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Why I Choose to Practice Pure Land Buddhism that to the west of this world, over a hundred thousand
https://youtu.be/OjQoGsnbslo) millions of Buddhalands away, there is a Land called
Ultimate Bliss and a Buddha called Amitabha. It is a land
Why is it called Pure Land Buddhism? Is the term with no suffering and all bliss.
Pure Land or Sukhavati the same as Nirvana which
is often mentioned in other Buddhist traditions? If we take belief in this and chant Amitabha Buddha’s
name single-mindedly without confusion at the time
Although Pure Land dharma originated in India, it of death, we can attain rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s
really started to form as a proper branch of Buddhism Pure Land.
in China about 1600 years ago with the first Patriarch
Master Huiyuan. It is called Pure Land Buddhism This is also in accordance with Amitabha Buddha’s 48
th
because Pure Land practitioners practice Nianfo, which great vows, particularly in the 18 vow as seen in the
literally means to chant the name of Buddha (Amitabha Infinite Life Sutra, where Amitabha Buddha promised to
Buddha) with faith and vow to seek rebirth in Amitabha deliver sentient beings to his Pure Land if we can recite
Buddha’s Pure Land or Sukhavati in Sanskrit. his name even up to ten times at the time of death.

The Pure Land exists in another dimension in the Dharma That’s why we practice Nianfo - chanting the name of
realm, and it is created by Amitabha Buddha’s perfect Amitabha Buddha. Also by chanting his name in our
enlightened mind and his great vows (48 great vows of daily life, it can help us transform our negative thoughts
Amitabha Buddha as seen in the Infinite Life Sutra). into Infinite Light & Life, to be free from afflictions, and
to live a happy and peaceful life.
Nirvana means enlightenment which refers to a state of
mind. The phrase Pure Land can also refer to a perfectly How is chanting Amitabha’s name different from
enlightened mind, but this is not to deny phenomena praying to a God for help as found in many theistic
and the existence of Pure Land as an actual place in religions?
another dimension (actually the Pure Land exists in the
entire Dharma Realm). First, Buddhas are not God, no Buddha claims they are
God as in the absolute external creator who creates
The essence of the Pure Land is not an illusion as it is everything. In Buddhism, we do not believe there is an
generated from the perfectly enlightened mind (the external creator or absolute God. If there is an external
unconditioned Mind). The essence of the Pure Land creator or absolute who creates everything and who
lasts forever - Infinite Light & Life – as it is also not is all loving and compassion, why did he create all the
separate from our Buddha nature. sufferings in the world?

When one attains rebirth in the Pure Land, one can The essence of Buddhism is not really a religion, but
transcend the cycle of reincarnation and obtain Infinite a path of awakening. Buddha told us that our Mind
Light & Life, which means one will obtain enlightenment (Heart) actually creates everything. What we think
and realize Buddhahood. we create; it is our mind through our thoughts that
generate our karma, which creates this very life we
(Relevant video: Is Amitabha Buddha real or mind-only? live in. Even the cycle of reincarnation is created by the
https://youtu.be/dUBwUSbDAt8) mind due to ignorance and attachment to delusions.

What is the significance of chanting Amitabha Amitabha Buddha only creates the Pure Land but not
Buddha’s name? our Saha world which is full of suffering. The Saha world
is the result of all our collected karma.
In the Amitabha Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha told us