How to go to western paradise

• sinweiy

  17 Apr 08, 22:14

  Originally posted by sofital:

  How long you have to wait to meet the Amitabha ?

  What is the chances of you miss the opportunity to meet the Amitabha?

  How much amout of suffering you must encounter in the cycles of lifes before you meet the Amitabha?

  Do you know when Amitabha becomes Buddha in future, Amitahha teach same Dhamma with Gautama Buddha's Dhamma for four stages of enlightenments? 

  
  1) depends on how well you practice. can be this life, or can be future life.

  2) it's suppose to be 10000 practice 10000 achieve, 万修万人去. yet now due to improper practice, it's good just to get 1 out of 100 or 3 to 5 out of 10000.

  3) practice well, and this life is all it takes. if miss this chance, u'll have to wait for another life, or life after next etc....it could even continue for aeons in the cycle of samsara when this chance is gone, then until another great bodhisattva make another vow like that of Amitabha, then can catch this "train" again.

  In this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the Dharma. --Amitabha Sutra. so it's not in the past, not in the future, but Right Now!

  4) Amitabha used to be human called Dharmakara  and He attained Buddhahood 10 mahakalpas ago. He's already a Buddha before Gautama. yes, He's able to teached the four Arahant stages of enlightenments.

  /\ 

   

   

   

   

• sofital

  18 Apr 08, 10:31

  My answer is totally different from your answer

  4) Amitabha used to be human called Dharmakara  and He attained Buddhahood 10 mahakalpas ago. He's already a Buddha before Gautama. 

  My highlighted one is definitely wrong .Whoever get four stages of enligtenments of nibbana, he never comes back to suffering life of any 31 abodes (heaven, pureland,hell,animal,human life). If he is already a buddha before Gautama, he is not in pureland.He is definitely in Nibbana.

  He's able to teached the four Arahant stages of enlightenments

  Amitabha is in pureland .This means he is waiting the time to become buddha in the future. Before Amitabha become Buddha, how can he teach four stages of enlightenments? If Amitabha know the four stages of enlightenments, he already become Buddha.If Amitabha becomes Buddha, he is not staying in pureland.definitely in Nibbana.

  All the answers should be relevant in Dhamma.

  One day, When Gautama Buddha and his group of Sangha(monks) arrive to mountain called Waebula (ancient name), Buddha told his group of Sangha(monks) about history of Waebula mountain.Before Gautama Buddha becomes buddha, at the moment of previous Cathapha Buddha , the people near the mountain takes 3 days to walk from the bottom of mountain to top of mountain.When Gautama becomes Buddha , the people near the mountain takes 4 days to walk from the bottom of mountain to top of mountain.Buddha said the mountain becomes piled up with the decomposed bones and ashes of dead tree, dead animals and dead human.The climate also modified the surface of earth.
  

  1) The duration time between previous Cathapha Buddha and Gautama Buddha is you have to wait for the level of earth ground will pile up to which you take 1=(4-3) day to walk from earth ground level at Cathapha's time  to earth ground level at Gautamma 's time.It cannot be counted by years.

  2)Let say the best chance to meet the Amitabha Buddha, When the Amitabha become Buddha , you are in pureland or in heaven.While you stay in pureland or heaven, you change your mind to meet Amitabha Buddha, because I like to enjoy the pleasure of all the sensible things and I don't want to listen his Dhamma to go Nibbana.

  Between the time Gautama Buddha and Cathapha Buddha, you can commit very bad evil Karma.Gautama Buddha Dhamma are left for 5000 years. 2560 years already passed through and has been over. Now (5000-2560) =2440 years still left for the present and future people to practice his Dhamma. After 2440 years will be over in the future,what will happen in the world? Nobody can teach you how to go to Nibbana.Hence most people will go through the wrong Dhamma.Almost all people will go to hell after they die.

  3) You have to die with amount of your decomposed bones and ashes piled up becomes mountain between present Gautama 's time and next Amitabha Buddha.The amount of bones and ashes are counted in human life only. You have to go through animal, hell, etc.Can't imagine this amount of suffering.

  Because of very frighening suffering in cycles of counterless lifes in the coming future, Theravada Buddhism rejected the wrong path to go heaven or pureland.Some of the famous Sayadaw ( Arahat  monk) from myanmar want to go nibbha in present life and don't want to go through very frighening suffering in cycles of countless lifes in the coming future.They already have practised and meditated in the forest and already proofed to people with  their Dhamma teaching and evidence of their body relics.

