Page 50 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

P’usa and surrounded by the assembly of Divinities. Constant

practise will eventually lead one to arrive at a stage of perfect

concentration so that the Buddha is in his mouth as he recites

His name, in his ears as he listens to the recitation, and in his

mind as he visualises Him.

ure and uddhism

Pure Land Buddhism known as the Lotus School of Buddhism

or C’ T, is, in short, the Buddhism of Faith and Devotion

meant for those lacking in wisdom to comprehend the profound

teachings of the Buddha Sakyamuni, and therefore having to re-

sort to the use of Faith in the saving power of Amitabha Buddha.

It is therefore called the ‘easy path’ since the way to attain re-

birth in the Pure Land is by way of a simple faith and a simple

invocation. e Pure Land is also called the Western Paradise

since it is located in the far distant Western Quarters of the

Universe. It should be treated as a stepping stone to Nirvana and

therefore beings who take rebirth there are not to be considered

as enlightened beings.

Pure Land Buddhism is Mahayana Buddhism as it teaches the

universality of salvation. Its particular duty is to give help to

common beings so that Enlightenment is not less accessible to

them even though they are not intelligent enough to understand

the Dharma. e Buddha’s compassion is infinite and he exists

to save all beings in the universe whether they are wise or stu-

pid because the Buddha-nature is equally present in all of them.

Ch’ing Tu thus became the most acceptable form of Buddhism

 