The whole person is accepted. ", Contemplating the true mark (shxing nin ), "one contemplates the buddha's dharma body, which is also the contemplation of one's own true self and the true nature of all phenomena. In: Pacific World Journal, Third Series, Number 2, 149165. "[157], During the 20th century, a new way of conceiving Pure Land developed which was more humanistic. [158] This new kind of Buddhism promoted the idea that the ideal Buddhist world could be built here and now, something Tix called The Pure Land in the Human Realm (rnjin jngt ). This is a very sad article. [114], Pure Land practice also continued to develop in other Japanese schools of Buddhism. Some people notice that they are dealing with their emotions differently and having more patience with themselves and those around them. [165] It is traditionally preserved in Sanskrit, and it is said that when a devotee succeeds in realizing singleness of mind on it, its true and profound meaning will be clearly revealed. Thus, he did not teach that one should completely discard all other practices, only that the nenbutsu was supreme and that only nenbutsu could lead to Buddhahood. [11] East Asian Pure Land Buddhism mostly relies on the practice of mindfulness of the Buddha, which is called ninf (, "Buddha recitation", Japanese: nembutsu) in Chinese and entails reciting the name of Amitabha (Chinese: mtuf, Japanese: Amida). [193], In Tibetan Buddhism, which is a Vajrayana tradition, various practices and ideas which are focused on rebirth in the Buddhafield of Amitabha (as well as other Buddhas) exist as part of the vast repertoire of Buddhist practices found in this tradition. This development was led by the monk Tix (18901947) who argued that Buddhism should benefit humans in this life, and should not just be for the afterlife. [213] Since phowa specialists are said to be able to guide the minds of other people at death to Sukhavati, phowa also became a popular ritual that came to be performed for the dying by lamas. If finding privacy for chanting is difficult, just move your lips without making a noise or say the words silently in your head. Thus, due to their karmic obstacles and natural imperfections, they may have lingering doubts about their ability to actually attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss, even up to the moment of death! If you believe in the six paths samsara and are deeply terrified of its horrific retribution, Pure Land Method is for you. May those who see or hear of this, bring forth the heart of understanding and compassion and, at the end of this life, be born together in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. He understood that many people were trapped in oppressive social conditions they could do little or nothing about. [161][144], In some forms of East Asian Buddhism, nianfo is generally seen as one practice among many. Pure Land Buddhism (Chinese: ; pinyin: Jngtzng; Japanese: , romanized:Jdo bukky; Korean:; RR:Jeongto-jong; Vietnamese: Tnh tng; also known as Amidism[1][2]) is a broad branch of Mahayana Buddhism focused on achieving rebirth in a Pure Land. In Pure Land Buddhism, one must only speak the name of Amitabha Buddha to be reborn into the . is time to float Moreover, those who rely on their own power for rebirth (practice according to the 19th Vow) may retrogress in their Bodhi Mind, not properly hold the precepts, and not perform virtuous activities like charity with due diligence. Some people work towards changing their livelihoods. For each unit of 10, finger one rosary bead. buddhnusmti). [207], One of the simplest popular practices which Tibetan Buddhists consider to lead to rebirth in Sukhavati is the recitation of the six syllable mantra (om mani padme hum) of Avalokitesvara. We would encourage you to try it for a week or for 30 days [a free online course is coming soon] and to pay attention to any changes in your mood or in your daily life. It is a practice of calling out, and it is also a sense of being calleda practice that shapes ones life and provides a spiritual security that transcends even birth and death. There are many ways to call the Buddhas name, and throughout the Buddhist world devotees do so in one way or another. When you get your cup of coffee, Namo Amida Bu.. What is Pure Land Buddhism? A look at how East Asian Buddhists chant One Chinese master who taught nianfo along with visualization was Yngung (18611940). The Amityur dhyna-stra, translated by J. Takakusu. Thank you for subscribing to Tricycle! The practice is touching. If you find it difficult to find the privacy to chant sometimes, just move your lips without making a noise, or say the words inside your head. According to masters like Yuan Hongdao and Yinguang, the length of time that one spends in the Pure Land before attaining Buddhahood matters, because the faster one attains Buddhahood, the faster one can help all beings as a Buddha. He saw the name of the Buddha as a kind of spell