questions regarding pureland tradition
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Hi, im new to the pureland tradition.
What is the cause/criteria to enter the pureland ?
Thank you -
Dear Isis ,
there is no requisite or "ceremony" to enter Pureland tradition
the Pureland Tradition is the tradition of Seek rebirth in the Buddhaland
Throughout Mahayana Buddhism the following pureland tradition are found:
Pureland of the Western Paradise -Buddha Amitabha
Pureland of the East Lapis Lazuli- Medicine Buddha
Pureland abodes in the Tusheeta Heaven Inner Court of Maitreya Bodhisattva
Pureland of the Saha World - Sakyamuni Buddha
for this i will concentrate on Amitabha
The 3 areas of Pureland Practice in Amitabha Pureland is
1.Faith
One must have great Faith in the Buddha Amitabha and the Lotus Sea Assembly of Western Paradise
and the Original teacher Sakyamuni Buddha who introduced the Pureland to us
and that Amitabha Buddha,embodiment of Universal Equality ,accepts all to His Buddhaland
with Mahasamprastha Bodhisattva and Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva as assistance in the Western Paradise
2.Vows
One makes the bodhi vows to attain enlightenment and vows to reborn in the Western Paradise
However ,the conditiions is such that one must let go of all worldy attachment
to the saha world and joins the Holy Retinue of the Lotus Sea Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattva to Western Paradise
If one does not wish to let go of attachment ,then even if one does saw Buddha Amitabha at the deathbed , one still will not reach western paradise
3.Practice
To attain an unwavering thoughts in the Practice of Buddha recitation of the name "Namo Amituofo" and with strength to carry on till ones deathbed
the 5 guides expounded the pureland teaching of western paradise is
1. the Amitabha Sutra
2.the Larger Amitabha Sutra
3.Visualisation Sutra
4.the Essay on the perfect attainment of Bodhisattva Mahasamprastha
5.The 10 vows of Samantabhadra
Interested , can take a look Patriach Ou-i on the Mind Seal of all Buddha
Pureland Buddhism
http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/mindseal/content.html
Sinweiy and other forummer like AEn can offer more idea on Western Paradise practice
yours sincerely
bohiruci -
yes, in chinese pureland, we rely on the 3 pillars, faith, vow and practice (xin yuan xing). but for japanese pureland, they stress very much on faith alone.
and there's also the three conditions if go into detail:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041013050407/www.amitabha.com/teachers/chin_kung/teachings/3_conditions/condition_1/3conditions_1.htm
The First Condition that the Buddha describes in "The Contemplatoin Sutra" consists of four practices based on fundamental morals. The Second Condition consists of three practices based on cultivating the Self. The Third Condition consists of four practices based on the practices of the Bodhisattvas. For more details, see the text on this page and the pages that follow, and also the page titled "The Contemplation Sutra."
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faith
Faith is one of the Eleven Wholesome Dharmas of the One Hundred Dharmas (see entry for latter); it is also one of the Five Faculties (faith, vigor, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom).
"Faith is necessary in whatever it is one does. One needs to have a sense of belief, an attitude of faith. First, one needs to have faith in oneself. What kind of faith? One needs to have faith that one certainly can become a Buddha. One has to believe that there is no difference between the Buddha and oneself. Yet that lack of difference is in one's Buddha-nature. Cultivation is still required in order to actually become a Buddha. If one cultivates, one will become a Buddha. In order to do so, one must have an initial belief in this principle.
"Second, not only is it necessary to believe that one can become a Buddha oneself, but also to believe that all people can become Buddhas. Moreover, not only can all people become Buddhas, one should believe that all living beings have the Buddha-nature and are capable of becoming Buddhas. If one has that kind of faith, then one should begin by following the rules oneself. To follow the rules means to hold the moral precepts. First one holds the precepts, and then one can become a Buddha. One does it oneself and also encourages others to do so as well.
