Pure Land Buddhism for Westerners
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- Опубликовано: 9 апр 2021
- What is Pure Land Buddhism? Most Westerners may overlook this tradition of Buddhism; however, it makes up the most practiced form by laypersons and is worthy of consideration.
Buddhists who follow Pure Land Buddhism accept everything any other Buddhist would: Shakyamuni Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, etc.
However, their practice is based upon a few things. Primarily, understanding and practicing the Dharma in our world/reality is difficult. Without the presence of a living Buddha, like Shakyamuni during his time on earth, progress is difficult or impossible.
Celestial Buddhas can create what is popularly known as "Pure Lands" where one, after death, can experience rebirth in. Instead of returning to a mundane existence, they are brought to a Pure Land in order to understand and practice the Dharma without hindrance under the guidance of a Buddha(s), Bodhisattvas, and other Dharma teachers. Think of it like going to a school with the best teachers where you can truly understand what you are studying without hindrance, compared to trying to do the same thing with distractions and challenges.
Buddha Amitabha and his Western Pure Land (Sukhavati) are the most popular among laypersons. The most widely visible form of this practice is reciting the name of Amitabha (called Nianfo, Nembutsu, etc.).
While this seems like an odd practice for Buddhists, it is rooted in meditative concentration and mindfulness - parts of the Noble Eightfold Path. While there are many Pure Land schools/sects, visualization of the Buddha and Pure Land and related recitation assist in attaining enlightenment or rebirth in the Pure Land. When one visualizes and recites the name of Amitabha, they are focusing on a wholesome being - a Buddha. Thus, unwholesome thoughts, ideas, actions, cannot exist.
There are also three levels of practice/attainment in Pure Land according to Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh. All are considered wholesome, and not one is necessarily the 'right' or 'wrong' one. At the highest level, one realizes that the Pure Land is actually the Pure Land of their mind. And they realize Amitabha Buddha is actually their true self/nature (Nirvana, non-self, Buddhanature, etc.).
While most Westerners are familiar with Japanese-style Buddhism, namely Zen and Pure Land schools, this separation of schools is not the norm. Chinese Buddhism/Humanistic Buddhism practices both Ch'an (the original Meditation School in China or 'Zen' as it is called in Japan) and Pure Land and considers this practice complementary to each other. Other countries followed this practice such as Vietnam, and Korea as well. However, Japan decided to separate the Zen and Pure Land traditions.
Links:
1) Finding our True Home: Living in the Pure Land Here and Now by Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh: amzn.to/321K7zJ (Amazon Affiliate Link)
2) Fo Guang Shan (FGS): English Services on RUclips (ruclips.net/channel/UC_LC..., Weekly Buddhism (fgsenglishdharmaservices.blog...)
3) Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) is an example of a Japanese Pure Land sect/tradition that has numerous locations in Northern America: www.buddhistchurchesofamerica...
Contact Alan: alanpeto.com/contact
Video Disclaimer: alanpeto.com/legal/video-disc...
Very good introduction. I grew up Christian and first tried Theravada Buddhists practices and felt disheartened when I couldn’t meditate. Was fortunate to have found Jodo Shinshu Buddhism which opened my heart and mind to the boundless wisdom and compassion outside of me. There is active wisdom and compassion that constantly reminds me of the Dharma. As westerners were often hung up on trying to generate compassion and enlightenment inside ourselves. Sometimes you just need to bow your head in humility and say thank you. I bow to Amida Buddha in appreciation for all the opportunities I have to hear the Buddha Dharma. Namo Amida Butsu 🙏🏼📿🙏🏼📿🙏🏼📿
I'm also Jōdo Shinshū (not officially yet but I think I'll get my homyo in a few years) and it's a constant reflection on our ignorance, opening our heart to Amida and wisdom!
This form of Buddhism has been a blessing for me.
I want to say something to all people here.
There is nothing official to do when it comes to Pure Land Buddhism.
Everyone is welcomed in Sukhavati (the western pure land) as long as you joyfully entrust Amitābha Buddha and say the name according to his vow. Again, everyone is welcomed! No one is cut off (except people who commit rhe 5 great offenses and slander the right Dharma, but I'm not well informed on this) and everything is embraced by Amitābha's incommensurable light. You just need to whole-heartedly chant the name (Namo Amitabha, Namo Amituofo, Namu Amida Butsu) and entrusting and rhe worldly benefits such as joy, more wisdom and more peace of mind will come. You can start chanting the name today, in this very moment!
