In fact, being in the buddhas presence is sufficient to achieve liberation. Honen shonin and the pure land movement ubc library open. The brahma net is a discourse on discipline and morality. Among the vows, there are three the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieththat set forth ways by which the sentient beings of the ten quarters can attain birth in the pure land.
Jul 03, 2009 pure land buddhism is based on the pure land sutras, first brought to china as early as 148 ad, when the parthian monk a n shaga o began translating sutras into chinese at the white horse temple in the imperial capital of lua. Having said that, master shandao points out the theme of this sutra is the same as the other two pure land sutras, the infinite life sutra and the amitabha sutra. Although we cannot see him with our physical eyes, we can know of him from the three pure land sutras spoken by the historical buddha, shakyamuni. Different divisions of mahayana buddhism emphasize different sutras, but some texts, like the lotus sutra and heart sutra, are important to most. Among such pieces there are the sanbutsuge, a poem in which dharmakara extols his teacher lokesvararaja, and the juusei ge, a versesummary of the 48 vows. Like many other mahayana sutras such as the lotus, flower ornament, and vimalakirti, these sutras were compiled near the beginning of the common era. As a higher practice of pure land buddhism, meditation on amitabha and. There is more to pure land buddhism than just the nembutsu. Traditional chinese pure land buddhism emphasizes three elements of buddhist life as being essential for rebirth in the pure land. He says in the commentary on the ninth contemplation. Actually there are many other sutras and discourses that mention amitabha and his land of bliss. The buddha tells the fortyeight vows of dharmakara, who has become amitayus buddha, and describes his pure land of peace and bliss. Quite surely, nakamuras question of why pure land buddhism did not. Honen shonin 131212, as the founder of japans first independent pure land buddhist community, is one of the most essential figures of japanese buddhism.
Three of the most prominent sutras of the pure land schools of east asian buddhism are the larger sutra of eternal life, the amida sutra smaller sutra of eternal life, and the meditation sutra. Each in his land puts forth long and wide his eloquent tongue and across three thousand millions worlds speaks forth these words, protected by all buddhas this sutra is, wherein inconceivable excellence is praised, may all beings trust it, hold to it and keep it in mind shariputra, in the western worlds there are amitayus, amitalakshana. The three pure land sutras by numata center for buddhist translation this is a revised second edition of translation from the chinese by hisao inagaki. Email citation a fantastic resource, this book not only translates the three primary pure land sutras but also provides copious supporting materials. It is also referred to as the sukhavativyuhasutra in sanskrit, the muryojukyo in japanese, and as wuliang shou jing in chinese traditional chinese.
Amitayus is another name for the buddha amitabha, the preeminent figure in. I have a couple of questions about pure land buddhism. This pdf file may be printed and distributed according to the terms of. It starts by describing the splendors of sukhavati, the western paradise of amitayus, and then explains what must be done to be born. The concept of a pure land in mahayana buddhism, and notably in schools that developed in east asia, refers to a spiritual domain or field generated by a buddha in which the path to enlightenment is much easier than elsewhereeven effortless. This publication is the first authoritative english translation of these sutras by jodo shu, the denomination that honen founded in 1175. Pure land buddhism emphasizes three elements of buddhist life as being essential for rebirth in the pure land.
This designation was the first time that these three sutras had been. The pure land to which the faithful refer is a realm in which the buddha amitabha in chinese, emituo fo. It is one of the three principle pure land sutras along with the infinite life sutra and the amitabha sutra. Many great masters in china, even ones from other buddhist schools, have chosen to be born into the pure land, for example, the zen masters yung ming of the sung dynasty and cher wu of the ching dynasty. The western pure land, amitabhas world, is a world of truth, grace, splendor and wisdom. The larger pure land sutra, one of two primary scriptures in chinese mahayana buddhism, tells how the bodhisattva dharmakara became amida buddha by fulfilling many great vows 48 in most versions, all listed in the same format. After shakyamuni buddha delivered the three pure land sutras, the first to teach pure land practice independently was indias bodhisattva nagarjuna c. Pure land buddhism is a broad branch of mahayana buddhism and one of the most widely practiced traditions of buddhism in east asia. The pure land to which the faithful refer is a realm in which the buddha amitabha in chinese, emituo fo, literally infinite light, resides. Three ways to introduce the pure land teachings in the three. The meaning of nienfo in the three pure land sutras sage journals. Adorn amitabha buddhas pure land, repaying the four kinds of kindness above. The central text concerning pure land practice is found in amidas fortyeight vows.
