The different realms of ordinary beings, arhats, and bodhisattvas
From the perspective of the Pure Land teaching, both Shakyamuni and Amitabha are buddhas. They reside in the Land of Saha and the Land of Bliss respectively, as said by Shakyamuni Buddha in the Amitabha Sutra.
The Land of Saha (Skt: “to tolerate suffering”) is the world where we ordinary beings live. In contrast, the Land of Bliss, also called the Land of Peace and Joy, is the world where sacred beings with supreme virtues, known as bodhisattvas, live.
According to Buddhist teachings on the Law of Cause and Effect, ordinary beings in our world are reborn within the six realms: hell, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras, and heavenly beings. This continues life after life, in an endless cycle of birth-and-death in the defiled Land of Saha. The destiny of our next life depends on what we do in the present life, or is determined by our good and evil karmic actions, performed in past lives when the causal conditions ripen. Buddhism says that the root source of all kinds of suffering is this very “birth and death.”
If a person wishes to end the cycle, he has to follow Buddhist teachings and practice meditative and non-meditative (blessed) virtues vigorously. This is to order to attain wisdom and do good. Through these practices we eliminate false thoughts and attachments, and become sacred beings, such as arhats and bodhisattvas.
The main difference between the two sacred beings is that arhats aim to liberate themselves from suffering, while bodhisattvas aim to liberate themselves by delivering others from suffering.
Shakyamuni’s status as a prince in India
According to historical records, Shakyamuni was born as a prince called Siddhartha Gautama in modern-day Nepal about 2,600 years ago, and expounded the Buddhist teachings throughout northern India after he became a Buddha at the age of 35.
On attaining enlightenment, Shakyamuni said under the Bodhi tree: “All sentient beings in the world possess the wisdom and virtues of a Tathagata; but, they are unable to realize them because of false thoughts and attachments.”
On receiving questions from his disciples, Shakyamuni Buddha taught them Theravada and Mahayana teachings and practices. In that way he guided them to end all kinds of suffering and tread the path to buddhahood.
From a Buddhist point of view, Shakyamuni Buddha is a Manifested Buddha in a conditioned realm of birth and death, where ordinary beings like us are bound to reincarnate in the endless cycle of birth and death. Why did Shakyamuni appear in the Land of Saha? He said in the Infinite Life Sutra:
“With infinite great compassion, the Tathagata commiserates with beings of the Three Domains. Therefore, he appears in the world to disseminate the teaching of the Way; wishing to save ordinary beings by endowing them with real benefits.”
At the age of 80, Shakyamuni Buddha passed away, and “returned” to his own buddha-land, called the “Invincible Land.” Once there, he continued to enjoy dwelling in the state of Nirvana (no-birth and no-death), as observed in the Nirvana Sutra.
Before Shakyamuni entered into Nirvana, he introduced Amitabha Buddha to his disciples and urged them to aspire to be reborn in Amitabha’s Land of Bliss. He did this because Amitabha is still actively sharing the Buddhadharma, as said in the Amitabha Sutra.
Why did Shakyamuni introduce Amitabha to his disciples?
A sacred being who wishes to become a buddha must always accompany his own Principal Buddha. He must follow the teachings under his guidance, receive a prediction from him, and accreditation by all buddhas.
It is similar to a student who receives a bachelor’s degree and wishes to attain a master’s or doctorate. He must work with a professor in the related field, and finally “defend” his thesis before a panel of professors. Amitabha Buddha is the highest level “professor” for sacred beings.
It is because Amitabha’s lifespan is immeasurable that he can accompany a sacred being in his path to buddhahood. Amitabha also bears immeasurable light, in the form of his perfect and complete wisdom. This can clear all kinds of ignorance, and satisfy all the requirements for becoming a sacred being.
Before Amitabha became a buddha, he was a bodhisattva called Dharmakara in cosmic time. With the guidance of his teacher, Lokeshvararaja Buddha, he made 48 great vows to create his future buddha-land. He did this to welcome all sentient beings in the 10 directions to be reborn there, and end all kinds of suffering.
How can all sentient beings be reborn in Amitabha’s buddha-land?
The answer is found in Amitabha’s 18th Vow: “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 my name, even 10 times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment.”
As this great vow was accomplished 10 eons ago, Amitabha is now a buddha. This great vow established Amitabha’s Other-power, to enable all those who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, to easily attain assured rebirth in Amitabha’s Land of Bliss.
“Recite my name, even 10 times” means exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha for the remainder of our lives, or just 10 times, near the end of life. We thus enjoy eternal peace and joy, while dwelling in the state of Nirvana, the same as Amitabha Buddha.
Once reborn, all living beings are truly bodhisattvas: sacred beings with supreme virtues. They always accompany Amitabha Buddha under his guidance, and are “predicted” to become buddhas by Amitabha. This is attested to and verified by buddhas in the 10 directions.
Shakyamuni Buddha said at the end of the Infinite Life Sutra, “In times to come, the sutras and other Dharma teachings will perish. But, out of pity and compassion, I will specially retain and preserve this sutra and keep it in the world for 100 years more. Sentient beings who encounter it can all be delivered as they wish.”
In other words, the offer made by Amitabha Buddha is open to all of us, whether Buddhists or non-Buddhists. It is always valid, even in the absence of Shakyamuni Buddha and his teachings. Isn’t the infinitely great compassion of the Tathagata wonderful?
Related features from BDG
The Wonders of Reciting “Namo Amitabha Buddha”
Can Shakyamuni Buddha Enable Us to be Reborn in the Pure Land?
A Correct Understanding of the Core Teaching in the Amitabha Sutra