   

   

• sinweiy

  18 Apr 08, 11:19

  Originally posted by sofital:

  My answer is totally different from your answer

  4) Amitabha used to be human called Dharmakara  and He attained Buddhahood 10 mahakalpas ago. He's already a Buddha before Gautama. 

  My highlighted one is definitely wrong .Whoever get four stages of enligtenments of nibbana, he never comes back to suffering life of any 31 abodes (heaven, pureland,hell,animal,human life). If he is already a buddha before Gautama, he is not in pureland.He is definitely in Nibbana.

  He's able to teached the four Arahant stages of enlightenments

  Amitabha is in pureland .This means he is waiting the time to become buddha in the future. Before Amitabha become Buddha, how can he teach four stages of enlightenments? If Amitabha know the four stages of enlightenments, he already become Buddha.If Amitabha becomes Buddha, he is not staying in pureland.definitely in Nibbana.

  All the answers should be relevant in Dhamma.

  One day, When Gautama Buddha and his group of Sangha(monks) arrive to mountain called Waebula (ancient name), Buddha told his group of Sangha(monks) about history of Waebula mountain.Before Gautama Buddha becomes buddha, at the moment of previous Cathapha Buddha , the people near the mountain takes 3 days to walk from the bottom of mountain to top of mountain.When Gautama becomes Buddha , the people near the mountain takes 4 days to walk from the bottom of mountain to top of mountain.Buddha said the mountain becomes piled up with the decomposed bones and ashes of dead tree, dead animals and dead human.The climate also modified the surface of earth.
  

  1) The duration time between previous Cathapha Buddha and Gautama Buddha is you have to wait for the level of earth ground will pile up to which you take 1=(4-3) day to walk from earth ground level at Cathapha's time  to earth ground level at Gautamma 's time.It cannot be counted by years.

  2)Let say the best chance to meet the Amitabha Buddha, When the Amitabha become Buddha , you are in pureland or in heaven.While you stay in pureland or heaven, you change your mind to meet Amitabha Buddha, because I like to enjoy the pleasure of all the sensible things and I don't want to listen his Dhamma to go Nibbana.

  Between the time Gautama Buddha and Cathapha Buddha, you can commit very bad evil Karma.Gautama Buddha Dhamma are left for 5000 years. 2560 years already passed through and has been over. Now (5000-2560) =2440 years still left for the present and future people to practice his Dhamma. After 2440 years will be over in the future,what will happen in the world? Nobody can teach you how to go to Nibbana.Hence most people will go through the wrong Dhamma.Almost all people will go to hell after they die.

  3) You have to die with amount of your decomposed bones and ashes piled up becomes mountain between present Gautama 's time and next Amitabha Buddha.The amount of bones and ashes are counted in human life only. You have to go through animal, hell, etc.Can't imagine this amount of suffering.

  Because of very frighening suffering in cycles of counterless lifes in the coming future, Theravada Buddhism rejected the wrong path to go heaven or pureland.Some of the famous Sayadaw ( Arahat  monk) from myanmar want to go nibbha in present life and don't want to go through very frighening suffering in cycles of countless lifes in the coming future.They already have practised and meditated in the forest and already proofed to people with  their Dhamma teaching and evidence of their body relics.

  Sorry, what you wrote may be according to pali canon, but not according to Mahayana canon. In mahayana, All Buddha have the triple bodies. They are the embodiment of truth, embodiment of nirvanic bliss and the manifestation bodies. the manifestation bodies still re-enter the 31 realms to deliver sentient beings. manifestation bodies can be in any form like human, animals, devas, arahants, bodhisattvas etcs.

  i don't think nirvana is about extinction/annihilation. extinction of passion/3 poisons yes. Buddha or Pali use fire to explain nirvana. like fire, it's somewhere out there, yet when conditions are right, it'll still appear. Pureland also have this nature.

  So Amitabha achieved Buddhahood ten (maha)kalpas ago is definitely Correct as stated in Amitabha Sutra.

  "Moreover, Shariputra, since Amitabha realized Buddhahood, ten kalpas have passed. --Amitabha Sutra

  what "appear" in Pureland is just the manifestation body. embodiment of nirvanic bliss is Amitayus.  

