Amitabha is a Buddha who accomplished his Fundamental Vow
The Pure Land teaching expounded by Shakyamuni Buddha is basically the teaching of Amitabha’s deliverance through his vow power and pure karma. This was stated in the 48 great vows he made while in his causal ground. They all begin with, “If, when I achieve buddhahood . . .” and end with, “. . . may I not attain perfect enlightenment.”
Out of the 48 vows, the 18th Vow is the fundamental one, it states:
“If, when I achieve buddhahood, sentient beings of the 10 directions who earnestly believe and rejoice, wish to be reborn in my land, and recite Namo Amitabha Buddha even 10 times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment.”
This vow highlights the aim of the Pure Land teaching: rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land. It also specifies the direct and easy method to attain assured rebirth, the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha. It is also important to note that Amitabha’s Reward Land and his Name were accomplished at the same time that he attained perfect enlightenment.
As Amitabha has already attained perfect enlightenment 10 kalpas ago, whoever exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha is assured of attaining rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land of Bliss. Rebirth in the Land of Bliss means cessation of reincarnation within the Six Realms and Three Domains in the Saha World.
What kind of a buddha is Amitabha? Amitabha is a buddha who accomplished his Fundamental Vow. This means that Amitabha has the great compassion and awesome power to enable all mortal ordinary beings to be reborn in the unconditioned realm of nirvana and end their suffering in the conditioned realms of samsara.
Amitabha is a buddha who embraces Amitabha-reciters with his light
Amitabha’s Pure Reward Land is called the Western Land of Bliss. His Name has two meanings, one is the Buddha of Infinite of Light and the other is the Buddha of Infinite Life. In this respect, Amitabha’s status is that of a “Reward Buddha,” according to the Sutra of the Common Nature of Mahayana.
In the 9th Contemplation in the Contemplation Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha says:
“The Buddha Amitayus possesses 84,000 physical characteristics, each having 84,000 secondary marks of excellence. Each secondary mark emits 84,000 rays of light; each light shining universally upon the lands of the 10 directions; embracing, and not forsaking, those who are mindful of the Buddha.”
This means that the forms and marks of excellence of the Reward Body of Amitabha Buddha are in the rays of light permeating throughout all Dharma Realms. They embrace and protect, without forsaking; and shine upon all sentient beings who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.
What kind of a buddha is Amitabha? Amitabha is a buddha who embraces those who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha with his light. This implies that Amitabha Buddha has an intimate and close relationship with all who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. He protects them from all karmic hindrances anywhere and anytime.
Amitabha is a buddha who welcomes Amitabha-reciters near the end of life
If an Amitabha-reciter exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha for 1–7 days near the end of their life, Amitabha Buddha and the sacred beings will naturally appear before them, to welcome and receive them to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, as said in the Amitabha Sutra.
In the Contemplation Sutra, “Those people of the highest level of the lowest grade are sentient beings who commit various evil acts, but do not slander the Mahayana sutras. As death nears, they may meet a “good teacher” who teaches them to recite “Namo Amituofo” (Namo Amitabha Buddha). Thus, they do so.
Then “Amitabha Buddha sends his transformed body and those of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta to the aspirant; they praise him, saying, ‘Well done, man of good deeds! By exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha your evil karma has been extinguished, so we have come to welcome you.'”
Moreover, in the Contemplation Sutra, it is said:
Those who attain birth on the lowest level of the lowest grade are sentient beings who commit such evils as the five gravest offenses, the 10 evil acts, and all kinds of immoralities. They may meet a good teacher who will teach them to exclusively recite “Namo Amituofo.” In this way, he sincerely and continuously recites “Namo Amituofo” 10 times. Because he recites “Namo Amituofo,” with each repetition the evil karma he has committed during 80 kotis of kalpas of samsara is extinguished.” A golden lotus flower instantly appears and carries him to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
What kind of a buddha is Amitabha? Amitabha is a buddha who welcomes and receives Amitabha-reciters near the end of life. This is regardless of their karmic circumstances or their aptitude and capacity, whether they are virtuous or iniquitous, whether they recite many times in the present lifetime or just a few near the end of life.
Amitabha’s teaching of compassionate deliverance through his vow power
Amitabha’s teaching of compassionate deliverance through the awesome power of his 18th vow, enables all sentient beings to be reborn in his Pure Land by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha. It is very different from Shakyamuni’s 84,000 expedient teachings of meditative and non-meditative self-powered practices.
Amitabha Buddha bestows the real merit and unsurpassed virtues contained in his Name to all who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. Even iniquitous beings near the end of life are “qualified” to be reborn in his Pure Land and become buddha-like beings.
Last but not least, as said in the Amitabha Sutra: “All sentient beings born in the Land of Bliss dwell in the Stage of Non-Retrogression. Many of them are in the Stage of Becoming a Buddha-After-One-More-Life.” It is also the reward offered by Amitabha subsequent to his accomplishment of his 11th and 22nd Vows, respectively.
It is incredible that Amitabha Buddha empowered his Name with unsurpassed and inconceivable merit and virtues. This caused innumerable Buddhas of the 10 directions to unanimously extol his Name, as said in Amitabha’s 17th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra.
Related features from BDG
The Transmission of the Dharma and the Buddha’s Final Words
Examining the Transmission of Buddhist Teachings: Shakyamuni Buddha’s Original Reason for Appearing in the World
Genuine Dharma: Buddhism’s Future Must Unfold in the Hearts of Buddhists