The three primary texts of the tradition, known as the three pure land sutras, are the longer sukhavativyuha sutra infinite life sutra, amitayurdhyana sutra. This is the path if one dedicates these two virtues and aspires to be reborn in the pure land. Three ways to introduce the pure land teachings in the. Hiei, honen stated that among all the sutras which were preserved there, only the sutra of immeasurable life, the meditation sutra and the amida sutra fully and rightfully expound the teaching of birth in the pure land through amida buddhas power. Pdf the three refuges in jodo shinshu buddhism josho. Revised edition bdk english tripitaka 9781886439184. As a higher practice of pure land buddhism, meditation on amitabha. Sutra in fortytwo sections sutra of the merit and virtue of the past vows of medicine master vaidurya light tathagata sutra on the lions roar of queen srimala sutra on the lotus flower of the wondrous dharma verses on the perfection of wisdom avatamsaka sutra agama sutra the amitabha sutra the sutra of visualization of the buddha of infinite life. Amitayus sutra pdf the amitayurdhyana sutra is a mahayana sutra in pure land buddhism, a branch of mahayana buddhism. In terms of indic religious history, pure land buddhism refers to beliefs and practices centered on the buddhas of the ten directions, more specifically to ak. The smaller sutra on amitayus is the shortest of the three basic sutras of the pure land faith, and is known informally as the smaller sukhativyuha or the smaller amida sutra, and is frequently recited at religious services. Understanding a tradition of practice is the first book in any western language to provide a comprehensive overview of chinese pure land buddhism. The infinite life sutra, or larger pure land sutra, a mahayana buddhist text, is the primary text of pure land buddhism, and the longest of its three major texts.
Mar, 2020 amitayus sutra pdf march, 2020 admin the amitayurdhyana sutra is a mahayana sutra in pure land buddhism, a branch of mahayana buddhism. Numata center for buddhist translation and research, p. Buddha speaks the sutra on cause and effect in the three periods of time. Together with the larger and smaller sukhavativyuhasutras sanskrit. These translations indicate that also in sanskrit there must. At one time the bhagavat 1 dwelt in ragagriha, on the mountain gridhrakuta, with a large assembly of bhikshus,with thirtytwo thousands of bhikshus, all holy arhat, free from frailties and cares, who had performed their religious duties. Written in northwestern india probably before the beginning of the 2nd century ce, the sukhavativyuha exists in two original versions, a longer one that emphasizes good works and a shorter version that emphasizes faith and devotion alone. The seekers glossary of buddhism 2nd ed 1998 squarespace. Pure land schools is the sukhavativyuha sutra pure land sutra. In terms of literary history, indic pure land buddhism includes texts such as the ak. After having read through all of the sacred texts on mt. Throughout the pure land tradition, the central questions were how and when on enters into the working arising from amidas fulfillment of his vows.
The eighteenth vow according to the pure land sutras, the practice that enables a person to break the bondage of samsara by attaining birth in the pure land is the. May those who see and hear of this, and all sentient beings in the dharma realm, all develop the bodhi mind, and live the teachings for the rest of this life, then be born together in the land of. Sutras, which reflect distinctively mahayana concepts. The three primary texts of the tradition, known as the three pure land sutras, are the infinite life sutra, the amitabha sutra and the amitayurdhyana sutra.
