Introduction to Pure Land
You might not know what is Pure Land.Well, Pure Land belongs to Amitabha Buddha. The Buddha with infinite life and lights that always surrounds all direction.
In the Longer Amitabha Sutra, Buddha Sakyamuni made the following prediction:
"In the days to come, the paths of the sutras will come to extinction. I, with compassion and mercy, will purposely make this sutra survive for a hundred years. Anybody who encounters this sutra will, according to his wish, surely attain enlightenment."
Since the ancient times, the direct Zen School has been especially popular in China, Korea and Japan. In Vietnam, as well, with its people rich in intuition and influence by Chinese thought, Buddhism and Zen used to be synonymous.
However, with time, things began to change. In Sung Dynasty, (tenth to thirteenth centuries), various Master or Patriach have seen their TRUE NATURE through the practice of meditation, and even though that, they still propagate the Pure Land method.
Buddha recitation has now become the most popular school in many Asian countries.
Many would ask, "Who says that our capacities are not the same as those of the ancients? It seems so only because we look down ourselves and do not exert enough effort." Actually, this statement is not correct. Buddha has clearly stated three period :
- Perfect Age of the Dharma (Dharma means Buddha's teaching)
- Dharma Semblance Age
- Degenerate Age of the Dharma
If today's people are of higher capacity, why do we hear less of practitioners attain the Way even thought sutras and commentaries much more numerous and complete than earlier times?
Thus, if what we teach is not in accord with the times and the capacities of sentient beings, the latter would surely sink into the sea of suffering. I sincerely call upon you all, even though you may practice a different method, to make the Pure Land your goal. However, if you have reached the stage where nothings matters to you. I would certainly rejoice for you.
Well, this is the direction I have tried to convince you. Please try it. Don't worry, Buddhism is not a religion. It is an education. Buddha had laid all the paths for us and now is the time to follow this path, the Pureland path on this earth, at this era at this moment.
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