Namu Amida Butsu 🪷🙏 may you all enter the pure land
Amituofo 🙏
Thank you for talking about Pure Land Buddhism.
Although easier said then done, if samsara is on your mind, you will be drawn to seek refuge in samsara. If Amitabha is on your mind, you’ll be drawn to seek his Pure Land when the time comes.
I’m a practitioner and vow to only be reborn in his realm when the time comes.
How much work/effort does it take to be able to 'seek his Pure Land when the time comes' as you put it?
@@John3.36 There were times when all it took was one sentence for an individual to realize the Dharma while others with years of citation and living a seclusive life to grasp a bit of it. Im not qualify to give you a satisfactory answer.
Each one of us have our own liberation to work toward, our own karmic actions to account for, eons of ignorance to cleanse, limitless beings in the same boat as us that need guidance.
Do your due diligence and practice, believe in Amitabha’s vows, believe in your own resolution and action. And In time, hopefully you can answer your own question.
Wonderful video. I am a Westerner and I recently took refuge at a vietnamese pureland temple near me.
That's fantastic! A great tradition.
NAM MÔ A DI ĐÀ PHẬT - Vietnamese Pure Land Chant - Pure Land is practiced along with Zen in Vietnamese-American temples. This is a beautiful form of Buddhism!
Agreed thanks for sharing!
Namo Amitabha Buddha 🙏🏽✨❤️☸️📿
🙏
In Vietnam, Pure Land is called TỊNH ĐỘ (The Pure Way or the Pure Path).
Thank you very much for the clear description.
I hope that you, Buddhists and friends will join hands in spinning the Dharma wheel for the benefit of all beings.
May the merit and virtue accrued from this work,
Adorn the Buddhas' Pure Land,
Repaying four kinds of kindness above,
And aiding those suffering in the paths below.
May those who see and hear of this,
All bring forth the resolve for Bodhi,
And when this retribution body is over,
Be born together in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Thank you. Very clear, suitable and instructive for Western people who are trying to understand Pure Land Buddhism. 南無阿弥陀仏 🙏🏻
🙏
Thank you. This video was really informative and especially since Buddhism is so wide and deep. And you might be laughing now, but when I converted to Buddhism in Vietnam 2012 it was in a pagoda where they practiced pure land. I didn't understand what it was back then. I just got that they liked Thich Nhat Hanh, and as you described he is also into pure land. I didn't know that either before this video. So for all these years I haven't been an active practitioner of my Buddhist path, but a piece here and there and maybe it could start to fall in place.
Thank you!
In China there's also the traditional Chinese Pure Land Buddhism, but the interpretation is also integral with Chan and other Mahayana schools. And almost all the Chan schools also practice the Pure Land method to exit Samsara (as most realized they cannot realise enlightenment in one lifetime). And also for Pure Land practitioners in China we also study prajnaparamita (the doctrine of Shunyata), as the Pure Land Dharma is also guided by the principle of Shunyata. But the methods of Pure Land School and Chan are still a bit different (traditionally Chan's interpretation focused more on the Pure Land as the Pure Mind rather than seeking rebirth to Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land, whereas Pure Land schools recognise indeed we have Pure Land in our mind/heart, but still too difficult to achieve Pure Land in the Here Now, so just go to Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land first and realised Buddhahood there). But more and more the Chan schools also recognise it's indeed difficult to achieve this Pure Land in the Here Now and realise our inherent Amitabha Buddha, so they will also rely on Amitabha Buddha's power to seek rebirth to the Pure Land with faith vow and practice like the Pure Land school). Thanks for the video to introduce the Pure Land Buddhism. Amituofo
Amituofo!
By “Chan” in Chinese Pinyin, the commenter means “Zen”.
@@lotus-lotus Shaolin Buddhism, right?
Thank you very much !