"Faith must be solid, like a rock, firm and sturdy. Faith shouldn't be like a pile of ashes which seems to have some substance to it but which crumbles at the slightest disturbance. Don't be too soft. One's faith must be strong and solid." (HD 44 45)
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH
"Faith is the foundation of cultivation of the Way and the mother of merit and virtue, because it is capable of nourishing wholesome roots. The Buddhadharma is like a vast sea; only by faith can it be entered. Therefore, the single word 'faith' is the essence of escape from birth and death and is the wonderful means for returning to the source. It is a precious raft on the stream of affliction, a torch in the dark cave of ignorance, and a guide who leads us out of the path of confusion. It is a compass for those floundering in the waves on the sea of suffering, and a sagely teacher for those in the Three Paths (Arhat, Pratyekabuddha, and Bodhisattva) and Eight Difficulties ( ). It is the origin of awakening for the Four Kinds of Creatures born (from wombs, eggs, moisture, and transformation) within the Six Paths (see entry). Faith cannot be ignored. An author of ancient times said, 'If a man has no faith, I do not know what can be made of him.'
"Once two bhikshus were travelling to see Shakyamuni Buddha, the World-Honored One. As they travelled they became extremely thirsty but could not find any water. As they walked they happened upon a human skull containing water in which some small bugs were swimming, enjoying themselves tremendously. One of the bhikshus picked up the water and offered some to his companion. The companion replied, 'This water contains bugs, and the moral precepts do not permit drinking such water. I would rather die of thirst than to violate the precepts in order to stay alive.' After this incident he died of thirst.
"When the bhikshu who had drunk the water reached the place where the Buddha was residing, he bowed and said to the Lord, 'Your disciple was travelling in the company of another bhikshu who perished of thirst on the road. I hope the Buddha will be compassionate and rescue him.'
"The Buddha said to the bhikshu who had drunk the water, 'Because he stringently maintained the moral precepts and was so firm in his faith that he would not violate them even in the face of death, he received the awesome power of the Buddhas and arrived here before you. He has already seen the Buddha and heard the Dharma before you. He is a bhikshu who has true faith in the precepts." (WM 53-54; also S42 75-76) http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/BuddhistDict/BDF.html
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Excellence ! Excellence !
Faith is the foundation of cultivation of the Way and the mother of merit and virtue, because it is capable of nourishing wholesome roots.
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Hi,
i must admit that i have some unclear understanding about pureland> one of them is gain liberation from samsara is by reborning in pureland.
Then i was told, that one will be reborn back to this world ( depend on individual's karma). It is not permanent at all?
in order to reborn in pureland,one mustn't think for oneself?
regards,
isis -
icic..Originally posted by sinweiy:yes, in chinese pureland, we rely on the 3 pillars, faith, vow and practice (xin yuan xing). but for japanese pureland, they stress very much on faith alone.
and there's also the three conditions if go into detail:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041013050407/www.amitabha.com/teachers/chin_kung/teachings/3_conditions/condition_1/3conditions_1.htm
The First Condition that the Buddha describes in "The Contemplatoin Sutra" consists of four practices based on fundamental morals. The Second Condition consists of three practices based on cultivating the Self. The Third Condition consists of four practices based on the practices of the Bodhisattvas. For more details, see the text on this page and the pages that follow, and also the page titled "The Contemplation Sutra."
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thanks : ) -
Not true... I have a different understanding and I am not sure if others share this understanding.Originally posted by Isis:Hi,
i must admit that i have some unclear understanding about pureland> one of them is gain liberation from samsara is by reborning in pureland.
Then i was told, that one will be reborn back to this world ( depend on individual's karma). It is not permanent at all?
in order to reborn in pureland,one mustn't think for oneself?
regards,
isis
When a person is born in pure land, his karma is already pure. While it is true that he "brings his karma" to pure land, he does not bring wholesome or unwholesome karma to pureland. He brings pure karma to pure land. When he is at pure land, he can be forever at pure land and no longer needs to come back to samsara. The only reason why he would come back to samsara would be to carry out his Bodhisattva vows and save sentient beings.http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol7no4d.htm
However, my Master also said regarding this topic that it is possible to change our karma into pure karma. It is said in the sutras that even though one is very sinful and has done many misdeeds can be reborn in pure land, so it is possible even for such person to change their karma. I think it is not very difficult with many expedient means that Buddha provided... and my Master himself has successfully brought many people to be reborn in Pure Land (it is said that all those who died with my Master around gets reborn in Pure Land, while some others get reborn in heaven because they are enticed after seeing the celestial beings). And it is said that chanting Amitabha can purify aeons of karma (if I am not wrong do correct me). Let's not forget that Angulimala can also attain enlightenment and nirvana after killing 999 people.