  Moreover in the Lotus Sutra Chapter16. even Gautama is still dwelling "here". we cannot see Him is because of our defiled mind.

  So they enter the Buddha Way.
  And throughout these limitless eons,
  In order to save living beings,
  I expediently manifest Nirvana.
  But in truth I do not pass into quiescence.
  I remain here, always speaking the Dharma.
  I always stay right here,
  And using the power of spiritual penetrations,
  I cause inverted living beings,
  Although near me, not to see me.
  The multitudes see me as passing into quiescence.

   

  http://web.archive.org/web/20060519131953/www.buddhistdoor.com/resources/sutras/lotus/sources/lotus16.htm

  Noted that to enjoy the pleasure of all the sensible things in Pureland, won't lead one to Pureland...period! it'll only lead to heaven, not pureland/nirvana. pls don't mix pureland with heaven. it's misinterpretation.

  Also if ordinary people are to sit beside Buddha, what ordinary people see is samsara, but what Buddha see is "Pureland". When the mind is pure, the land is pure. Buddha achieve Enlightenment at the age of 35, and during 35 to parinirvana, He's dwelling in Puremind, Pureland.

  Pureland is non-conceptual, Equality, Serene, neither form nor formless, and neither suffering nor pleasant. why it's called "Land" of "Ultimate Bliss"?

  Further, good sons, there are three kinds of sensation: first, painful sensation; second, pleasant sensation; third, sensation that is neither painful nor pleasant. It is said that what is neither painful nor pleasant is in fact painful. Although nirvana/(Pureland) is neither painful nor pleasant, it is called great pleasure. Because it is great pleasure, it is called great nirvana. --- MahaNirvana Sutra

   It'll be best to leave the external label of "Nibanna or Pureland" aside and really see it's content.

  /\

• sinweiy

  18 Apr 08, 11:41

  if people want to see Shakayamuni Buddha or Amitabha Buddha Now, then you'll need to practice:-

  般舟三昧経
  Ｐｒ�ｔｙｕｔ��ｎｎ��ｓ���ｄｈｉ　Ｓｕｔｒ�
  http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/pratyutpanna-sutra.htm

  that said, other than Shurangama Sutra, the second sutra mara would destroy is Pratyutpanna-samadhi Sutra, as it's a sutra that teach people to see Buddhas!

  /\

   

• Bodhi hut

  18 Apr 08, 14:47

  I am reading a long chinese buddhism article, came across this portion on Amitabha.

   

  净土宗最关键的一部�典就是《佛说阿弥陀�》。这是一部显宗的�典，�时有汉�文两�译本，但都是从�一部梵文版翻过�的。�里讲如�往生��世界，必须远离两个�缘并具备四个�件。就�缘�说，第一是�远离造五无间罪，第二�远离�法罪。阿弥陀佛也讲了，娑婆世界的众生如果�愿往生��世界都�以如愿，唯有造五无间罪与�法罪的人无法往生。其它的如�生��盗等或更严�的罪业，�由虔诚的心在念佛的过程中都�清净，但这里讲的两个�缘，念佛都无法消除，所以必须�远离。�讲所�具备的四个�件：一��观想阿弥陀佛和��世界；二��广泛积累资粮；三�����心；四��回��愿往生��世界。在具备了这些�件下一心�乱的念佛，就�往生��世界。这里并�是�强调��心，而是在有��心的基础上�一心一�念佛。当然出离心也需�。《佛说阿弥陀�》讲如果没有出离心，就是贪图世间的圆满。如�能放下这个贪欲心，就无法往生��世界，因为这个贪欲念头的本身就是一�阻�。贪欲��，往生��世界的念头就�起，就算生起也�是很强烈，所以也就无法往生��世界。��禅宗和净土都一样强调出离心和��心，凡是大乘佛教在这点上都没有任何差别。这是第一个相�点。

