Special Topics
The Amitabha Sutra (the Shorter Sukhavativyuha Sutra)
The Amitabha Sutra (or Shorter Sukhavativyuha Sutra) is the most popular sutra of Mahayana Buddhism expounding the Western Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, because it is easy to understand its content and practice its Buddha name recitation method. The sutra mainly describes Sukhavati--- the Western World of Ultimate Bliss, which owes its existence to the original vows of Amitabha Buddha--as a land of happiness without suffering in comparison with the Evil World of Five Turbidities. The practice...
Practice Method of Amitabha Buddha
The Amitabha Sutra is an extremely important Buddhist scripture in Pure Land Buddhism. How do we practice the Amitabha Sutra in order to unite with the original intention of Amitabha Buddha? In the "Amitabha Sutra", Shakyamuni Buddha explicitly points out that, in reciting the Buddha's name wholeheartedly and undistractedly, chanting the Amitabha Sutra, and hearing the name of all the Buddhas mentioned in the sutra, we can be blessed and protected by all the Buddhas, which in tu...
Questions and Answers about the Amitabha Sutra - Q1: Why did the Buddha expound the Amitabha Sutra without being asked?
A: The Amitabha Sutra is a dharma that the Lord Buddha took the initiative to expound to his wisest disciple Sariputra at Jetavana Park in the city of Shravasti. It's very rare for the Buddha to expound a sutra without being asked to do so. Why did the Buddha expound this sutra without being requested to do so? It was out of the Buddha's compassion, which could not bear to see the suffering of all sentient beings. Lotus Pond Master (Yun Qi Zhu Hong), who attached great importance to t...
Questions and Answers about the Amitabha Sutra - Q2: Why is Amitabha Buddha’s land called "World of Ultimate Bliss"?
A: The Western Pure Land (Sukhavati in Sanskrit) literally means "land of bliss", in recognition of the fact that the World of Ultimate Bliss is the land of bliss of Amitabha Buddha-- free from all human suffering. In addition, its bliss is incomparable to the happiness of human and god realms, so it is aptly named the World of Ultimate Bliss. In his book "Pure Land and Chan", Master Yin Shun explained that sentient beings cannot easily attain liberation from the ...
Questions and Answers about the Amitabha Sutra - Q3: Why are the teachings expounded by the Lord Buddha in the Amitabha Sutra difficult to believe?
A: The Buddha has stated several times that the teachings he gave in the Amitabha Sutra are difficult to believe, and it is even more difficult to expound this sutra in the world of five defilements. Master Kuiji said in his book "Praise Commentary on the Amitabha Sutra": this is because the Amitabha Sutra states that reciting the Buddha's name between one to seven days will lead you to rebirth in the Pure Land. Most people do not believe that such "small" merit of rec...
Questions and Answers about the Amitabha Sutra - Q4: Why is it possible to be reborn in the Pure Land by reciting a single Buddha's name?
A: The Amitabha Sutra clearly states that upholding and reciting the Buddha's name is the most clear, direct and easy method to be reborn in the Pure Land. In addition, the eighteenth vow of Amitabha Buddha's forty-eight vows also points out that having ten thoughts or even one thought of that Buddha country at the end of life is an expedient method to be reborn in the Pure Land. Moreover, the twentieth great vow states that one does not even need to hold the name, visualize, or recit...
Questions and Answers about the Amitabha Sutra - Q5: Why is "Amitofuo" considered a phrase for blessing?
A: Buddha Amitabha (Amitofuo, in Chinese), also known as Amitāyus or Amitābha in Sanskrit, means infinite life or infinite light. Hence, Buddhists often use "Amitofuo" as a greeting, wishing each other "longevity and luminosity". In addition to wishing others a long and healthy life, Amitofuo also signifies infinite hope. In addition to the literal translation of the meaning of the words Buddha Amitabha, there is also an allusion to its usage as a blessing. The Sixth Pa...
Questions and Answers about the Amitabha Sutra - Q6: Is the "Amitabha Sutra" a sutra chanted exclusively for the deceased?
A: As mentioned in the sutra, if one can have deep faith, make vows, and recite the name of Buddha Amitabha wholeheartedly without distractions, one will be reborn in the Pure Land at the end of one's life. Since ancient times, followers of Chinese Buddhism have recited Buddha Amitabha's name and the Amitabha Sutra as a Dharma method to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss after death. However, we shouldn't think that the practice method of reciting the Buddha'...