I will send this video to my Father, I hope he will enjoy, understand clearly about the true spiritual source. I have been a Buddhist for more than 40 years, I strongly believe there is a Pure Land AMITABA it's true
I am also practicing chanting, meditating and reciting the Buddha's name. Aspiration after death to be reborn in the pure land of AMITABA
I hope to be like you one day I have been studying Zen for 3 years and only pure land mostly just the Nembutsu to help me with my alcoholism my mala helps me to practice its a good tool to remind me buddha isn't that far way
Namo Amitabha Buddha 🙏☸️🙏
Thank you for taking the time to present this spiritual option in a very sincere manner, clear and thoughtful, taking care to show the congruency with the fundamentals of Shakyamuni's teaching. All my respects to Buddha Amitabha and his adherents. I follow a different religious tradition, but still I am convinced that there are such Pure Lands to help our spiritual advancement. We should have faith, treasure the teachings we have been given, and continually renew our aspiration for such a place.
Alan - this was exactly the information I've been searching for! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this video together.
That’s great to hear Jef! Let me know if any questions.
Namo amituofo
Welcome back home my friend .
Thank you very much for this video, it was very informative. I am beginning to add Amitabha Buddha to my practice and you have helped me a lot.
In Chinese Mahayana Buddhism as regards to Pure Land Buddhism,the 3 conditions for birth in the Pure Land of Amitabha are Faith,Vows,and practice. Yes there are many Buddhist Pure Lands,but the Amitabha Buddha has an affinity with us beings of this Saha World. And when we practice and see the Amitabha Buddha we see all the Buddhas of the ten directions.
Thanks for adding more to this, Dwight! Yes, many pure lands, but Amitabha Buddha’s is the most popular for some great reasons.
@@AlanPeto Well Alan I been involved with Pure Land study & practice since the early 1990' and I don't have all the answers but I can say to you that after you've been in Pure Land practice for a while you'll understand the reasons about Amitabha and why we in our time should seek rebirth in Amitabha' Western Pure Land.
Thank you. This cleared up some confusion and hesitation I had.
Thank you, Alan, for this video.
I understand that your channel caters to the Western Mind as they need proper assistance and help like you provide on how Buddhism can be practiced such as the Pure Land Tradition which I am currently practicing.
I'm from the Philippines and as a Filipino I can easily relate to the Western Mind as we are the most Western-oriented cultures all over Southeast Asia historically and culturally.
Here in the Philippines, we consider Buddhism as our best kept secret just like Eastern Orthodoxy is in the US. With the exception of most Chinese-Filipinos, we Native Filipinos surprisingly have significant ignorance on what Pure Land Buddhism is and how it is actually practiced including all the Benefits it can bring to our lives.
Strictly speaking, we Filipinos still think that Amitabha Buddha or his image at least is either a statue decor for the home, a Chinese Garden restaurant or even a massage parlour!
Seriously I'm not joking. 🙏
Even with us Filipinos when it comes to Buddhism we only think of four things:
1. Shaolin Kung-Fu
2. Feng Shui
3. Chinatown/Chinese New Year
4. Pampaswerte or Good Luck Charms.
Disappointing but True.
In any case, thanks again for sharing your insights on the Pure Land.
I was hoping if I could also share my own insights as well to the points you have discussed; and here it is:
Whether Amitabha Buddha is real or inseparable from one's mind is not the point.
Whether the Pure Land is a real place or a state of mind is not the point.
The point is that you practice. Period. And see where it takes you.
Famed Yogi and Visionary Kyabje Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev stated: "What you know, you know; what you do not know, you do not know. The moment you accept that you do not know the opportunity to know will open before you. (Ibid.)"
The main problem with us is that the moment we turn our practice into belief everything else outside of it becomes our enemy.
This is how wars and persecutions are made.
We must do better, be better. Just practice. That's it. That's what Pure Land Buddhism really teaches. Thank you.
Namo Amitabhaya Buddhaya. 🙏
🙏🏻Amitabha to Xavier and Alan. Firstly, I would like to thank Alan for the great explanation of Buddha’s teachings.