All forms are illusions
Rebirth in the Pure Land is only possible through pure karma
The Pure Land School of Buddhism advocates that when people die, they bring with them the karma that they had committed to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. This led to a lively debate on the subject. Some people argued that it means that regardless of the virtuous or evil karma [1] that one has committed, a person only needs to wholeheartedly recite “Amitabha Budhha” to the extent that he resonates with the power of the Amitabha Buddha’s vow, then he will be reborn in the Western Pure Land.
On the other hand, others advocated that people must bring with them virtuous karma in order to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, but not when they bring evil karma. Yet, others advocated that a person cannot be reborn in the Western Pure Land as long as he has karma and rebirth in the Pure Land can occur only when all the karma have been eliminated.
In reality, all people will be reborn according to their karma. The kinds of karma and the corresponding realms of rebirth are as follows:
* Karma of extreme evil leads one to be reborn in the hell realm
* Karma of ignorance and foolishness lead one to be reborn in the animal realm
* Karma of superstition leads one to be reborn in the ghosts and deities realm
* Blessings of observing the Five Precepts lead one to be reborn in the human realm
* Blessings of performing the Ten Virtuous Deeds lead one to be reborn in the heaven realm
* Actions or karma from hatred, anger and fighting lead one to be reborn in the asura realm
These are called “rebirth according to one’s karma”.
To be reborn in the Western Pure Land requires pure karma. Besides the pure karma, rebirth in the Western Pure Land is not possible at all with whatever kinds of virtuous and evil karma. Therefore, there is no basis to speak of rebirth in the Western Pure Land and then returning to this Saha world to bear the retribution of the karma that they had committed. Only the Bodhisattava, with the power of his vow, can return to this Saha world.
Notes:
[1] karma: A deed or action (either positive or negative; intentional or unintentional) of our thoughts, speech or body and its consequences. These consequences may manifest immediately or at any time in the future. Positive karma will generate pleasant consequences and vice-versa. -
I'm not from pure land tradition (although my master used to teach pure land tradition prior to teaching ren cheng buddhism) but I hope this helps:Originally posted by Isis:Hi, im new to the pureland tradition.
What is the cause/criteria to enter the pureland ?
Thank youAmitabha - what does it mean?
9. Besides chanting Amitabha Buddha, what else should one practise?
Practitioners of the method of chanting the Buddha's name not only recite "Amitabha Buddha", but in addition should also cultivate merits. It is stated in the Amitabha Sutra that rebirth in the Western Pure Land is not possible via conditions that are lacking in virtuous roots, blessings and merits. For instance, when we have practised and perfected the Six Parameters (1. Observing the Precepts, 2. Endurance, 3. Giving, 4. Zeal and Progress, 5. Meditation, and 6. Wisdom), then to be reborn in the Western Pure Land is a simple matter. If you have accomplished a mind that is as pure as the Amitabha Buddha's, then there is no necessity for Amitabha Buddha to come and guide you to the Western Pure Land. At that time you are already a great Bodhisattva. Not only can a great Bodhisattva go the Western Pure Land; he can go to any pure land as he pleases. -
Originally posted by Isis:
true that when one reach PL, you can either carry out MAHAsattva work which is to come back to this world/samsara to help sentient beings or rebirth one more time to become Buddha, depending on your Vow.
Then i was told, that one will be reborn back to this world ( depend on individual's karma). It is not permanent at all?
in order to reborn in pureland,one mustn't think for oneself?
regards,
isis[/b]
“Moreover, Sariputra, the beings born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss are all avaivartika(non-retrogress stage). Among them, there are many who abide in the station of the last life prior to buddhahood. --Amitabha Sutra
if you become Buddha already, what do you do? seat and rest.. actually you still manesfest into samsara to help sentient beings.
btw, if i'm Buddha, i would prefer people at least reached avaivartika(non-retrogress stage or "stream-entry" of bodhisattvahood) before you remain in samsara to help sentient beings. if not, one can easily be 'liberated' be desire of samsara.
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btw, mahayana stress on bodhicitta, and pureland is also part of mahayana, so we also need to generate bodhicitta of wanting to help sentient beings to be born in PL, if we look at Amitabha vow 19.
"Provided I become a Buddha, then at the moment of death of any sentient being in the ten quarters who has directed his thoughts towards the Bodhi and has cultivated his stock of various merits with a fervent desire for rebirth in my land, if I do not appear with an assembly of retinue before him, then may I not attain enlightenment.
http://www.geocities.com/medic_sangye/vows.html
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thx for the sharing!