which has the power to connect us with the wisdom of the Buddha and his inconceivable realm (acintya-dhtu). Namo means 'I call out to' or 'I give thanks for' or 'I entrust myself to'. (2020). This Pure Land is often described as a kind of way station or hostel (lgun ) outside of the triple world of samsara. [138] They also held that claiming that a Pure Land can exist external to the mind and can appear pure even to an impure mind contradicts the Mahayana idea that the world is constructed by the mind. By Dharmavidya David Brazier Winter 2018 Illustration by Vivienne Flesher Pure Land practice is simple. [91] Jones notes that the term nin can mean both contemplate and recite. Feel free to chant along with the audio, or chant alone and vary the speed or pitch to suit your own voice.Some people feel self-conscious when they first start chanting, or worry about whether theyre getting it right. No matter how wicked one may still be one will definitely reach the Pure Land. Chanting Every Sunday. Do ten minutes ofchantinga day, or light a candle at your shrine and say theSummary of Faith and Practice. I will then continue practice with the aim of full enlightenment and be able to benefit all beings. You will be allocated a personal tutor and will send your answers to each lesson via email. COPYRIGHT 2023. This is Amitabhas Fundamental Vow, and is first revealed in theInfinite Life Sutraspoken by Shakyamuni Buddha. Reciting the name of Amitabha is the main practice, which is supported by the auxiliary practices of chanting the Pure Land sutras, visualization and meditation on Amitabha, worshiping and bowing to Amitabha and praising and making offerings to Amitabha. Yuan Hongdao uses the Huayan theory of Indra's net to explain how the Pure Land perfectly interpenetrates with all buddha-lands and all the impure lands. [90], Shandao's disciple, Huaigan (d. 699) was also an important figure in his own right. Ippen taught that not even faith was necessary for salvation, only the actual chanting the nenbutsu alone was needed. Whatever one is, one offers, and one receives what one needs. Each syllable is heard and care is taken to make sure that each is clear and distinct, recitation after recitation. Thus, even the worst of persons can be saved through this method. [202] His work is a classic of the genre and draws on numerous other texts to explain how Pure Land practice works through a synthesis of the "ripening force of individual beings" (sems-can rang-rang gi stobs smin-pa), the "power of reality's potency" (dngos-po'i nus-pa) and the power of Amitbha's aspirations (smon-lam) and wisdom (ye-shes). Jack Kornfield [83], The next major influence on Chinese Pure Land was Daochuo, who wrote a work defending Pure land from its critics. [137], On the other hand, those who promoted the "mind-only Pure Land" view saw the idea that the Pure Land was "somewhere else" as violating the Mahayana doctrine of the non-duality of purity and impurity, of samsara and nirvana. [73], The rise in popularity of Pure Land Buddhism may have been due to the popular idea that human beings were becoming incapable of practicing the Buddha Dharma properly since the world was entering into a decadent or latter age of the Dharma. This meant they no longer needed to study the monasteries of other traditions. [118], However, Hnen is known to have scrupulously kept the Tendai precepts, and to have continued to perform rituals and study texts. In traditions like Sanron and Tendai, nenbutsu (nianfo) is seen as one method among many, to be practiced in conjunction with other Buddhist practices like meditation, rituals, precepts, etc. This group of methods is drawn from various sources, and links to resources for learning more about them are at the bottom of the page. This other power relationship was compared to how a lowly man who is accompanied by a king can enter previously inaccessible places. [165] The Chinese use a version of this dhra that was transliterated from Sanskrit into Chinese characters, called the "Mantra for Birth in the Pure Land" (Chinese: ; pinyin: Shng jngt zhu). [7] Visualization practises for Amitbha are also popular in Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism as well as other schools of Vajrayana. This has led many western authors to speculate about possible connections between these traditions. Woodhead, Linda. [32] Thus, this buddha-field makes it much easier for someone to attain enlightenment. In this model, the Pure Land will appear when the environment is cleansed and healed, the rights of women and children are safeguarded, and economic and social justice prevail. [92] Another important doctrinal development of Shandao was the idea that the power of Amitabha's vows not only established the Pure Land, but also caused even the most depraved beings to be reborn there. This teaching activity, which is done out of a sense of great compassion, is how Buddhas and bodhisattvas "purify" their Buddha-fields. [150] The