As Pureland practitioner, here I would like to say that in order to seek reborn in Amitabha Buddha’s Pureland we need to believe and have faith in Amitabha Buddha’s 48vows as written in his Amitabha Buddha’s sutra of Infinite Life (无量寿经)
You may also watch RUclips videos of Pure Land Buddhism. You’ll get some good information about Amitabha Buddha’s teachings too. 🙏🏻
Amitofo! 🙏
Amitofo! 🙏
Cool vid Love your stuff kick on love it
Thanks very much Alan for the explanation! Amituofo 🙏
Amituofo!
Thank you for another interesting video Alan.
Glad you enjoyed it!
May all living beings obtain illumination
this is great
Amituofo 🙏🏻🌟🌈
Excellent video, very informative. Thank you!
Thanks, Bill! 🙏
Thank you.
Very clear and precise.
Interesting about Thay and that he has pure land teachings.
I read some of his book 25 years ago.
When I first set out on my search.
It’s very common in Vietnamese and Chinese Buddhism. However, westerns tend to not be interested in it so be articulates it a different way. Most see him as a “Zen” monk, but that’s only half the story. Chan (original Chinese version of zen) and Thiền (Vietnamese version) are often intermixed in the same Buddhism tradition with pure land. Most westerners are used to the Japanese version who separated the schools, but that’s not always typical. There is a great book by Thay on pure land practice.
Amitabuddha's Pure Land matrix is separate from the Samsara matrix, which has both extremes of good and bad, the highest heavens to the worst level of hell. The Pure Land matrix was created by Amitabuddha and so completely lack any existence of all the bad elements. Everything are perfect in that land. Beings there can will anything and it will manifest instantly. All manifestations are good. It is said that it is extremely far from the Samsara matrix that we're in and yet upon death, the Buddha would come to deliver the soul to the Pure Land in an instant. Instantly arriving at the Pure Land matrix. But that soul has to be willing to go there. The Buddha will not take the unwilling to his Pure Land matrix. It is said that even the very idea of hell is non-existent in the minds of the beings born there. They are all born out of their own lotus flower. It is said that beings in the Pure Land can live an immeasurably, unfathomably long time span, possibly far longer than the time span of the universe we're in, so that they have almost eternity to practice to be enlightened to reach Nirvana. Once you're there, you're guaranteed to reach Buddhahood and enter Nirvana. You'll never have to be perpetually rebirthing between all the heavens and hells and in between. The physical beauty of the beings born in the Pure Land also far exceeds the physical beauty of the beings born in the highest heaven within the Samsara matrix. It is also said that beings there could remember every detail of the countless lives they had lived through when they were trapped inside the Samsara matrix. They could traverse immeasurably wide spans of space in an instant.
Thanks for sharing!
na mo a di da phat. be here now do no harm help others be still close eyes listen to your breathing.
Very nice. Thank you for the clear information re Pure Land!
🙏 Amituofo!
Namo Buddhay
I loved your explanation, I was wondering if you could do a video about Nichiren Buddhism
Thanks, Khristian! I will add it to my list to create a video :)
🙏🙏🙏
Namo Amituofo
I love watching your videos 😍.
Please make a video on navyana (new vehicle) Buddhism of modern India. I heard that it is more scientific.
Thank you! Ok, I have that on my list.
Fantastic video! I did want to say It's correct Buddha's aren't eternal, up until you get to the lotus Sutra. The lotus sutra makes it clear, Buddha is omniscient and omnipresent. Paranibbana is skillful mean, and he abides forever, it's made very clear.
I didn't dig as deep in this video into that (which I should cover in another video), but yes, in Mahayana Buddha's do indeed have a sort of 'eternal' presence due to the three bodies of a Buddha. The Buddha[s] we have in a conditioned state are impermanent (and very important fo us), but their Dharma body can continue as you describe.
This is, overall a good video!
Around 4:20 I think you stumbled a bit with your words, and accidently said that Buddhas eventually pass away (This is incorrect since according to Buddhist doctrine, Buddhas do not die or pass away; in fact, Shakyamuni repeatedly refers to Nirvana as "The Deathless"). However, I see that your main point was that the Pureland is not thought of as a permanent abode, and this is absolutely correct (There is a saying in Jodo Shinshu that "The Pureland is easy to attain, but it is empty" meaning that those who attain the Pureland always return as Bodhisattvas).