  第二个相�的是�悟空性。如果��悟空性，是�能往生��世界的，也无法明心�性，更�能�悟密宗的境界。此�怎讲？现在念佛时是个普通人，一旦往生��世界时，如是正常的往生，就能立�明心�性，立�开悟，也就是能登地。在��世界的��们都是一地以上的��。现在虽是普通人，往生��世界�一�到阿弥陀佛，当祂将手放在我们头上加�时，凭�阿弥陀佛的愿力和自己的资粮相结�使我们立�开悟，开悟的程度就是到一地��的境界。所以念佛也�能间接的�悟空性，�然�能�佛。往生��世界�还�是��，并没有�佛，必须通过修行�能�佛。往生��世界�以�悟，这是讲正常的往生。难�有�正常的往生？有的。汉传佛教讲��莲�，�传佛教也讲，念佛的人如果对净土法门没有很大的信心，对能�真正往生��世界抱�怀疑，那么他如果念佛念得好，�然�以往生，�是他在��世界里会有相当一段时间�能�到阿弥陀佛，而在那段时间里他�然有�能�是个凡夫人。这就是�正常的往生。所以念佛的人一定�强调信心，�然虽�以往生，�有相当长的时间无法�到阿弥陀佛。但就算�能�佛，也�会�回�，�然留在��世界，暂时是�能�，但终究还是会�到阿弥陀佛的。�到佛�就能开悟，然�继续修行就能�佛。所以净土也需�有�悟，�是它�强调这一生的�悟，而是到��世界去�悟。没有�悟空性，也�能�佛。

   

• sofital

  18 Apr 08, 16:12

  Hi

  According to Pali ,ture original language of Buddhs scripture, there is no pureland abode. There are total of 31 abodesin this universe. All the living things with body and mind staying in 31 abodes must die in one day after the life span ofeach abode.Anyone who come out from the outside of suffering 31 abodes is only Nibbana. The next comingbuddha in the future is now in the Thutitar abode (3 level of  heaven in pali) .I assume this abode is Pureland (3 levelof heaven)according to what you described in the statement (Amitabha is the next coming buddha).

  From your statement

  Also if ordinary people are to sit beside Buddha, what ordinary people see is samsara, but what Buddha see is "Pureland". When the mind is pure, the land is pure. Buddha achieve Enlightenment at the age of 35, and during 35 to parinirvana, He's dwelling in Puremind, Pureland.

  According to Pali , When Buddha achieve Enlightenment at the age of 35, he mind can cling to Nibbana at any time

  When his mind is cling to Nibbana, all the arising and perishing of his mind and body ceases for during the cling

  moment of his Nibanna.After Buddha passed away, he reached to his Nibbana that he already clinged before his

  death.All these 31 abodes and Nibbana are only existed in this thousand of universe.All the abodes and Nibbana 

  can be seen in the body and mind by doing practical correct meditation for verification of wriitten Dhamma in the

  book. After Gautamma Dhamma pass away , among Sangha(group of monks) , some monks want to keep all Buddha Dhamma is original and no changes and modification of Buddha every words in the scripture for any reason and conditon. some monks want to change some part of words in the Dhamma scripture. Hence for me , I don't believe every words written in Dhamma Scripture. I believe only what my body and mind told me during the practical meditation.Buddha extract his dhamma from his body and mind.

   

   

   

   

   

   

• sofital

  18 Apr 08, 17:00

  http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/pratyutpanna-sutra.htm

  After I read this link , this is very good.

  I found same things in Pali. Practice of  this Dhamma is to see the Dhamma nature of body and mind .It is not  to see Shakayamuni Buddha or Amitabha Buddha.

• sinweiy

  18 Apr 08, 17:15

  fyi only:

  Suddh�v�s�
  The "Pure Abodes"; a name given to a group of Brahma-worlds - the five highest RÅ«pa worlds - consisting of

  Avih�,
  Atapp�,
  Sudass�,
  Sudassī and
  Akanitth� (E.g., D.iii.237).
  There an�g�mī are born, and there they attain arahantship; such an�g�mī are divided into twenty four classes (See, e.g., KhA.182f.; of. PSA. 319; Vsm.710).

  Bodhisattas are never born there (SNA.i.50; BuA.224).

  The Suddh�v�s� are described as buddh�nam khandh�v�ratth�nasadis�. Sometimes, for asankheyyas of kappas, when no Buddhas are born, these worlds remain empty (AA.ii.808; cf. MA.i.30).

