Going Home to the Pure Land
The Land of Ultimate Bliss
By Buddha-name Chanting and Sutra Recitation
In this land there is a Buddha called Amitabha, who is speaking the Dharma right now.
Amitabha is helping all who are truly sincere in their vows to be reborn there.
The Practice Session is based on the Amitabha Sutra recitation session practiced among many practitioners and Pure Land Centers around the world. The session may be practiced individually or in a group.
"Buddha Speaks the Amitabha Sutra", originally has a longer name derived from the sutra text--the sutra that is "extolling inconceivable virtues" and "protected and kept in mind by all the Buddhas".
Chanting is the simplest way to practice Pure Land Dharma anytime and anywhere. Besides reciting the Amitabha Sutra, chanting the Buddha name is the easiest way to form mindful connection with Amitabha.
Self Reflections...
To recite the Buddha's name is to recite the Buddha of the self-mind.
Since everything is a reflection of our mind, everything can be changed with our mind.
It is our own thoughts that lead us into trouble, not other people.
Mindfully...
It is best and effective to mindfully visualize the image of Amitabha Buddha while you are chanting or reciting the Amitabha Sutra.
Buddha images serve to convey the feeling of calmness to overcome wandering thoughts and negative emotions. The Buddha's serene appearance sets an example of purity, equality, and enlightenment to all beings.
You may click on the image and download the Buddha image for mindful visualization practice.
Five Pure Land Sutras
This site is intended to introduce all beings to the sutra of "Buddha Speaks of the Amitabha Buddha", which is one of the Five Pure Land Sutras commonly practiced in Pure Land Buddhism.
The Pure Land School of Buddhism has five important sutras that are imperative for practitioners to learn, recite, and understand the Pure Land Doctrine.
It is recommended to spend time everyday on chanting the Pure Land sutra (pick one from the five Pure Land sutras you like most and stick with it), as well as chanting the Buddha-name of Amitabha Buddha. Check out a sample of the Amitabha Mindful Chanting Music and start your daily practice!
Such daily practices concentrate our minds on the learning, deepen the understanding, and emphasize on the cultivation at the same time.
Why Amitabha's Pure Land?
In this Dharma-Ending Age, Sakyamuni Buddha, in numerous teachings, encouraged all beings to practice the Pure Land method--make a vow to reborn in the Western Pure Land and mindfully chant the Buddha name of Amitabha. The Western Pure Land is the ideal place for all beings to attain Buddhahood in one lifetime. What's so special about Amitabha's Pure Land? It is an easy and simple method to get started.
In the Visualization Sutra, Sakyamuni Buddha described a detailed account of the Western Pure Land for all beings to mindfully visualize this ideal learning environment and encourage all of us to aspire to and vow to reborn there.
Amitabha Buddha--A name that goes beyond space and time
Amitabha is a name that encompasses all sorts of infinity. Reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha constantly and persistently helps us rediscover the inner Buddha nature--the true nature. Chanting "Amitabha Buddha", therefore, helps invoke our true nature--infinite light and infinite life.
What are the Five Pure Land Sutras?
1. The Amitabha Sutra [Full sutra text] or [Full sutra text (Chinese)]
See also "Commentary of the Amitabha Sutra" [Full commentary] by Grand Master Ou-i, an excellent resource that provides us the essence of the Pure Land method.
2. The Infinite Life Sutra (Buddha Speaks of the Infinite Life Sutra of Adornment, Purity, Equality, and Enlightenment of the Mahayana School) [Sutra Excerpts] or [Full sutra text (Chinese)]
3. The Visualization Sutra [Full sutra text] or [Full sutra text (Chinese)]
4. The Chapter of the Practices and Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadhra from the Avatamsaka Sutra [Full sutra text] or [Full sutra text (Chinese)]
5. The Chapter on Mahasthama Bodhisattva's Mindfulness of Amitabha to Universally Realize Samadhi from the Surangama Sutra [Full sutra text] or [Full sutra text (Chinese)]
Amitabha Mindful Chanting
Every time we practiced Buddha-name chanting or sutra recitation, we dedicate our merits and virtues accrued from our practices to adorn the Pure Land, repay the Four Kinds of Kindness above, and relieve the suffering of those in the Three Paths below.
By continuously practicing (Amitabha) Buddha-name chanting, the ultimate goal is to seek the help of Amitabha Buddha to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss at the end of this lifetime!
Start your Buddha-name chanting practice today by following a sample from the Amitabha Mindful Chanting music.
Dedicated for the Sake of All Beings
The site For the Sake of All Beings, which is dedicated to all beings who want to learn how to end their sufferings in one lifetime, provides more information on Pure Land Buddhism, Principles and Cultivation, Three Learnings, Three Refuges, Five Precepts, and Six Paramitas.