Key Sutras
The Infinite Life Sutra
(The Longer Pure Land Sutra)
The "Infinite Life Sutra," also known as the "Longer Sutra," is a fundamental text in the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism. It primarily focuses on the teachings and vows of Amitabha Buddha, particularly his 48 Great Vows, which are central to the Pure Land practice. The sutra emphasises the importance of faith, aspiration, and the recitation of Amitabha's name for rebirth in the Western Pure Land, a realm of bliss and enlightenment.
Key themes of the sutra include:
1. Amitabha's 48 Vows: These vows outline the conditions for rebirth in the Pure Land and emphasise the compassionate intent of Amitabha to save all sentient beings.
2. Rebirth through Recitation: The sutra highlights the practice of reciting Amitabha's name as a means to attain rebirth in the Pure Land, ensuring a path to enlightenment.
3. Moral and Ethical Conduct: The sutra underscores the importance of maintaining proper relationships, morality, and understanding the law of cause and effect as foundational for spiritual practice[1][3].
4. Compassion and Unity: It teaches the interconnectedness of all beings and the importance of helping others as a means of helping oneself, reflecting the bodhisattva ideal of compassion.
The Amida Sutra
(The Shorter Pure Land Sutra)
The "Amida Sutra," also known as the "Amitabha Sutra," is a significant text in Pure Land Buddhism. It provides a concise overview of Amitabha Buddha and his Western Pure Land, known as Sukhavati, or the Land of Perfect Bliss. The sutra is centred on the teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha, who describes the Pure Land and the benefits of being reborn there.
Key themes of the Amida Sutra include:
1. Description of the Pure Land: The sutra vividly describes the Pure Land as a realm free from suffering, filled with beauty and happiness. It is adorned with jewels and is a place where beings can easily attain enlightenment.
2. Recitation and Faith: The sutra emphasises the importance of reciting Amitabha Buddha's name with sincere faith as a means to be reborn in the Pure Land. This practice is believed to ensure protection by all Buddhas and lead to non retrogression on the path to enlightenment.
3. Universal Accessibility: It highlights that the Pure Land is accessible to all sentient beings who aspire to be reborn there, regardless of their past actions, as long as they have faith and make the aspiration.
The Contemplation Sutra
The "Contemplation Sutra," also known as the "Amitayurdhyana Sutra," is a key text in Pure Land Buddhism. It details the process of attaining rebirth in the Pure Land through the power of Amitabha Buddha's vows and emphasises the practice of visualisations and recitations.
Key themes include:
1. Thirteen Contemplations: The sutra outlines thirteen visualisations, starting with the contemplation of the setting sun and leading to envisioning the Pure Land and Amitabha Buddha. These contemplations are designed to help practitioners focus their minds and aspire for rebirth in the Pure Land.
2. Rebirth through Other-Power: The sutra emphasizes reliance on Amitabha Buddha's Fundamental Vow rather than one's own efforts. It teaches that even those with heavy karmic offences can be reborn in the Pure Land through faith and recitation of Amitabha's name.
3. Meditative and Non-Meditative Virtues: It discusses the practice of both meditative virtues (such as visualizations) and non-meditative virtues (like ethical conduct) to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land.
4. Inclusivity: The sutra is intended for ordinary people, highlighting that anyone, regardless of their karmic background, can attain rebirth in the Pure Land through Amitabha's compassion and vows.
Shandao’s Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra
Shandao's "Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra" is a significant work in Pure Land Buddhism that has become a foundational text for the tradition, especially in Japan. This commentary provides a distinctive interpretation of the Contemplation Sutra, emphasising several key points:
1. Nature of Buddhas and Ordinary People: Shandao stresses the difference between the enlightened nature of Buddhas and the unenlightened nature of ordinary beings. This distinction highlights the compassionate role of Amitabha Buddha in guiding beings toward enlightenment.
2. Verbal Nembutsu: Shandao prioritises the verbal recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name (nembutsu/nianfo) over contemplative practices. This approach makes the practice accessible to all, regardless of one's meditative abilities.
3. Substantial Existence of the Pure Land: He asserts that the Pure Land is not merely a mental construct but a real, substantial place where beings can be reborn.
4. Nine Ranks of Rebirth: Shandao offers a unique view of the nine ranks of rebirth, suggesting that they demonstrate Amitabha Buddha's compassion, which extends to all beings, regardless of their spiritual achievements[1][2][5].
Tanluan’s Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth in the Pure Land by Vasubhandhu
The "Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth in the Pure Land" by Tanluan is an important text in Pure Land Buddhism, providing an in-depth analysis of Vasubandhu's "Treatise on Rebirth in the Pure Land." Tanluan's commentary draws upon Nagarjuna's "Chapter on the Easy Path" to elucidate Vasubandhu's teachings, integrating the perspectives of both Madhyamaka and Yogacara schools of Indian Buddhism.
Vasubandhu's original treatise, also known as the "Gatha of Aspiration to Rebirth," consists of 96 lines followed by an explication in 10 chapters. It emphasizes the practice of Amitabha-recitation and the aspiration for rebirth in the Pure Land. The treatise outlines the Five Paths of Invocation, which guide practitioners in their spiritual journey.
Tanluan's commentary highlights the vows of Amitabha Buddha and Bodhisattva Vasubandhu's sincere aspiration for rebirth in the Pure Land. It serves as a foundational text for the Pure Land School, promoting the understanding and transmission of Pure Land teachings in China. Tanluan's work is praised for its deep insight into the Buddha's mind and its eloquent explication of Pure Land principles.
