The Amitabha Pure Land Triad. The Larger (Longer) Sutra Chinese translation (ca. 252 CE) attributed to Sanghavarman Provides the “life story” of the Buddha.

The Amitabha Pure Land Triad

The Larger (Longer) SutraThe Larger (Longer) Sutra Chinese translation (ca. 252 CE) attributed to Chinese translation (ca. 252 CE) attributed to

SanghavarmanSanghavarman

Provides the “life story” ofProvides the “life story” of the Buddha Amitayusthe Buddha Amitayus The monk, Dharmakara,The monk, Dharmakara, who had been a kingwho had been a king went to the Buddhawent to the Buddha Lokesvararaja, asking him Lokesvararaja, asking him

to explain the Dharmato explain the Dharma resolved to become aresolved to become a buddhabuddha became a Bodhisattvabecame a Bodhisattva

took 48 vowstook 48 vows

each begins with “If, when I attained each begins with “If, when I attained Buddhahood”Buddhahood”

became a buddha and presided over his own became a buddha and presided over his own buddha-field, Sukhavatibuddha-field, Sukhavati

Supplies the “history” of Amitayus’ “buddha-Supplies the “history” of Amitayus’ “buddha-field”field”made into a magnificent western paradisemade into a magnificent western paradise

Voices :Voices :Ananda, asks pointed questionsAnanda, asks pointed questionsBodhisattva Maitreya engages the Buddha Bodhisattva Maitreya engages the Buddha

in a dialoguein a dialogueAmitabha plays a more active roleAmitabha plays a more active role

The Amitabha Pure Land Triad

Dharmakara andDharmakara and His VowsHis Vows

48 48 vowsvowsthe number of vows varies in different the number of vows varies in different

translationstranslationsvows 26-34, 37-48 or some of them are vows 26-34, 37-48 or some of them are

not found in other translations not found in other translations numberings range from 18, 24, 36, 47, to numberings range from 18, 24, 36, 47, to

48 48vows 11,12,13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 are vows 11,12,13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 are

in all translationsin all translations

Dharmakara attained BuddhahoodDharmakara attained Buddhahoodafter inconceivable kalpas of self-cultivationafter inconceivable kalpas of self-cultivationafter immeasurable meritorious practices of after immeasurable meritorious practices of

the bodhisattva paththe bodhisattva pathafter innumerable ages of tranquil after innumerable ages of tranquil samadhisamadhi after realizing the truth of emptinessafter realizing the truth of emptinesspresided over hispresided over his buddha-field, free of buddha-field, free of

sufferingsufferingknown as the Buddha Amitabha (Infinite known as the Buddha Amitabha (Infinite

light)light)

Amitayus’ Pure Land AccordingAmitayus’ Pure Land According to the to the Larger/Longer SutraLarger/Longer Sutra

LandLand composed of seven jewels, composed of seven jewels,

gold, silver, beryl, coral, gold, silver, beryl, coral, amber, agate, and ruby, amber, agate, and ruby, which produce illuminating which produce illuminating rays of lightrays of light

boundless landboundless land no oceans, no seas, no no oceans, no seas, no

mountains, no valleys, no mountains, no valleys, no gorgesgorges

no four seasonsno four seasons

coral

ruby

Light Light Amitayus’ light illuminates Amitayus’ light illuminates

all buddha-fields in ten all buddha-fields in ten directionsdirections

could remove all sentient could remove all sentient beings’ three defilementsbeings’ three defilements

praised by all buddhaspraised by all buddhas

agate

beryl

Nature in Amitayus’ Pure LandNature in Amitayus’ Pure Land

Jeweled treesJeweled trees Seven-jeweled treesSeven-jeweled trees gold trees with leaves, flowers, and fruits of silvergold trees with leaves, flowers, and fruits of silver silver trees with leaves, flowers, and fruits of goldsilver trees with leaves, flowers, and fruits of gold …….. Jeweled trees with purple-gold roots, white silver trunks, Jeweled trees with purple-gold roots, white silver trunks,

beryl branches, crystal twigs, coral leaves, ruby flowers, and beryl branches, crystal twigs, coral leaves, ruby flowers, and agate fruitsagate fruits