twelfth patriarchof Chinese Pure Land, Jxng Chw (, 17411810) also held that the practitioner and Amitbha, while distinct beings, are also really non-dual. Types of Buddhism Study Buddhism Yongming Yanshou (904975) is one of the many figures which taught the unity of Chan Buddhism with Pure Land practice. This text was attributed to Zhiyi, but cannot be by him according to Jones and it betrays the influence of Huaigan's ideas as well as those of Tanluan and Daochuo. [155] Transference of merit is the idea that Buddhas and bodhisattvas can transfer their immense stores of merit (puya, a beneficial protective force that is accumulated by good deeds), to other beings. The practice is often described as calling the buddha to mind by repeating his name, to enable the practitioner to bring all his or her attention upon that Buddha (See: samdhi). It is suitable for those with busy lives, and it is as suitable for those who are struggling with self-destructive habits or feelings of despondency, anger, sadness, or confusion as it is for those who are full of joy in living. Phenomenal holding of the name (sh ch ), which entails concentrating on the individual syllables of the name. When we take up the Pure Land orientation, the failures and tragedies that occur confirm rather than shake our faith. According to Jones, they held that Buddhists should not desire to escape from this world of suffering by seeking rebirth in a faraway land. All rights reserved.Design by Point Five. HOW TO DO PROSTRATIONSMany Buddhist traditions include some form of prostrations in daily practice. In Japanese Buddhism, the term more commonly refers to specific institutions. Fazhao is known for standardizing the Chinese classic chant of na-mo a-mi-tuo fo (adoration [or prostration] to Amitabha Buddha), which came to be known as the "nianfo". If so, just keep going for a few days and these feelings will likely fade. Charles B. Jones has recently published a slate of vastly informative publications on the Pure Land tradition. When one recites the nembutsu it is an expression of gratitude and wonderment but also an expression of whatever spiritual feeling is arising at that time. "What is your understanding of the Pure Land concept in Buddhism? Do In: Pacific World Journal, Third Series, Number 3, 241275. Then at the time of death, Amitabha will appear to those who have sincerely practiced and wished to be reborn there and lead them to Sukhavati. [57] The earliest of these translations show evidence of having been translated from the Gndhr language, a Prakrit. Historically it was most commonly described as a "dharma-gate" (fmn ), referring to a method of Buddhist practice. [90], Jones notes that it was Shandao who promoted the centrality of the oral recitation of Amitabha's name as the main Pure Land practice (which he connected with the term nian), previous patriarchs had not focused on this aspect and had interpreted nian differently. edited 5 yr. ago pure land I'm a Pure Land believer/practitioner here: Essentially, yes. Buddhism for Beginners is an initiative of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, a print and digital magazine dedicated to making Buddhist teachings and practices broadly available. "[93] The work explains how the power of the Buddha can override individual's negative karma and allow them to see the purity of the Pure Land and be reborn there among the lower grades of beings. According to Asanga, sutra statements which say that one may be reborn in a buddha-field by simply wishing to or by simply reciting a Buddha's name should not be taken literally. [187], Another form of group practice which is common in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism is the nianfo recitation retreat, where Buddhists come together for intensive recitation practice for several days. Later he founded a monastery at the top of Mountain Lu and invited well-known literati to study and practice Buddhism there, where they formed the White Lotus Society (Bilinsh ). According to the sutra, the nature of the visions are dream-like and the sutra states that they are possible because all phenomena are empty and made by mind. It is also one of the earliest known Mahayana sutras. "[145] Thus, in Chinese Pure Land, rebirth in the Pure Land arises from a cooperation of the practitioner and the Buddha. [26] Furthermore, the East Asian term "pure land" or "purified ground" (Chinese: jngt) is not a translation of any particular Indic term, and Indian authors almost always used the term buddhaketra. According to Jones, Huaigan's apologetic Treatise explaining a number of doubts about Pure Land, (Sh jngt qny ln , T.1960) "added a great deal of philosophical depth to Shandao's basic framework. Some people are called to become aspirants which is the path to becoming an Amida Shu Priest. [102], A later figure was Fazhao (died c. 820), who was influential in increasing the popularity of Pure land with the Imperial court. Pure