people are now living in a degenerate era, known as the [[Mappo|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|Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life]] the [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] Buddha makes 48 vows, and the [[Primal Vow|18th Vow]] states that Amitābha will grant rebirth to his Pure Land anyone who can recite his name as little as 10 times.<ref>[http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/purelandscriptures/id2.html Larger Sutra: 1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. ==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." ==Pure Land Practice== It is believed, that if practitioners chant Amitābha Buddha's name, or the [[nianfo]], when their current life comes to an end they can be received with their karma by Amitābha Buddha ({{lang|zh-Hant|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 [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] and/or his Pure Land. The basis for this is found in the [[Contemplation Sutra]], where The [[Gautama|Buddha]] describes to Queen Vaidehi what [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] looks like, and how to meditate upon him.<ref>[http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/purelandscriptures/id5.html Contemplation Sutra<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Visualization practices for [[Amitabha|Amitābha]] are more popular among esoteric Buddhist practices, such as Japanese [[Shingon]] Buddhism, while the [[nianfo]] is more popular among lay followers. According to the Amida Sutra, people with"few roots of goodness or a small stock of merit" cannot go there. A dying person might have his thoughts in chaos, or someone prevent him to nianfo. A dying animal <ref>[http://animal-to-avaivartika.spaces.live.com]</ref> may have many people nianfo for it. Within 8-12 hours after the death the family and friends should not move the dying people's body, should not cry(the soul would feel unable to leave this world, while asking the majority buddhist monks may agree someone to donate organs), nianfo to the dying person. The effect of nianfo to death of traffic accidents or cancer were the most.<ref>[http://www.amitofo3.net/ji/books/a38.html]</ref> According to the reports of the buddhists, there are evidences of those dying people go to the pure land. They are: Knowing the time of death(预知时至), some bath and nianfo to die. Saw the "three saints in the west"(四方三圣)(Amitābha Buddha and the two bodhisattvas, Avalokiteśvara on his right and Mahāsthāmaprāpta on his left), appear and welcome him. Seeing other buddhas or bodhisttvas are disregarded as they may be pretended by someone who want to stop the person to go to the pure land.<ref>[http://www.amtb.cn/section1/fl.asp?web_choice=6 淨空法師佛學問答(死生篇)]</ref> Facial expression is red and happy. Body is soft. Some people see warm brightness or hear good music.<ref>[http://www.amtfamtf.net/nfgy/jtjz.htm]</ref> Leave [[sarira]]s after cremation. Dreams to relatives or friends. The last body temperature in top of head. According to Ba shi gui ju bu zhu(八識規矩補註)<ref>[[Taisho Tripitaka]] no 1865</ref>, "to birth in saints the last body temperature in top of head, to deva in eyes, to human in heart, to hungry ghosts in belly, to animals in knee cap, to naraka in sole of feet." The dying people may have some evidence and do not have some other evidence. As an example, may have facial expression happy, no sarira and no dreams. == Eastern Pure Land == In [[esoteric]] [[Vajrayana|Vajrayāna]] Buddhism, Amitābha's Western Pure Land ([[Sukhavati|Sukhāvatī]]) is the counterpart to [[Akshobhya|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. ==See also== {{JapaneseBuddhism}} * [[Jōdo shū|Jōdo Shū]] * [[Jodo Shinshu|Jōdo Shinshū]] * Ji-shū (of [[Ippen]]) * [[Yuzu Nembutsu]] * [[Buddhism in China]] * [[Faith in Buddhism]] * [[Phowa]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==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. ==External links== * [http://www.jodo.org/ Jōdo Shū Buddhism official website] * [http://www2.hongwanji.or.jp/english/ Jōdo Shinshū Official Site] * [http://www.amtb-usa.org/ Amitabha Buddhist Society of U.S.A.] * [http://www.drba.org/ The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua] * [http://www.amtbweb.org/index.html Amitabha Pure Land Web (in English)] * [http://www.cloudwater.org/pureland.html Pure Land Buddhism: The Path of Serene Trust, a short overview of Pure Land Buddhism] * [http://www.amtb.sg Amitabha Education Network] * [http://Buddhism.2be.net/Master_Chin_Kung Master Chin Kung], a promoter of Pure Land Buddhism * [http://hongakujodo.tripod.com/hjcl/ Hongaku Jodo Compassionate Lotus tradition] An American Pure Land Buddhist Association * [http://www.amidatrust.com Amida Trust] A UK Pure Land Charity * [http://www.dhagpo-kagyu.org/anglais/science-esprit/themes_supplement/souhaits/meunlam-dewa1.htm Tibetan wishing prayer of Sukhavati/Dewachen, The pure realm of great bliss] * [http://www.neydo.org/shukhavati.html A brief teaching on The wishing prayer of Sukhavati/Dewachen, The pure realm of great bliss] * [http://www.amtb-ottawa.ca/eng/links.html Here are some links to other Amitabha websites around the world] {{buddhism2}} {{Buddhism topics}} [[Category:Pure Land Buddhism| ]] [[Category:Branches of Buddhism]] [[cs:Čistá země]] [[de:Amitabha-Buddhismus]] [[fr:Terre pure]] [[he:בודהיזם הארץ הטהורה]] [[it:Terra Pura]] [[nl:Zuiver Land boeddhisme]] [[ja:浄土教]] [[pl:Czysta kraina]] [[pt:Terra Pura]] [[ru:Буддизм Чистой Земли]] [[ta:சுகவதி பௌத்தம்]] [[vi:Tịnh Độ tông]] [[es:Tierra Pura]] [[zh:净土宗]]