A fantastic resource, this book not only translates the three primary pure land sutras but also provides copious supporting materials. The most important scriptures of the pure land school are the three texts presented in this volume. The first two sutras are buddhas teachings to disciples on amidabha land and the 48. These sutras were chosen by honen of japan 131212 and called the three pure land sutras. As a basis for establishing his new community, honen selected three essential sutras for the study and practice of the pure land way. Amitabha buddhas vows, basis of pure land buddhism. The sutra of bodhisattva ksitigarbhas fundamental vows. The buddha speaks of amitabha sutra san francisco state. Flowers and innumerable rays of light emitted from them.
Buddha, buddhism, sutras, enlightenment collection opensource. Even though pure land buddhism was born in china and currently constitutes the dominant form of buddhist practice there, it has previously received very little attention. This sutra being the longest of the three basic sutras of the pure land faith, it is common practice in the various pure land sects to use extracts from it for the purpose of recitation. Dec 25, 2019 the amitayurdhyana sutra is a mahayana sutra in pure land buddhism, a branch of mahayana buddhism. These are the principle teachings of what is called pure land buddhism. The three pure land sutras this digital version of the original. It starts by describing the splendors of sukhavati, the western paradise of amitayus, and then explains what must.
Shantaos commentary on the kuan wuliang shoufo ching. Numata center for buddhist translation and research, isbn 1886439184, archived from the original pdf on may 12, 2014. Amitayus is another name for the buddha amitabha, the preeminent figure. May 03, 2018 sukhavati, the pure land of the west, is discussed in the amitabha sutra, one of the three sutras that are the principal texts of pure land. Its foundation is based on three sutras recorded sermons of shakyamuni buddha, the larger sutra of immeasurable life, the smaller sutra of immeasurable life also referred to as the amida sutra and the meditation sutra. Smaller sutra on amitayus, abbreviated to smaller sutra. Most students of pure land buddhism, by contrast, have approached their topic within. This western pure land, was created by buddha amitabha as an ideal place of cultivation as those who are born there are no longer subject to reincarnation within the six realms. Jingwu ouyang gave a speech at nanjing normal university in china, entitled buddhism is neither a religion nor a. The smaller sukhavati sutra, the larger sukhavati sutra, and the visualization sutra.
Buddhism is the medicine prescribed to us by the buddha, who is supreme among all the teachers in the three worlds and it is a grave mistake to mix his teaching with those of other paths. Meditation on amitayus, one of three texts basic to pure land buddhism. If, when i am enlightened, such and such is not the case, i shall not become enlightened. This pdf file may be printed and distributed according to the terms of use estab. The dharma jewel platform sutra the sutra on praise of the pure land and protection by shakyamuni buddha the smaller pure land sutra. Longer sukhavativyuha sutra encyclopedia of buddhism. Bodhisattvas visit to the pure land from other lands. Together, these three comprise the basic texts of the pure.
These are what he called the three pure land sutras jodo sanbukyo, consisting of the larger and smaller sukhavativyuha sutras and the visualization sutra. Amitabha buddha to the pure land of their selfnature and. The buddha tells the fortyeight vows of dharmakara. Most of the mahayana sutras, which number over two thousand, were written between 200 bce and 200 ce, the period in which mahayana buddhism developed. The determinant faith of the three pure land sutras. In pure land buddhism, we believe in a buddha called amitabha who exists in a realm far distant from us, as related by shakyamuni buddha in the contemplation sutra. Introduction to shin buddhism shinshu center of america. Zen, tien tai and pure land are among the best known schools of buddhism in east asia.
Our aim is to introduce to international audiences the pure land teachings and practices in the pristine lineage of master shandao 6681. It is the most important of the many blissful paradises into which pure land buddhists hope to be reborn. The politics of pure land buddhism in india, numen 45 1, 6996 via jstor subscription required inagaki, hisao, trans. Visualization sutra, one of the three sutras that form the basis of pure land buddhism, gives the visualization of amitabha. The pure land traditions practice the devotional recitation of the buddhas name.
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