…….. They are symmetrically arranged, of brilliant colorsThey are symmetrically arranged, of brilliant colors breeze and sounds arise like symphonic musicbreeze and sounds arise like symphonic music exquisite Dharma-sounds ariseexquisite Dharma-sounds arise sacred music, spontaneous music…all sounds of the Dharmasacred music, spontaneous music…all sounds of the Dharma

Bathing poolsBathing poolsgolden, silver, golden, silver,

crystal…..crystal…..Sandalwood Sandalwood

trees on the trees on the banks of these banks of these poolspools

Heavenly lotuses Heavenly lotuses cover the cover the surface of the surface of the waterwater

Living Beings in Amitayus’ Pure Land

• Beings born there• given purified body, exquisite sounds,

supernatural powers and virtues• get any food and drink according to their

wishes• relaxed in mind and body, free of

attachment to the sense of taste• all are in one form, without any

differences

• all are of noble and majestic countenance, superb appearance

• all endowed with bodies of Naturalness, Emptiness, and Infinity

• each provided with robes, food and drink, flowers, perfume, ornaments, silken canopies, and banners, and surrounded by exquisite sounds

• size of their abode, palaces, and pavilions are in accordance with that of their bodies

• All destined to Nirvana

Three Grades of AspirantsThree Grades of Aspirants

Aspirants of the highest grade--monksAspirants of the highest grade--monkssee Amitayus and a host of sages when see Amitayus and a host of sages when

dyingdyingFollow Amitayus and attain rebirth; born in Follow Amitayus and attain rebirth; born in

the Pure Land through instantaneous the Pure Land through instantaneous transformation within seven-jeweled lotus transformation within seven-jeweled lotus flowersflowers

dwell in the stage of Non-retrogressiondwell in the stage of Non-retrogressionattain steadfast wisdomattain steadfast wisdomcapable of freely exercising supernatural capable of freely exercising supernatural

powerspowers

Aspirants of the middle grade--devoted moral aspirants, lay Aspirants of the middle grade--devoted moral aspirants, lay BuddhistsBuddhistssee Amitayus’s transformed body and a host of sages see Amitayus’s transformed body and a host of sages

when dyingwhen dying follow Amitayus’ transformed; born in the Pure Landfollow Amitayus’ transformed; born in the Pure Landdwell in the stage of Non-retrogressiondwell in the stage of Non-retrogressionvirtue and wisdom next to the highest aspirantsvirtue and wisdom next to the highest aspirants

Aspirants of the lower grade--converted aspirants, Aspirants of the lower grade--converted aspirants, devasdevas, , humans….humans….see Amitayus in a dreamsee Amitayus in a dreamborn in the pure landborn in the pure landmerits and wisdom next to the middle aspirantsmerits and wisdom next to the middle aspirants

Five Evils excluded Five Evils excluded from the Pure Landfrom the Pure Land

1st evil1st evil– those inflict serious injuries and killthose inflict serious injuries and kill

2nd evil2nd evil– those lack moral principles, break laws, arrogant, those lack moral principles, break laws, arrogant,

licentious, deceiving, dishonest, flattering people with licentious, deceiving, dishonest, flattering people with deceitful intentiondeceitful intention

3rd evil3rd evil– those greedy, desirous of others’ possessions, gloat over those greedy, desirous of others’ possessions, gloat over

women, behave licentiously, secretly frequent brothelswomen, behave licentiously, secretly frequent brothels4th evil4th evil– those uttering abusive words, telling lies, engage in idle those uttering abusive words, telling lies, engage in idle

talk, hate peopletalk, hate people5th evil5th evil– those indecisive, slothful, reluctant to do good, no self-those indecisive, slothful, reluctant to do good, no self-

discipline, not dedicated to their work and not care for discipline, not dedicated to their work and not care for their familiestheir families

Numerous Bodhisattvas in this Pure Land

• All attain the Stage of Becoming Buddha after One More Life

• They can make choice between attaining Buddhahood and remaining bodhisattvas to save all sentient beings

• Two most dignified bodhisattvas:

– Avalokitesvara

– Mahathamaprapta