2023-0131-《往生論註》（英大書04）-內文三校.pdf (purelandbuddhism.org
The Practices and Vow of Samantabhadra from the Avatamsaka (Flower Adornment) Sutra
“The Practices and Vow of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra" is the final chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra, also known as the Flower Adornment Sutra. This chapter is significant in Mahayana Buddhism and outlines the Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra, which serve as a guide for practitioners seeking enlightenment. These vows are:
1. Pay homage to all Buddhas: Show respect and reverence to all enlightened beings.
2. Praise the Tathagatas: Speak of the virtues and qualities of the Buddhas.
3. Make abundant offerings: Generously give offerings to the Buddhas.
4. Repent misdeeds and evil karmas: Confess and seek to reform past wrongs.
5. Rejoice in others' merits and virtues: Celebrate the good deeds of others.
6. Request the Buddhas to continue teaching: Encourage the Buddhas to turn the Dharma wheel.
7. Request the Buddhas to remain in the world: Ask the Buddhas to stay and guide beings.
8. Follow the teachings of the Buddhas: Adhere to the Dharma in daily life.
9. Accommodate and benefit all living beings: Act in harmony with others for their benefit.
10. Transfer all merits and virtues to benefit all beings: Dedicate personal merits to the liberation of all sentient beings.
The Chapter of Mahasthamaprabtha’s Perfect Realisation on Nianfo/Nembutsu Samadhi from Chapter 5 the Surangama Sutra
The "Chapter of Bodhisattva Dashizhi’s Perfect Realisation on Nianfo Samādhi" is an extract from Chapter Five of the Surangama Sutra. This chapter focuses on the practice of Nianfo, which involves the mindful recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name. Bodhisattva Dashizhi explains that through this practice, one can achieve a state of perfect concentration and realization, known as Nianfo Samādhi. This practice is emphasized for its simplicity and effectiveness in leading practitioners towards enlightenment and rebirth in the Pure Land.
Dashizhi highlights that by continually focusing on Amitabha Buddha, practitioners can purify their minds, overcome distractions, and develop deep concentration. This leads to a profound understanding and realization of the Dharma, ultimately enabling them to attain liberation and enlightenment. The chapter underscores the transformative power of Nianfo Samādhi in cultivating spiritual insight and achieving the ultimate goal of Buddhahood.
The Chapter on Expedient Means from the Lotus Sutra
The "Chapter of Expedient Means" is the second chapter of the Lotus Sutra and is pivotal in conveying the Buddha's use of skillful means, or "expedient means," to guide beings toward enlightenment. In this chapter, Shakyamuni Buddha explains that he has used various teachings and methods throughout his life to accommodate the different capacities and needs of his listeners. These teachings, known as expedient means, were employed to help people gradually overcome their attachments and misconceptions.
The chapter reveals the Buddha's ultimate intention to lead all beings to the realisation of the "one Buddha vehicle," which signifies the universal potential for enlightenment inherent in all beings. This teaching highlights the profound truth that all living beings possess the Buddha nature and can attain Buddhahood. The chapter also introduces the concept of the "true aspect of all phenomena," emphasising that all manifestations of life are expressions of the fundamental law, which is ultimately the essence of enlightenment.
The "Expedient Means" chapter underscores the Buddha's compassion and wisdom in using tailored teachings to elevate individuals spiritually, ultimately guiding them to the highest truth.
Senchakushu by Honen Shonin
"Senchakushū," written by Honen Shonin, is a seminal text in Pure Land Buddhism that systematically outlines the principles and practices of the Pure Land path. The full title, "Senchaku Hongan Nembutsu Shū," translates to "A Collection of Selections on the Nembutsu of the Original Vow." This work is crucial for establishing the Pure Land School (Jodo Shu) as an independent tradition in Japan.
In this text, Honen emphasises the practice of nembutsu, the recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name, as the primary and most effective means for attaining rebirth in the Pure Land. He bases his teachings on the three core Pure Land sutras and the commentary by Shandao on the Amitāyurdhyāna Sutra, among other sources.
Honen argues that in the age of mappo, a period of declining Dharma, traditional Buddhist practices are less effective, and therefore, reliance on Amitabha's vow through nembutsu is the most suitable path for liberation. The text critiques the established Buddhist schools of the Nara and Heian periods, which led to controversy and opposition from traditionalists. Nonetheless, Senchakushū played a pivotal role in the development and spread of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan.
Kyogyoshinsho by Shinran Shonin
The "Kyogyoshinsho," written by Shinran Shonin, is a foundational text for the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) school of Buddhism. This work, formally titled "A Collection of Passages Revealing the True Teaching, Practice, and Realisation of the Pure Land Way," organises Shinran's understanding of Pure Land Buddhism into a systematic doctrine.
The text is composed of six fascicles and extensively uses quotations from Buddhist scriptures, sutras, and commentaries to elucidate the teachings of Pure Land Buddhism. Shinran refrains from adding personal interpretations, instead allowing the quoted texts to convey the core principles. The "Kyogyoshinsho" addresses key elements such as teaching, practice, faith, and enlightenment, emphasising the importance of entrusting oneself to Amida Buddha's vow for salvation.
Shinran's work underscores the concept of "shinjin," or true entrusting, as central to the path of liberation, advocating that salvation is achieved not through self-effort but through reliance on Amida Buddha's compassion. This text has been instrumental in shaping the doctrine and practice of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and remains a critical resource for understanding Shinran's teachings and the Pure Land path.