I really appreciate your point that thinking on Amida and their Pureland is a method of purifying the mind (I would add that "true entrusting" is a means of breaking the "attention-intention-perception-action-attention" cycle). In my mind this is the key component Pureland Buddhism which does indeed place it firmly amongst other orthodox Buddhist schools.
Thank you.
Thanks, Galen! Appreciate your reply and feedback. I think we may be saying the same thing, so let me give it a try here ;)
I wasn't very articulate as you described at that point, but it was what I wanted to convey. The Buddha taught that *all* conditioned phenomena are impermanent, ever-changing, and interconnected (nonself). This included him, and everything and everyone else. So even Amitabha will eventually 'cease' to be in that current existence.
But there is a big caveat here.
As a celestial Buddha (or other heavenly/celestial beings), we are talking about existences that can span eons. For humans, who have only been here in a blink of an eye in the history of our planet, so Amitabha could still exist well after humans have ceased to exist (to include in our current form). To us, anything celestial can very much seem to exist forever. There are also other Pure Lands with other celestial Buddhas, and there is nothing preventing another western Pure Land from existing after Amitabha. So, having Amitabha exist forever, or not, is not even a thought for me, yet it also shouldn't be anything for any practitioner to fear or be concerned about. Celestial Buddhas can stick around for quite some time ;)
But this also takes us to another point you made about Nirvana, referring to it as the traditional term of The Deathless. Shakyamuni did indeed pass away in a natural way. His physical body, made up of the Five Aggregates/Namarupa, ceased. It is Dependent Origination which is what Siddhartha realized upon his awakening that revealed and interconnected with everything else we have in Buddhist teachings. Realizing the fundamental nature of our world/existence and realizing Nirvana, terms and beliefs like "birth and death" are now realized as "dualistic" thinking, which is the false view we have as beings clouded by delusion. So, "deathless" refers to one who is no longer caught in that dualistic thinking, among other things.
We were not created from nothing, and we don't die into nothingness. But Buddhism is not nihilistic, as you described. It doesn't mean we exist forever and/or continue on in an unchanging way (that would go against the fundamental teaching of Shakyamuni).
Purifying the mind is a central part of the Buddhist traditions, and Pure Land is no different. You are right, it indeed makes it a true Buddhist tradition. One does not need to perform sitting meditation exclusively. In-fact, for most laypersons sitting meditation is a relatively modern experience (even for monastics!). Yet, it is what most Westerners associate Buddhism with. Reciting the nianfo/nembutsu, focusing on the qualities of a Buddha like Amitabha, etc., align right with the 'meditation' part of the Eightfold Path. Mindfulness, Concentration, and Effort make up these group - and all are found in Pure Land. In fact, Chinese Buddhism (which has a lineage back to the Buddha/ancient India), incorporates both Ch'an ("Zen") and Pure Land into its practice showing how it works together.
According to Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh (who most Westerners associate with 'Zen', but actually teaches a form of Pure Land along with Ch'an in the Vietnamese tradition), gave the example of King Tran Thai Tong and Master Tue Trung. They explained that there are three levels of practice in Pure Land. The highest practice is where "Amitabha and the Pure Land are found right inside the mind, and Amitabha Buddha is our own Dharma body." He provided a passage that said "Show me the person who is without recollection, show me the person who is without birth."
That, and the entire explanation by Thay of the three levels, is a beautiful and empowering explanation of Pure Land practice. The Pure Land - in whatever way we realize it - is not a permanent abode like you mentioned but is there to help 'us' become a Bodhisattva and/or eventually a Buddha so we can help other sentient beings.
And traditions like Humanistic Buddhism, popularized by Fo Guan Shan / Ven. Master Hsing Yun (and others), advocate for creating a Pure Land right here, right now, in our world. Very aspirational, but also very empowering and inspiring for spurring action!
@@AlanPeto I am again agreeing with everyone you say except for the notion that the three marks of existence apply to the nirvanic realms. My reading of the Nikayas and subsequent sutras is that only samsara refers to conditioned existence (and impermanence and non-self).
In fact, not only do I see Shakya indicating that beyond samsara there really is permanence, but that there might even be atman. His silence allows that as a possibility (although it would be a kind of non-individualistic atman, perhaps a single universal atman synonymous with the Dharmakaya as some Theravadans believe). But I digress. I am glad that our tradition is big tent, and that we can disagree about such things without needing to start a crusade :D
Please keep up the great work and make more videos!
