The aim of Pure Land teaching is rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Land of Bliss, and the method to attain rebirth is recitation of Amitabha’s Name, as said by Shakyamuni Buddha. Is it the teaching of Shakyamuni or Amitabha, or both? What are the similarities and differences between the two teachings in Pure Land Buddhism? Lots of doubts and confusion? Better clarify it because it involves the Buddha’s original intent of appearing in the world to deliver us for attaining perfect Enlightenment and ultimate liberation.
Who can really practice with a genuine mind? At the end of Master Shandao’s passage on interpreting the Sincere Mind, he states: For [disavowing] the threefold
Last time, we explored how a Pure Land aspirant attains both “genuineness in self-benefiting” and “genuineness in benefiting others” through the dedication of real merits
To seek refuge in Amitabha Buddha is to receive his “real” merits and virtues In our discussion of the Sincere Mind in my last three
Why Pure Land is an ideal school of Buddhism to be…
In the first part of our exploration of the Sincere Mind, we concluded that there was a problem. Apparently, to be reborn in the Land
The Sincere Mind is the Genuine Mind Let us look at Master Shandao’s explanation of the Threefold State of Mind in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra.
Since February this year, we have been discussing the importance of faith and its role in Pure Land Buddhism. In this instalment I hope to
A finger pointing at the moon The simple question of “What is a Buddha?” was raised in a casual discussion with a venerable Pure Land
Causes of rebirth in different realms With regard to my previous article* discussing the cause of assured rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land, many readers were surprised
Accuracy in explaining the Buddha’s words In my previous three articles I emphasized that Pure Land Buddhism sees faith as an expedient means, while the
The mismatch between the “Name” and “meaning” Master Tanluan explained in the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth: “What is meant by the idea that some do
Master Tanluan, an eminent Pure Land patriarch from the 6th century CE, wrote the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth. He utilized and integrated many profound concepts
