1. Buddhism after the Appearance of Mahayanism
Multi-Buddhas theory
Multi-World systems
“universes are as numerous as the sands of Ganges”
Some of the world systems are Buddha fields (lands) in which a Tatagata lives and teaches the Dharma
Each Buddha land is a “pure land”—a pure world formed by jewels, gems, diamond bodies,…as opposed to “impure” worlds formed by organic matters.
Thus come one

2. Better-Known Buddha Lands
Abhirati, Land of Light in the East, presided by the Buddha Aksobhya, which means “immovable” or “imperturbable”
This pure land and the Buddha Aksobhya are not popular in East Asia, but are relatively popular in Tantrism
In art, he is represented in blue, holding a diamond in his right hand; his left hand is in the earth-witness gesture, with a blue elephant for his mount.

3. The Buddha Aksobhya

4. Story about this Buddha:
Sukhavati, Land of Utmost Bliss in the West, presided by the Buddha Amitabha (Amitayus), which means “immeasurable light/life span”
Story about this Buddha:
Found in the Longer/Larger Sutra (one of the three major Pure Land Sutras)
Amitabha song 1
Amitabha song 2

5. Three Pure Land Sutras
The Shorter/Smaller Sutra on Amitayus, The Longer/Larger Sutra on Amitayus, The Sutra on Contemplation of Amitayus
Amitayus (The Buddha of Infinite life) or Amitabha (The Buddha of Immeasurable Light)
O-mi-t’o fo, Wu-liang-shou fo (Chinese)
Amida (Japanese)
Pure Land (Sukhavati):the Land of Utmost Bliss

6. Amitayu
Amitabha

7. A New Form of Buddhism?
Early Mahayanists and Hinayanists saw problems of a new movement in Buddhist communities: the emergence of the Pure Land and the Amitabha cult
It is an aberration from the Buddha’s original intention, because it no longer follows the Buddha’s path: self-reliance, strict ethical, mental, and spiritual disciplines
Rather, is stresses the worship of the Buddha Amitabha and the reliance on his saving grace—putting one’s faith in a powerful “other”.

8. Self-power vs. Other’s Power
What caused the shift from “self-discipline” to reliance on “other’s” saving grace, and from reliance on “austerity/effort” to reliance on “faith”?
The “Three Stages/Periods Dharma” theory:
The Period of the True Dharma (Zhengfa), 500 years
The Period of the Outer-Semblance (Xiangfa) of the Dharma, 1,000 years
The Period of the Decay of the Dharma (Mofa), 10,000 years

9. The Shorter/Smaller Sutra
Chinese translation was done by Kumarajiva ( )
Great translator of Buddhist scriptures from Kucha
Arrived in China in 401
Translated 74 scriptures in 384 fascicles in total, including:
the Diamond Sutra
the Lotus Sutra
the Amitabha Sutra

10. Major Discourse--four parts:
Shakyamuni describes the land of Utmost Bliss and its presiding buddha, the Buddha Amitabha (Amitayus)
He names some of the buddhas in other worlds who confirm the truth of his message as they praise the virtue of Amitayus
He explains the nature of the trust and commitment required for rebirth in the Land of Utmost Bliss
He explains how difficult it is to attain buddhahood and preach the message of the sutra

11. Narrative structure--several voices:
Ananda (narrator)
an audience of thousands of monks, arhats, bodhisattvas….
Shariputra (a stand-in for the sutra’s readers or audiences)
Shakyamuni
Amitayus himself and the inhabitants of his Land

12. Pure Land according to the Smaller (Shorter) Sutra
Dwellers
suffer no pain, but enjoy pleasures of various kinds
exquisite flowers offered to numerous buddhas
dwell in a stage of Non-retrogression
Nature scene:
seven-jeweled ponds with water of eight excellent qualities
beautiful, fragrant, and pure lotus in the ponds
Heavenly flowers rain down from the “sky”

13. A World of Gold and Gems Constructions:
Seven rows of balustrades, decorative nets, and trees
all made of four kinds of jewels
Pavilion adorned with seven jewels (gold, silver, beryl, crystal, sapphire, rosy pearls, and cornelian)
sapphire
cornelian

14. A World of Harmonious Music and Sounds
Heavenly music
Sounds sung by
Rare and beautiful birds of various colors
white geese, peacocks, parrots
Sound generated by soft breezes wafting through the jeweled trees and nets
People are spontaneously mindful of the Buddha when hearing the sounds

15. “Pure Land of the West,” anonymous, Tang Dynasty (618-905), from the Dunhuang Caves

16. “Pure Land of the West”, Anonymous, Tang Dynasty, from the Dunhuang Caves

17. Rebirth in Amitayus’ land
A different type of rebirth
Suffer no more, enjoy endless bliss
Enjoy immeasurable life span
This birth/rebirth gives one a better chance to enter nirvana

18. Faith and Rebirth To attain rebirth in this Pure Land, one must
accept this sutra
cultivate faith in Amitayus and His Pure Land
accept the notion of the Pure Land with trust and without question
aspire to the rebirth in Amitayus’ land of ultimate bliss.
hold fast to Amitayus’ name after hearing it
The state of deliverance
at death, Amitayus will appear with other holy ones
aspirant’s mind will not fall into confusion
aspirant will be born in Amitayus’ land