Ah, I see what you are referring to now! And I also agree with you that there is a wonderful mix of interpretations, practices, and culture in the Buddhist religion while staying true to the core teachings.
The sutras are ambiguous on whether a buddha passes away or not. There is, however, a Mahayana scripture that describes how Avalokitesvara will take over the western Pure Land after Amitabha passes into final nirvana.
Thank you so much Alan !
I'm a practitioner. Unfortunately I live in a country where there is no buddhist temple (North Africa . Tunisia) .
I would like to open a little free center of meditation and dedicate it to Amitabha. I have 2 questions :
- May I give my little temple the name of "Sukhāvati" or is it irrespective ?
- May we chant also for Medicine Buddha ?
Thank you so much Alan if you take a little time to answer me .
Silvia
Hi Silvia! Good questions. If you're looking to start a Pure Land temple, it would mostly consist of the recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name rather than only meditation (meditation is mostly found combined practice with Pure Land in the rest of the East Asian countries except for Japan). A temple is usually one where monastics reside, so you might want to create a lay-Buddhist group which is very common. You might want to reach out to an organization to see if they have any structure in place for lay-organizations to create a center/group. That way, you can get some guidance and structure/support to help you. Although this isn't the only organization, here's the one I'm affiliated with (Fo Guang Shan). Although not close to you, they have some in South Africa (www.hsilai.org/en/fgs/africa.php) but also plenty in Europe which might be close (www.hsilai.org/en/fgs/europe.php). I'd recommend emailing info@ibps.org to see if they can give you guidance on setting up a local group. The lay-Buddhist organizations that are affiliated with them are called Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA). Let me know how it goes for you!
@@AlanPeto Ohhh thank you so much for your answer and your guidance Alan ! I'm really grateful and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Silvia
Very informative video! Would referring to the pure land as a formation of our own pure mind, and Amitabha as our own Buddha-nature, imply that Amitabha Buddha is metaphorical? Or is it a realization of oneness with the celestial buddha and with the pure land? If it is the latter, would this imply all sentient beings are one?
Good question. In Pure Land Buddhism, Amitabha Buddha is very much an actual celestial Buddha. One goes to his Western Pure Land to learn under him and other Bodhisattvas so they too can become Buddhas. The practice described here illustrates that cultivation of the mind can begin at any time and should. It is like taking college classes in high school before getting to college - you are getting a head start. Most Buddhist traditions (including Theravada) nowadays consider this the age of decline in the Dharma, meaning enlightenment (as others had achieved when Shakyamuni Buddha was on this earth) is next to impossible. So, the focus is on the cultivation of merit for future rebirths conducive to the path (and think of this as going on all the way until the next Buddha, Maitreya, comes to this earth in the far future). With Pure Land Buddhism, rebirth is going right to the Western Pure Land to achieve this instead of waiting around for the next Buddha on Earth. Back to your question, there is nothing preventing us from actually achieving enlightenment here and now - it's just very (very!) challenging. But if one does, it is no different than seeing Amitabha as our inner Buddhanature and the Pure Land of our own mind. So, at least in Chinese and Vietnamese traditions, the dual practice of Meditation (Ch'an in China and Thien in Vietnam) is encouraged alongside Pure Land. I compare it to a two-fisted boxer in a ring, compared to just fighting with one hand. And we are fighting (illustratively of course) our own greed, anger, and delusion that prevents us from becoming enlightened.
This was tremendous. Thank you so much. Are you aware of any sources that help explain the way in which Buddhism evolved as it spread along the Silk Road? I am curious as to how local culture impacted Buddhist practices.
Great question Steven! I don't have an article or video entirely on that. The closest I have is the Buddhist Scriptures (alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhist-scriptures). However, there is a lot of history as you can imagine. Here is one of many websites and pages about it: silkroadfoundation.org/artl/buddhism.shtml, and Wikipedia has a nice summary and map/images on it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road_transmission_of_Buddhism
This might be a good topic for a future article/video!
@@AlanPeto Perfect. These give me a good place from which to start. Thank you.
Phowa practice of transference of consciousness to western pure land is one such method.
namo amitabhaya.