  The Buddha is mentioned as having visited the Suddh�v�s� (E.g., D.ii.50). When a Buddha is about to be born, the inhabitants of the Suddh�v�s� insert a knowledge of the signs of a Great Being in the Vedas and teach this among men in the guise of brahmins, calling such knowledge buddhamanta. Men learn it and are thus able to recognize a Great Being (MA.ii.761; SNA.ii.448). The inhabitants of the Suddh�v�s� know how many Buddhas will be born in any particular kappa by observing the number of lotuses which spring up on the site of the Bodhi-pallanka when the earth gradually emerges after the destruction of the world (DA.ii.411). It is the Suddh�v�s� Brahm�s who provide the four omens which lead to a Bodhisatta's renunciation in his last lay life. See, e.g., DA.ii.455f.

  
  http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/s/suddhaavaasaa.htm

  suddh�v�sa
  the 'Pure Abodes', are a group of 5 heavens belonging to the fine-material world (rūpa-loka, s. loka), where only the Non-returners (s. an�g�mī, q.v.) are reborn, and in which they attain Arahatship and Nibb�na (ariya-puggala).

  The names of the inhabitants of these Pure Abodes are: �viha, �tappa, Sudassa, Sudassī, Akanittha. Cf. an�g�mī.

  
  http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/s_t/suddhaavaasa.htm

   ps: though this is still according to pali canon. Mahayana had a different yet relative set of saying that somewhat transcend this. /\

• Bodhi hut

  18 Apr 08, 17:30

  From what i know the next coming buddha is Mitreya...not Amitabha which recognised by all three sch of thought theravada, mahayana and tibetan buddhism...

• An Eternal Now

  18 Apr 08, 17:34

  Originally posted by sofital:

  Hi

  According to Pali ,ture original language of Buddhs scripture, there is no pureland abode. There are total of 31 abodesin this universe. All the living things with body and mind staying in 31 abodes must die in one day after the life span ofeach abode.Anyone who come out from the outside of suffering 31 abodes is only Nibbana. The next comingbuddha in the future is now in the Thutitar abode (3 level of  heaven in pali) .I assume this abode is Pureland (3 levelof heaven)according to what you described in the statement (Amitabha is the next coming buddha).

  From your statement

  Also if ordinary people are to sit beside Buddha, what ordinary people see is samsara, but what Buddha see is "Pureland". When the mind is pure, the land is pure. Buddha achieve Enlightenment at the age of 35, and during 35 to parinirvana, He's dwelling in Puremind, Pureland.

  According to Pali , When Buddha achieve Enlightenment at the age of 35, he mind can cling to Nibbana at any time

  When his mind is cling to Nibbana, all the arising and perishing of his mind and body ceases for during the cling

  moment of his Nibanna.After Buddha passed away, he reached to his Nibbana that he already clinged before his

  death.All these 31 abodes and Nibbana are only existed in this thousand of universe.All the abodes and Nibbana 

  can be seen in the body and mind by doing practical correct meditation for verification of wriitten Dhamma in the

  book. After Gautamma Dhamma pass away , among Sangha(group of monks) , some monks want to keep all Buddha Dhamma is original and no changes and modification of Buddha every words in the scripture for any reason and conditon. some monks want to change some part of words in the Dhamma scripture. Hence for me , I don't believe every words written in Dhamma Scripture. I believe only what my body and mind told me during the practical meditation.Buddha extract his dhamma from his body and mind.

  There's a saying among Theravadins that Mahayana Pure Land corresponds to the 4th jhana abode. However, Mahayanist will not agree to this because (and Theravadins may not agree to this as well) pure land is seen to be beyond the 31 planes of existence and the 6 realms and is not a realm of samsara. Once one is born there one will be on an irreversible path to enlightenment.

  Another thing is that Bodhisattvas in Mahayana are seen as Aryas, though they have not yet attained full enlightenment of Buddhahood. There are altogether 10 bhumis/grounds (so called '10 paths'), and there are various correspondence between the bhumi system and the arhat 4 path systems (an Arhat may be generally considered in Mahayana to be 6th-8th bhumi in terms of realisation). In Theravadin, little or none is spoken about the status of the Bodhisattva nor the 10 paths/grounds/bhumis, and it is generally thought that a Bodhisattva is not an arya until he attains Buddhahood.

  p.s. Arhat is the sanskrit equivalent of Arhant in pali

• sinweiy

  18 Apr 08, 17:40

  Originally posted by sofital:

  The next comingbuddha in the future is now in the Thutitar abode (3 level of  heaven in pali) .I assume this abode is Pureland (3 levelof heaven)according to what you described in the statement (Amitabha is the next coming buddha).

  
  hmm..u mean Maitreya is in Tusita heaven, which is the 4th level heaven.

  http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html

  pureland is neither an abode nor not an abode. it's very difficult to explain, like it's difficult to explain nirvana.

  and no, i never say Amitabha is the next coming Buddha. you are the one keep saying He is.

  like mentioned in the Amitabha sutra of Mahayana. Amitabha already attain Budhhahood 10 kalpas ago! Like Gautama attained Buddhahood at age 35.  But the different is Amitabha has not enter parinirvana yet, while Gautama enter parinirvana at age 80.

  Amitabha dwell not in this earth, but on another world system far far away. hence i say Amitabha is still preaching Now.The life span of Gautama is shorter and RELATIVELY Amitabha's life span is much much longer.

  anyway, it's quite difficult to mix pali canon of achieving Arahanthood and sanskrit canon of achieving Bodhisatta/Buddhahood.

  /\

   

   

• sinweiy

  18 Apr 08, 17:59

  Originally posted by sofital:

  http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/pratyutpanna-sutra.htm

  After I read this link , this is very good.

  I found same things in Pali. Practice of  this Dhamma is to see the Dhamma nature of body and mind .It is not  to see Shakayamuni Buddha or Amitabha Buddha.

   practice this pratyutpanna-samathi and it's just a natural effect.

  
  The Buddha said to Bhadrapala, "If you hold to this method of practice, you will attain the samadhi in which all the present Buddhas appear before you. If a bhiksu, bhiksuni, upasaka or upasika wants to practice according to the prescribed method, he or she should strictly observe the precepts, dwell alone in a place and contemplate Amida Buddha of the western quarter where he lives now.　According to the teaching received, one should remember: ten million kotis of Buddha-lands away from here, there is a land called 'Sukhavati.'14)　Contemplate this land with singleness of mind, for a day and night up to seven days and nights. Ｔhe seventh day having passed, one will see it.It is as though one sees things in a dream without discerning day and nighht or inside and out; one sees them even though they are in the dark and there are many obstacles in between.　O Bhadrapala, bodhisattvas should do this contemplation. Then high mountains, Sumeru mountains, or whatever dark places there are in the Buddha-lands (between here and Sukhavati), will all give way and will not cause any hindrance. It is not that these bodhisattvas see with a divine eye, hear with a divine ear or reach the Buddha-land with divine feet. It is not that they die here and are born (in order to see the Land). But they see all this while sitting here.

   

  when the Mind is Pure, the land is Pure. Pureland can be here and now.

  /\

• sofital

  18 Apr 08, 18:58

   Maitreya is in Tusita heaven, which is the 4th level heaven.

  I describe the wrong name for level of heaven and name of next coming buddha.

  Sorry...I thought Maiterya is in Pali and Amitabha is same with Maiterya in Mahayana.

  From your statement,

  Amitabha already attain Budhhahood 10 kalpas ago! Like Gautama attained Buddhahood at age 35.  But the different is Amitabha has not enter parinirvana yet, while Gautama enter parinirvana at age 80.

  I realize that Amitabha is Buddha like Gautama.I have another doubt from your statement.

  In Pali , In this thousand of universe, two Buddhas cannot exist together because Buddha is very unique and the nature of this universe(infinite Buddha Karma) only support the one unique Buddha.

  Anybody has answer?

   

• An Eternal Now

  18 Apr 08, 19:02

  Originally posted by sofital:

   Maitreya is in Tusita heaven, which is the 4th level heaven.

  I describe the wrong name for level of heaven and name of next coming buddha.

  Sorry...I thought Maiterya is in Pali and Amitabha is same with Maiterya in Mahayana.

  From your statement,

  Amitabha already attain Budhhahood 10 kalpas ago! Like Gautama attained Buddhahood at age 35.  But the different is Amitabha has not enter parinirvana yet, while Gautama enter parinirvana at age 80.

  I realize that Amitabha is Buddha like Gautama.I have another doubt from your statement.

