Pure Land Buddhism

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The Buddha Amitabha, 13th century, Kamakura, Japan.

Pure Land Buddhism (Chinese: 净土宗, Jìngtǔzōng; Japanese: 浄土宗, Jōdoshū; Korean: 정토종, jeongtojong; Vietnamese: 浄土宗, Tịnh Độ Tông), also known as Amidism, is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism and currently one of the more popular schools of Buddhism in East Asia, along with Chan. It is a devotional or "faith"-oriented branch of Buddhism focused on Amitabha Buddha. Rebirth into the Pure Land was assured the moment one first had faith in Amitabha.

Pure Land Buddhism is often found within larger 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 Jodo Shu and Jodo Shinshu schools. There is not one "school" of Pure Land Buddhism per se, but rather it is a large subset of the Mahayana branch of Buddhism.

The main idea behind Pure Land Buddhism is the East Asian world view that the Buddhist world was in decline and that Nirvana had become increasingly difficult to obtain for the common people. Instead of meditative work toward enlightenment, Pure Land Buddhism teaches that through devotion to just Amitabha one will be reborn in the Pure Land in which enlightenment is guaranteed. Pure Land Buddhism was particularly popular among commoners as it provided a straightforward way of expressing faith as a Buddhist. It was also popular among those on the outskirts of society, such as prostitutes and invalids, who were often denied spiritual services by society but could still find personal solace devoting to Amitabha.

1 Overview
2 Eastern Pure Land
3 See also
4 Selected works
5 External links

[edit] Overview

Pure Land Buddhism is based on the Pure Land sutras first 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 [支讖 (支谶) Zhī-chèn ], 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, one of the Five Wisdom Buddhas, and his heaven-like Pure Land, called Sukhavati.

Although Amitabha Buddha was mentioned, or featured in, a number of Buddhist sutras, the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life is often considered the most important. In this sutra, the Buddha describes to his assistant, Ananda, how Amitabha, still a mere disciple, makes a great series of vows to save all beings, and through his great merit, creates a realm called the Pure Land, or the Western Paradise. This Pure Land is intended as a refuge for those who are weighed down by negative karma and cannot obtain Enlightenment themselves.

Pure Land Buddhism played a minor role in early Indian Buddhism, particular the Mahayana 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 Shan-tao (613–681). The philosophy spread to Japan and slowly grew in prominence. Honen Shonin (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, the dominant form of Buddhism in China, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Contemporary Pure Land traditions see the Buddha Amitabha preaching the Dharma in his buddha-field (sa. buddhakṣetra), called the "Pure Land" (zh. 净土, pinyin jìngtǔ, jp. 浄土 jodo, vi. Tịnh độ) or "Western Pureland" (Ch. 西天), a region offering respite from karmic transmigration. The Vietnamese also use the term Tây Phương Cực Lạc (西方极乐) 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 one attains enlightenment in the Pure Land, rather than becoming a Buddha and entering nirvana, they will return to the samsara as bodhisattva and help other deluded beings in the six realms.

Adherents believe that over history, Buddhism as a religion declines naturally, and Enlightenment through one's own means becomes more and more difficult. This phrase is referred to as mappo in Japanese, or "Dharma Decline" and was a source of great concern in East Asian thought.

Thus, adherents believe that Amitabha Buddha provided an alternate practice towards attaining enlightenment: the Pure Land. The main idea behind Pure Land Buddhism is that enlightenment is difficult to obtain without the assistance of Amitabha Buddha. Instead of solitary meditative work toward enlightenment, Pure Land Buddhism teaches that devotion to Amitabha will lead one to the Pure Land (reminiscent of Heaven) from which enlightenment will be guaranteed.

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.

Some Pure Land Buddhists have taught that in order for a devotee to be reborn in Amitabha's Western Paradise or Western Pure Land, they should chant or repeat a mantra or prayer to Amitabha as often as possible to reinforce a proper and sincere state of mind. This practice is known as the nian fo (Ch.) or nembutsu (Jp.).

It is believed, that if practitioners chant Amitabha Buddha's name continuously, when their current life comes to an end they can be received with their karma by Amitabha Buddha (帶業往生). This fairly simple form of veneration has contributed greatly to its popularity, especially in Japan.

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

[edit] Eastern Pure Land

In esoteric Vajrayana Buddhism, Amitabha's Western Pure Land is the counterpart to Akshobhya's Eastern Pure Land, or Abhirati. While especially recognized by the Japanese Shingon sect, Eastern Pure Land Buddhism is less popular than in Western Pure Land Buddhism.

[edit] See also

[edit] Selected works

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.