Buddhism is religion
I really wanna promote this video
Namo amituofo , Namo amituofo , Namo amituofo
Hi Alan, are there any Pureland Temples or places to study here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. when I have asked around, nobody seems to know of any
Hi James, according to the World Buddhist Directory (www.buddhanet.info/wbd/province.php?province_id=558) there is Wat Pa Sukawadee.
What about Nichiren Shoshu? The LOTUS SUTRA? No reliance there on the merit of Amida, correct? We ourselves are dormant Buddhas.
I have a video about Nichiren Buddhism on the to-do list!
In all Mahayana schools, Nichiren and Pure Land included, we all have inherent Buddha-nature. All paths are different skillful means towards enlightenment.
Thank you for this informative video, and thank you for the links - they are good for my "monkey-mind" 😁
Glad it was helpful! :)
Nichiren
why do westerners shy away from anything devotional? It's sad actually
There could be varied reasons, but a common one is that it may look similar in context to the religion they grew up in, and wish to avoid devotional in their interpretation of Buddhism. Another is that some of the fundamental/deep meanings of practice aren't relatable, or they don't understand, so it comes across as something not needed in their practice.
Do you encourage fellow practitioner to preach medative Zen, or other practice in Pure Land practice? All we need to do , is just to practice reciting Namo Amitofo...And one day we will be able to reborn in the pure land . One day , we find that our own nature is Amitofo ,
And everything is pure. And when we 'die', we will be able to be reborn in the Pure Land. The Buddha taught 84,000 ways, but the pure land practice is just one of them. Especially in the Dharma-ending age, which is NOW. Billi
Amituofo 🙏
Do Monks astrally project during meditation to these pure lands ?
To my understanding, not astral projection. One may be able to visualize Amitabha Buddha and/or his Pure Land in a way similar to being able to "open your eyes" to it. Even in the time of the Buddha, there is a sermon where one of his disciples who was able to see is parents who had experienced rebirth in different realms. However, the Western Pure Land is not for monks alone. Pure Land Buddhism is about all practitioners having the capability to 1) have rebirth there to progress on the path towards Buddhahood and 2) the ability to develop the pure land of their mind and achieve enlightenment (although the second is much harder to achieve without a living Buddha, which is why the Pure Land exists).
Would it be accurate to think of Pure Land Buddhism as a sort of "hack"? What I mean is, if 1) the cycle of death and rebirth is suffering and inevitable, and 2) this cycle can be avoided by the dharma and nirvana, even though that is next to impossible in this age, _but_ 3) since this particular Buddha has created a place to be reborn where it _is_ possible, you can skip line to this last reincarnation and do it right this time, this seems like playing the dharma/karma thing against itself. Gaming the system, metaphysically speaking, if you will. And that's good.
Thanks for your thoughts and question! The way I understand it is that Buddhas are able to create 'Buddha Fields' (which we commonly call Pure Lands) out of their great compassion to help others in a more conducive environment towards awakening. In Mahayana, Samsara and Nirvana are looked at as essentially two sides of the same coin. So, escaping Nirvana is not necessarily the goal, because Samsara is not necessarily something to escape 'from'. Buddhas like Amitabha (the most popular and the one in Pure Land Buddhism) made a vow to create their pure land. It's sort of like a 'boot camp' or 'college' where rebirth occurs into, one trains as a Bodhisattva or Buddha (Bodhisattvas aspire to become Buddhas) and return to the 'world' to help other sentient beings. So, they don't stay in that pure land permanently. The 'age of decline' is one of a few reasons why Pure Land Buddhism is popular. It is the most popular form of Buddhism with laypersons for many reasons, but also that achieving enlightenment in this age that is centuries past the time of a living Buddha, is challenging or impossible. Only with that guidance of a living (in this case celestial) Buddha, is that feasible until the return of another Buddha of our era (which will be Maitreya). So, in a way, you can look at it as simply going to train under a living Buddha since we don't have one in our mundane life/world right now. On a deeper level, Amitabha Buddha is your inner Buddhanature, and the Pure Land is the environment you create (done through recitation/chanting which follows meditative concentration to settle the mind, focus on the pure qualities of a Buddha, etc., where no deluded thoughts can arise and only insight can arise).
