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The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra
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Short Description: The Amitabha Sutra has particular importance to Pure Land practitioners. ... The Amitabha Sutra was translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by Tripitaka ...
Content Inside: The Amitabha Sutra" or "The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra" holds the unusual distinction of being a Sutra that Shakyamuni Buddha chose to speak spontaneously, without being asked any particular question and with no specific request to speak about any particular topic. It describes in detail the supremely beautiful adornments of the Western Pure Land, and it explains how to attain rebirth there. It also describes the Buddhas who dwell not only in the Pure Land , but in other Buddha-lands as well. The Amitabha Sutra has particular importance to Pure Land practitioners. In fact, it is one of five Sutras that are considered of paramount importance in Pure Land study. (All five of these Pure Land Sutras are presented either in full or in summary form on this Web Site; for details, see the page titled "Pure Land Texts.") The Amitabha Sutra was translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva in the Yao Ch'in period during the reign of Emperor Yao Hsing. The translation that follows was compiled by Mark Andrews, using as reference materials (1) a Chinese copy of the Sutra provided by the Amitabha Society of the U.S.A.; (2) "A General Explanation of The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra ," an English-language translation and commentary published by the Buddhist Text Translation Society; and (3) "The Two Buddhist Books in Mayana" by P.C. Lee. The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra Thus I have heard: At one time, the Buddha dwelt at Shravasti in the Jetta Grove in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Solitary, together with a gathering of great Bhikshus, twelve hundred fifty in all, all great Arhats whom the Assembly knew and recognized: Elders Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahadatyayana, Mahakaushtila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakaphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all great Bodhisattvas, together with Shakra, chief among gods, and the countless great multitudes from all the heavens. At that time, the Buddha told the elder Shariputra: "Passing from here through hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddha-lands to the West, there is a land called Ultimate Bliss. In this land, at this moment, a Buddha named Amitabha teaches the Dharma. "Shariputra, for what reason is that land called Ultimate Bliss? All living beings in that land endure no sufferings but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called Ultimate Bliss. "Moreover, Shariputra, this Land of Ultimate Bliss is on all sides surrounded by seven tiers of railings, seven layers of netting, and seven rows of trees, all formed from the four treasures and for this reason named Ultimate Bliss. Moreover, Shariputra, in the Land of Ultimate Bliss there are pools made of the seven jewels, filled with the eight waters of merit and virtue. The bottom of each pool is pure, spread over with golden sand. On the four sides are stairs of gold, silver, lapis lazuli and crystal; above are raised pavilions adorned with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, mother-of-pearl, red pearls, and carnelian. In the pools are lotuses as large as carriage wheels: green-colored by green light; yellow-colored by yellow light; red-colored by red light; white-colored by white light; subtly, wonderfully fragrant and pure. "Shariputra, the realization of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. "Moreover, Shariputra, in that Buddha-land there is always heavenly music, and the ground is yellow gold. In the six periods of the day and night, a heavenly rain of Mandarava flowers falls,
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