  In Pali , In this thousand of universe, two Buddhas cannot exist together because Buddha is very unique and the nature of this universe(infinite Buddha Karma) only support the one unique Buddha.

  Anybody has answer?

   

  Yes, Amitabha is not a Buddha of this world. He is a Buddha of another world while Gautama is the Buddha of this world.

• sofital

  18 Apr 08, 19:06

  I

  The definition of thousand of universe includes all the different kind of worlds.

• sinweiy

  18 Apr 08, 20:52

  fyi from mahayana canon,

  http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/BuddhistDict/BDW.html#World

  world systems

  The Buddha taught that the earth is not the center of the universe and is not the only planet with intelligent life. He taught that there are an infinite number of world-systems, that some of those worlds are inhabited by intelligent life, and that on some of those worlds other Buddhas also teach the Buddhadharma.

  II. A GREAT WORLD SYSTEM OF A BILLION WORLDS

  A thousand world-systems of four great continents, etc. comprise a 'small world-system.' A thousand small world-systems comprise a middle-sized world system, and a thousand middle-sized world-systems comprise a great world-system of a billion worlds, or literally a thousand times an thousand times a thousand worlds (Skt. trisahasramahasahasralokadhatu).

  III. FLOWER TREASURY WORLD

  In the Flower Adornment Sutra the Buddha taught that the universe of world-systems is shaped like a great lotus flower and that world systems are arrayed within it in petal-like tiers. Our world -system, called the Saha World, is located on the thirteenth tier.

  IV. BUDDHAS IN OTHER WORLD SYSTEMS

  According to Buddhist teachings this planet we live on is not unique in supporting intelligent life, is not the center of the universe, and is not the only world on which Buddhism is taught and practiced.

  V. THE EMPTINESS OF WORLD-SYSTEMS

  The world-systems are spoken of by the Tathagata as no world-systems; therefore, they are called 'worldÄ systems.' (VS 80)

  ----------

  1) Ch. shr jye , 2) Skt. lokadhatu, cakravala, 3) Pali lokadhatu, cakkavala.

  cosmology

  The Buddha proclaimed that on the highest level of understanding the entire cosmos is pure Mind. On the ordinary level of understanding he painted a picture of a cosmos filled with countless world-systems (see entry) with countless planets filled with living beings of every sort. Our particular world-system is neither unique nor central in any way. Other world systems also have their Buddhas, who also teach the path to enlightenment.

  The Flower Adornment Sutra describes the universe as consisting of an infinitely large lotus-flower in which our world occupies the thirteenth tier. The lotus is suspended on various oceans of primal mind-energy forces called Great Elements.

  Our World System: the Saha World

  Our particular world-system, as is the case with all world systems, can be described in both 'horizontal' and 'vertical' directions. The 'horizontal' refers to its layout in space, while the 'vertical' dimension refers to the levels of consciousness of the various types of beings who inhabit it.

  /\

• sofital

  18 Apr 08, 22:10

  In pali,

  Buddha already given the answer for the whole universe system. At Gautama Buddha's time, one monk who has the supernatural power from mind is looking for the immortal place.He went to all the Devas of abodes in fine material world.Nobody in fine material can give the correct answer.The king of Brahma said to him as you are near to Buddha,why you didn't ask the answer from Gautama Buddha.When he came back to Buddha, he asked the Buddha where the immortal place was.Buddha said in your previous life, you were going through any places in the thousand of universe, you could not find the answer until your death.Now in this life, you are still searching this answer.Buddha said the immortal place is in your body.Don't go and search immortal place in the whole universe system because nothing is permanent in the whole universe system except for Nibbana.Finally, the monk practiced the meditation and he got the enlighenment from the body.

   

• Bodhi hut

  18 Apr 08, 23:03

   

  There are many buddhas around in different Purelands...in Amitabha sutra..it does mention some of the names....if you read the 88 buddha names..the morning recitation..there are many buddha around..

   

  just that Gautama Buddha is �百亿化身佛..who is in our plane that self relisation and has the ability to teach the dharma..Amitabha is the teacher in his pureland...the pureland is born with his vows...and he share the same 法身...

   

  Mitreya aka..弥勒��..will be the next buddha in our plane..and he also is �百亿化身佛 and will teach another form of dharma..like Gautama Buddha ..he will turn the wheel..and enlighten under a tree..very similiar like Gautama Buddha ...