Land Buddhism is a specific interpretation of the Mahayana school, popular in eastern China and Korea. "[105] Tiantai school monks were pivotal in the spreading of Pure Land practice in China during this period. smriti, commonly translated as 'mindfulness'). In order to start the practice, you dont need a clear idea of exactly whatAmida is or how nembutsu works. Why do Pure Land aspirants have different opinions about the Pure Land path? [75], According to Charles B. Jones, early Pure Land authors in China discussed and debated three different views on the Pure Land: (1) ordinary people could be born in Sukhvat, (2) only advanced bodhisattvas could reach Sukhvat, (3) Pure Land practitioners attained whatever kind of land corresponded to the purity of their minds. Recollecting the Buddha with faith and a strong aspiration to be born in Sukhavati are the main causes, while the others are secondary. This introduced the possibility that one could be reborn in these Buddhafields. Audio of five minutes of chanting with a tuneAudio of five minutes of spoken chanting. No Sanskrit original has been discovered, no Tibetan translations exists and the text also shows Chinese influences, including references to earlier translations of Chinese Pure Land texts. [198] However, there are also many other sources which mention other Pure Lands aside from Sukhavati, which shows that this was not the only Pure Land sought after by Tibetan Buddhists during the first and second disseminations of Buddhism. Chanting of Amitabha Buddha. In Mahayana Buddhism, of which Pure Land is a part, there is a strong sense that the being of Buddha is not something limited to a single place and time but is universally present and available, inspiring and benefitting us. [70] Huiyan did praise nianfo, and he is recorded as saying that "the nianfo samadhi is preeminent for height of merit and ease of practice. [35], In the Longer Sukhvatvyha Stra, Gautama Buddha begins by describing to his attendant nanda a past life of the Buddha Amitbha. According to Jones, "the most frequently cited texts in support of this version of the Pure Land were the Vimalakrti Sutra (Wimj sushu jng , T.475) and the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (Li z dsh fbo tn jng , T.2008). [107], Another important late Pure Land author was the Yuan dynasty monk Tianru Weize (, c. 1286?1354), who wrote the Questions about Pure Land (Jngt huwn , T.1972) as a dialogue between a skeptical Chan monk who poses questions about Pure Land practice, claiming it is dualistic. The Buddhist Pure Land and Its Significance - Owlcation . [87], Shandao (7th century) was a student of Daochuo who lived in the ancient capital of Changan and focused on spreading the Pure Land teachings among ordinary people (instead of at court). These teachers lived in dark times and offered hope. [55] According to this view, humans need the help of Amitbha Buddha to reach awakening, since in our time, the classic bodhisattva path is just too difficult. They clearly understand that, for rebirth in the Pure Land, they simply rely on Amitabhas true merits and virtues which are contained in his six-syllable Name: Na-Mo-A-Mi-Tuo-Fo. Thus, the Name is perfect and all-sufficient. One thing that we may well see is that insofar as we do take on board the sense that we are accepted even as we are, we tend to become more accepting of others. [89] While Shandao taught these auxiliary practices, he also held that reciting Amitabha's name ten times was sufficient for rebirth in the pure land. This is called nembutsu . The primary function of the Buddha-field or Pureland is to teach sentient beings in a Buddha Field. Contrary to all other Buddhist teachings, Pure Land is said to be an Easy Path of Practice by Bodhisattva Nagarjuna in his writingThe Chapter on Easy Practice. [46] When the Buddha's disciple riputra questions the nature of this world which appears defiled, the Buddha states that it only appears impure to certain beings since their minds are impure. Tricycle. [175][176] Some Chinese masters argued that the practice of Chan by itself was risky, since one did not know if it would bear fruit in this life. Daochuo promoted the view that the world was entering the "last days of the Dharma" (mf ). As a nonprofit, we depend on readers like you to keep Buddhist teachings and practices widely available. for a lotus blossom Routledge, 2016. Like other sects, it poses a path to awaken to the reality revealed over 2,500 years ago by Shakyamuni Buddha, a reality he found by seeking resolution to the perennial existential questions of sickness, old age, and death. [159] While Tix did not repudiate the idea of post-mortem rebirth in Amitabha's Pure Land, he also promoted the idea of improving people's everyday lives through social reform and the building of an ideal Buddhist community. Buddhism in Vietnam ( o Pht or Pht Gio in Vietnamese ), as practiced by the ethnic Vietnamese, is mainly of the Mahayana tradition and is the main religion. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Discover what over 27,300 subscribers have access to, Full access to 30 years of content with over 7,775 articles. [211], The esoteric practice of phowa (mind transference, Sanskrit: *sakrnti) is a unique part of Tibetan Pure Land practice which is found in various terma (revealed treasure) works like The Standing Blade of Grass (Tib. Jodo Shinshu, or "True Pure Land Buddhism," is the formal name for Shin Buddhism, the largest Buddhist sect in Japan. One popular Pure Land dhra is the Pure Land Rebirth dhra ( Wangsheng Jingtu Shenzhou) is another method in Pure Land Buddhism. Once-calling held that you only needed to recite nenbutsu once and you would be saved, the many-calling view held that you needed to recite nenbutsu as much as possible. [100] This is because they view recitation as a meditation method used to concentrate the mind and purify thoughts. [103], Unlike in the Japanese Pure Land of Shinran and Honen, Chinese Buddhist Pure Land practice was never really exclusivist and was often practiced in tandem with other Buddhist methods. In the Anguttara Nikaya, one finds six anusmtis: the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, sila (moral observance), caga (liberality), and the devata (gods). [8], The two most important Indian sutras for the East Asian Pure Land tradition are the Longer Sukhvatvyha Stra, and the Shorter Sukhvatvyha Stra. Nattier notes that "a tremendous amount of merit is required", and conversely, no specific devotional act towards Akobhya is required. Jdo Shinsh (, "The True Essence of the Pure Land Teaching"), also known as Shin Buddhism or True Pure Land Buddhism, is a school of Pure Land Buddhism. [118], Initially, the Jdo-sh were a faction (ha) or sub-sect of the Tendai school, but after the 14th century, it developed into an independent tradition, which was more like a loose family of lineages. The primary practice common to all schools of Pure Land is the recitation of the name of Amitabha Buddha. Getting Started with NembutsuPure Land Buddhism's Chant to Foster [168] Similarly, Jxng Chw stressed the importance of various prerequisite elements to nianfo pracitce: bodhicitta, faith in the pure land, an aspiration to achieve rebirth there, a sense of shame at past wrongdoing, joy at having learned of Pure Land, sadness over one's bad karma and gratitude to the Buddha. [199], Tibetan compositions of pure-land prayers and artistic renditions of Sukhvat in Central Asia date to that time. [23] Sentient beings who are reborn in these pure buddha-fields due to their good karma also contribute to the development of a Buddha-field, as can bodhisattvas who are able to travel there. Instead, the Buddha's intent in saying such things was to encourage the lazy and indolent that were not capable of practicing the Dharma properly. Nothing else is required. In the language of Pure Land Buddhism, we are accepted by the love of the buddhas, Amida Buddha in particular. [6], According to the Akobhya-vyha, attaining rebirth is Abhirati is difficult. If youre a morning person, set your alarm ten minutes early. He also wrote new texts which clarified the doctrine of the tradition. Chant along with recordings (URLs below), chant alone, or find a friend whos interested in joining you and chant together. Visualize Amidabha Buddha, the appropriate Bodhisattvas and the Realm of Bliss (Pure Land). Payne, Richard Karl; Tanaka, Kenneth Kazuo (2004). Services Expounding of Pure Land Buddhism by Venerable Master Shi Chin Kung. [48] The sutra may have been composed outside of India (perhaps Central Asia) and later introduced into the subcontinent. [116][110], Pure Land practice also spread among commoners and laypersons, especially due to the rise in popularity of deathbed rituals and popular collections of stories of people who had achieved rebirth in the Pure Land, such as the Nihon j Gokuraku-ki (Records of Rebirth in Utmost Bliss in Japan) by Jakushin (c. Join us every Sunday for mindful recitation, approximately 9am - 12pm. Sometimes we dont even know whats best for ourselves, so we must trust that something good will begin to unfold. [66] The members of the White Lotus also vowed to help each other reach "the spirit realm" or "the west". It doesnt require that the practitioner be learned in Buddhist thought or exceptional in moral virtue, meditation, or spiritual discipline. "[24], There was never any Indian "school" focused on this method, as it was considered one of the many goals and methods of Indian Mahayana Buddhism. Instead, Buddhists should "engage in social reform and charitable work in order to transform this world into a Pure Land. Pure Land: An "Easy Path" of Practice? - Buddhistdoor Global Unlike religions that say you'll be punished if you don't abide by the laws and rules of the religion, Buddhism focuses on the consequences that your actions will have in this life and the next.