@@AlanPetoThank you so much, Alan. Your channel and this video and your comments are the gems to me. I grew up listening to Master Chin Kung's sermons and struggles to find that form of Buddhism in America. Now that I come across this video, everything you said in English reminds me of everything Master Chin Kung talked about. Thank you for delivering this to us.
Do you know about any good Buddhist groups in Europe? For some reasons Tibetan buddhism is the most popular in Europe.
Great question Adam! Is there a particular tradition you are looking into? I might be able to offer some suggestions that way. A resource to check out is the Buddhanet Word Buddhist Directory. Here is Europe: www.buddhanet.info/wbd/region.php?region_id=5. Note that it may not always be the most up-to-date as temples/groups may close or open. The organization I practice in is Fo Guang Shan (FGS) which is Humanistic Buddhism (based on Chinese Buddhism). So, it is Ch'an (Zen) and Pure Land schools. Here is a list of their temples and affiliates in Europe: www.hsilai.org/en/fgs/europe.php. Note you would need to check with them (just like any other temple you are looking at) to see if they offer classes or other services in your language. With any tradition/school/temple, you will likely be practicing in some form of their original country's Buddhism which includes cultural practices and even chanting (etc.) in that language. Not to worry, as there is often documents that show you how to pronounce that language (such as Chinese) with your own language/words. Keep an open mind and follow along with the practices. They often have deep Buddhist teachings embedded in the reason there is a practice, along with cultural influences. You'll gain both an understanding of another country's culture and unique ways to learn and practice Buddhism! (here's some background on that: alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhist-superstition/)
@@AlanPeto thanks for your answer I looking for something like this. 👍👍
nam mo a di da phat
Dong minh tan Buddhist name
nam mo a di da phat Vietnamese for Nam mo Amituofo
@4:38 I think there is a bit of a confusion about pureland here. In most Buddhist texts, Western Pureland of Amitabha is NOT impermanent as it is already outside of the six realms of Samsara. Amitabha pureland is outside of the six impermanent realms namely (Heavenly realm, Asura realm, Human realm, Animal realm, Hungry ghost realm, and Hell realm) ruclips.net/video/Dgta72TqXNI/видео.html
Thanks for the feedback! At the timestamp you linked to, I'm talking about beings, not the Pure Land, being impermanent there. The purpose of going to a Pure Land is to train under a living Buddha (and attendants, such as Bodhisattvas, etc.) to help one eventually attain enlightenment, with the end goal of becoming a Buddha (goal in Mahayana, of which Pure Land is part of). So, one can't just become a Buddha in the Pure Land and stick around, they should have rebirth in the human realm (for instance) to liberate other sentient beings from samsara/our saha world. ruclips.net/video/1ExLydYBL7E/видео.html
Thanks for linking Pure Land Buddhism's RUclips channel, she has a lot of videos and I've watched some before!
🙏🙏🙏🪷🪷🪷
What is there empirical evidence for any these beliefs about pure lands and Amitabha Buddha?
Yes many rebirth cases and eyewitness of Amitabha Buddha particularly in China where Pure Land Buddhism has been practised for over 1600 years. Amituofo
True Rebirth Cases: ruclips.net/p/PL-RSgVFbZXSycbQdFZ-poQcVMGNPa41nc
The pure land is NOT in your mind,
The Pure Land exists as a Real Enlightened realm outside of our mind, the pure land is a real place and not in our mind,
This is wrong view you’re speeding Shakayamuni never said anything like oh the pure land is in your mind, when he clearly stated that it is a real place which we can go to, also Āmitābhā’s live is “INFINITE” why? Because due to the effect of his vows, his life is Infinite, and has no end
Thanks for the comment! I've addressed this same question before in the comments, but yes, Amitabha's pure land is a place. But in many traditions of Buddhism that practice Pure Land, it is also an analogy for our spiritual development. This is most common (but not always) in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, where dual-practice Buddhist traditions exist ("Zen" & Pure Land). These teachings go back centuries by several Buddhist masters. You can even find contemporary teachers, such as Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh and Ven. Master Hsing Yun, have explained this. If one becomes enlightened in this life, great, if not, there is still the Pure Land.