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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 29

countless lifetimes, and the fact • Sūtra of Contemplation of although important, are regarded as
that this is a dharma-ending age, Infinite Life, translated by secondary.
external temptations will make Master Kalayashas;
it increasingly more difficult for • Amitābha Sūtra, translated by Lineage
ordinary folks to get out from this the famous Master Kumarajiva. Just like any other Buddhist
world or Saṃsāra. There is always tradition, the Pure Land School
the danger that we will be reborn There are three main guiding has its lineage which comprises
into one of the Three Wretched principles of the Pure Land School: great masters who spoke or wrote
Realms of hell, hungry ghosts, or commentaries about the School.
animals. 1. Pure Land practitioners must They were Shakyamuni Buddha,
have the strongest faith and Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan,
Pure Land School offers another trust in Amitābha Buddha; and Dao-Chuo, and Shan-Dao. There
way for us to break the repeated belief in the Pure Land, a place were many other great masters in
cycle of birth and death. With the which serves as a stepping stone different East Asian countries.
right method and practice, we can towards full enlightenment and Of the many great masters,
be reborn in the Western Pure Land liberation. Venerable Master Shan-Dao is
and continue our cultivation there regarded as the de facto founder of
in a non-retrogressive manner and 2. The practitioners must make a the Pure Land School because he was
finally attain the highest level of devout vow and aspiration to the master who systematically and
Enlightenment (Buddhahood). be reborn in the Pure Land. The comprehensively synthesized the
vow is very determined because underlying principles and methods
Core Sūtras and Guiding their faith is very strong and of the School 1400 years ago.
Principles deep. It is not a half-hearted case
Pure Land Buddhism is a tradition of “if I can be reborn there, I will; Venerable Master Shan-Dao
of Buddhist teachings that centers if I can’t, it is OK.” explained that Amitābha Buddha’s
around Amitābha Buddha, the vow of deliverance covers the
Buddha of Infinite Life, Buddha of 3. With a clear understanding and highest-level Bodhisattvas to
Infinite Light, and the presiding belief in the first two (faith and the most severe evil doers and
Buddha of Sukhāvatī Pure Land. vow), practitioners recite the deluded beings, monastics and
It is a broad branch of Mahāyāna name of Amitābha Buddha, if householders, as well as those
Buddhism widely practiced in East possible, single-mindedly. The in the Three Wretched Realms.
Asia. recitation should be single- All faithful and single-directional
directional, meaning that practitioners, regardless of their
Scriptures of the Pure Land School practitioners must make up their ability and aptitude, who practice
consist of three core Sūtras. mind what is the destination correctly will be reborn in the Pure
Apart from these three, there are when their present lifetime Land.
hundreds of Mahāyāna sūtras ends?
which mention the Pure Land. The Since its founding, the Pure Land
original scriptures were in Sanskrit Recitation of Amitābha Buddha’s School gradually permeated into
and translated by Indian masters name faithfully and single- other schools of Buddhism in China.
into Chinese between 1600 and directionally is regarded as the The various schools converged
1800 years ago. The three core principal or primary action of with the Pure Land school. Indeed,
Sutras are: assurance. Other actions and rebirth in the Western Land of Bliss
good deeds such as recitation became a shared aspiration and
• Sūtra of Infinite Life, translated of scriptures, contemplation, the name of Amitābha Buddha an
by Master Sanghavarman; meditation, praises and offerings, emblem for Mahāyāna Buddhists.