Pure Land Buddhism is based upon the
Pure Land sutras first brought to China circa 150 by
the Parthian monk An Shih Kao and the Kushan monk
Lokaksema, which describe Amitabha, one of the Five
Wisdom Buddhas, and his heaven-like Pure Land, called Sukhavati.
The Pure Land school first became
prominent with the founding of a monastery upon the top
of Mount Lushan by Hui-yuan in 402. It spread throughout China quickly
and was systematized by Shan-tao (613-681). The philosophy spread to
Japan and slowly grew in prominence. Honen Shonin
(1133-1212) established Pure Land Buddhism as an independent sect in
Japan, known as Jodo Shu. Today Pure Land is the dominant form of
Buddhism in China, Japan, Korea (both North and South),
Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Contemporary Pure Land traditions see the Buddha
Amitabha preaching the
Dharma
in his buddha-field (sa. buddhakchetra), called the "Pure Land" (zh.
净土, pinyin jìngtǔ, jp. 浄土 jodo) or "Western Pureland" (zh. 西天), a
region offering respite from
karmic
reincarnation. In such traditions, entering the Pure Land is
popularly perceived as equivalent to the attainment of
nirvana.
It is thought that by adherents that without
assistance, it would be likely over the course of multiple rebirths for
individuals to get lost or possessed by devils. Thus, adherents believe
that the Buddha provided an easier route to
enlightenment, the Pure Land. The main idea behind Pure Land Buddhism is
that nirvana is sometimes hard to obtain by ourselves, so we need help
from the Buddha. Instead of solitary
meditative
work toward enlightenment, Pure Land Buddhism teaches
that devotion to Amitabha will lead us to the Pure Land (reminiscent of
Heaven) from which Nirvana will be easier to attain. Rebirth
in Pureland is from both the work of us and Buddha.
Some Pure Land Buddhists have
taught that in order for a devotee to be reborn in Amitabha's Western
Paradise or Western Pureland, they should
chant or repeat a mantra
or prayer to Amitabha
as often as possible to reinforce a proper and sincere state of mind
(ex: Chinese 南無阿弥陀佛 Nàmó Āmítuó fó, Japanese pronunciation Namu Amida
butsu). This fairly simple form of veneration has contributed greatly to
its popularity, especially in Japan.
In esoteric
Vajrayana
Buddhism, Amitabha's Western Pure Land has a counterpart in Akshobhya's
Eastern Pure Land: Abhirati. While recognized especially by the Japanese
Shingon sect, the Eastern Pure Land is not the object of popular
veneration in the same manner as the Western Pure Land.