• sofital

  18 Apr 08, 23:52

  I have a collection of Dhamma taught by some famous Sayadaw ( Araharts) who already attained the supernatural power and four enlightenments .Their mind can see very fine particles in the whole universe system .They never said about Buddha in different Purelands.This means no Buddha in pureland and no pureland.

  If Buddha exists in pureland, he should come and preach the Dhamma to our Earth to save our life.

   

   

• An Eternal Now

  19 Apr 08, 00:12

  Originally posted by sofital:

  I have a collection of Dhamma taught by some famous Sayadaw ( Araharts) who already attained the supernatural power and four enlightenments .Their mind can see very fine particles in the whole universe system .They never said about Buddha in different Purelands.This means no Buddha in pureland and no pureland.

  If Buddha exists in pureland, he should come and preach the Dhamma to our Earth to save our life.

  According to Mahayana, the pure lands exist far beyond the great chiliocosm containing 3000 world systems, and thus beyond the scope that arhats may see with their powers. Buddhas however can see all of them them.

  http://www.chan1.org/ddp/channews/10-1987.html

  No other full Nirmanakaya Buddha will appear while the Buddha Sassana of Shakyamuni Buddha still exists in this world. This is the rule that applies for all eras of Buddha Sassana. Amitabha is in charge of a different place, Shakyamuni is in charge of this place.

• sanath

  19 Apr 08, 00:18

  With all due respect, but what the Arahats can see is only a fraction of what the Bodhisattvas and the Buddhas can see. Bodhisattvas cannot even see what the Buddha sees, so what more arahats?

  Just because the arahats do not see the Pure Land, doesn't mean that the Pure Lands do not exist.

  As for the Buddha coming to earth, if one is not even "awaken", even if the Buddha appears right in front of you, you won't even know it is Him, just like Upaka (i think that's the name) the ascetic, who missed out the chance to become the Buddha's first disciple.

• sofital

  19 Apr 08, 00:25

  If Buddha from pureland already existed before Gautama become buddha, when Gautama become Buddha, he will try to meet all Buddhas in different pureland.In pali there is no such thing Gautama tried to meet all Buddhas in diffferent pureland.There is one topic in pali.One topic is that , One day, Gautama Budhha want to save all the intelligent devas,Brahma and human beings to Nibbana.Gautama searched who can ask very complex difficult questions of body and mind problem from intelligent devas,Brahma and human beings.He found nobody can ask very complex difficult questions of body and mind problem from intelligent devas,Brahma and human beings.So Gautama copy of his body to create another Buddha who will ask very complex difficult questions of body and mind problem to Gautama. All the audiance of intelligent devas ,Brahma and human beings listen the flow of difficult questions and answers between Gautama and created Buddha. In the end, they got enlighenments.

• sofital

  19 Apr 08, 00:31

  Arahats can see is only a fraction of Buddhas can see. This is right.

  Do you know how many types of Arahats ?

• An Eternal Now

  19 Apr 08, 00:34

  Originally posted by sofital:

  If Buddha from pureland already existed before Gautama become buddha, when Gautama become Buddha, he will try to meet all Buddhas in different pureland.In pali there is no such thing Gautama tried to meet all Buddhas in diffferent pureland.There is one topic in pali.One topic is that , One day, Gautama Budhha want to save all the intelligent devas,Brahma and human beings to Nibbana.Gautama searched who can ask very complex difficult questions of body and mind problem from intelligent devas,Brahma and human beings.He found nobody can ask very complex difficult questions of body and mind problem from intelligent devas,Brahma and human beings.So Gautama copy of his body to create another Buddha who will ask very complex difficult questions of body and mind problem to Gautama. All the audiance of intelligent devas ,Brahma and human beings listen the flow of difficult questions and answers between Gautama and created Buddha. In the end, they got enlighenments.

  There is no need for Gautama to meet Amitabha, and the story about the devas and brahmas are different since they have yet to be enlightened.

• An Eternal Now

  19 Apr 08, 00:35

  Originally posted by sofital:

  Arahats can see is only a fraction of Buddhas can see. This is right.

  Do you know how many types of Arahats ?

  I was refering to Sravaka arhats. Pratyekabuddhas and Buddhas also encompass the state of arhat but they are more advanced than sravaka arhats in various ways.