A Lay Buddhist's Dharma Musings, #2 (The Five Dhyani Buddhas)

[@malal513]

❤❤🙏🏻

[@namoamidabuts]

🙏

[@Hamza_12348]

I'm extremely grateful to you ❤😊

[@namoamidabuts]

Your feedback is very meaningful to me, Hamza. Thanks so much. -John

[@Hamza_12348]

❤️❤️🙏🏻​@@namoamidabuts

[@bodhisattvaFM]

You're doing great dharma service here. I'd appreciate your thoughts on how Amida shows up throughout Pure Land and Tendai sutra if you'd like to share them.

[@namoamidabuts]

If by "shows up" you mean where in the sutras is he referenced, there are three main Sukhavati, or Pure Land sutras. Following is some information I gleaned from the WWW: The Three Pure Land Sutras are the foundational texts of Pure Land Buddhism, a major branch of Mahayana Buddhism. These sutras describe Sukhavati, the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, a paradise realm believed to be free from suffering. Here's a breakdown of each sutra: **1. Larger Sutra on Amitāyus (Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra):** * **Focus:** This is the most detailed of the three sutras. It delves into the origins of Sukhavati and Amitabha Buddha. * **Content:** * The narrative follows a monk named Dharmakara who aspires to become a Buddha and create a realm where all beings can easily attain enlightenment. * It elaborates on the forty-eight vows Amitabha Buddha takes to establish Sukhavati and guide sentient beings there. * The sutra also describes the characteristics of Sukhavati, emphasizing its beauty, peacefulness, and abundance. * Additionally, it explains the different levels of rebirth within Sukhavati based on the merit accumulated by the individual. **2. Contemplation Sutra (Amitayurdhyana Sutra):** * **Focus:** This sutra emphasizes the practices that can lead to rebirth in Sukhavati. * **Content:** * It describes visualization practices where devotees contemplate the qualities of Amitabha Buddha and Sukhavati. * The sutra emphasizes the importance of cultivating a pure mind and sincere faith in Amitabha Buddha's salvific power. * It also discusses the benefits of reciting Amitabha's name (nembutsu) as a core practice for accumulating merit and increasing the chances of rebirth in Sukhavati. **3. Shorter Sukhāvatīvyūha Sutra (Amitabha Sutra):** * **Focus:** This is the shortest and most widely recited sutra among the three. * **Content:** * It provides a concise overview of Sukhavati's blissful qualities and the practices leading to rebirth there. * The sutra emphasizes the ease and accessibility of the Pure Land path, suggesting that even those with limited capacity can attain rebirth through sincere faith and nembutsu practice. **Overall Significance:** * **Pure Land Philosophy:** Together, these sutras establish the core principles of Pure Land Buddhism, highlighting: * The boundless compassion of Amitabha Buddha, who established Sukhavati as a refuge for suffering beings. * The accessibility of enlightenment through faith and devotional practices. * The emphasis on practices like visualization and nembutsu to cultivate merit and connect with Amitabha's salvific power. * **Widespread Influence:** The Three Pure Land Sutras have had a profound impact on Mahayana Buddhism, particularly in East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam). They continue to inspire millions of practitioners who seek liberation through devotion to Amitabha Buddha and the Pure Land.

[@namoamidabuts]

The primary focus in Tendai is on the Lotus Sutra, but the chanting of Amitabha's name is one of the practices.

[@namoamidabuts]

If you are talking about "showing up" in more of a spiritual sense, Amida represents a kind of Other-power that is inconceivable in terms of specfic form or place, but that is real in terms of influencing us via a sense of compassionate embrace. Our role is simply to entrust in that embrace.

[@bodhisattvaFM]

@@namoamidabuts I'm trying to broadly understand the path of the Mahayana through Buddhist history and the info you gave may have saved me months. Thank you so much 🙏🏾

[@namoamidabuts]

I am glad it was helpful. 🙏