Amitabha Buddha Land of Ultimate Bliss = heaven?

[datapoly]

i find it interesting that the Amitabha Sutra, mention that people who recite or call upon his name by the time of dying will be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss with the reception by Amitabha buddha. (ref : http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/Amitabha.htm)

i am not a christian, but i understand from my christian friend that all believer of God will be reborn in heaven upon dead.

this sound very similar isn't it?

is the pure land similar to the christian heaven?
is the western land pointing to the direction of jerusalem? (which is on the west side of india)
is Amitabha similar to God? (he who have faiths will be save)

any insightful comment?

happy metta

[Brian]

There are definitely similarities. I'd be very interested to educate myself on the history of the Pure Land sect. I personally feel that Pure Land is another pseudo-religion based on Buddhist principles (much like the Tibetan belief system). I consider orthodox buddhism (that is to say the actual dhamma as spoken by Gotama buddha himself) to be the foundation upon which these different sects are built. As we all know, as buddhism spread around asia and then the world, it was easily adapted to fit in comfortably with each culture that came in contact with it. Thus, the Tibetans have their mystical beliefs (oracles and animism) but are still considered to be Buddhists.

I think the bigger discussion would be the seperation between buddhist principles and buddhist spirituality/mysticism. I see them as seperate aspects of the same thing. I suppose with some effort, any religion on earth could be considered a buddhist religion with some bending here and there, due to the universal truth of the basic principles. Therefore, I regard Ch'an (Zen) as a religion more than a set of principles.

For new buddhists who may not know, Amitabha was a different Buddha. Followers of the pure land sect of Zen buddhism believe that chanting his name at the time of death is one sure way to enlightenment.

I think this may boil down into a discussion of Mahayana vs. Theravada (doesn't it always?).. The theravada teachings speak of no such things as "one sure way" to achieve enlightenment other than the only way - release from all attachment. One could argue that an attachment to Amitabha would actually hinder that progress.

This could be a very lively discussion!

[Lincoln]

We were just discussing Pure Land Buddhism the other day in class and it didn't seem like it appealed to me much. It overlaps too much with parts of Christianity I'm not very keen on.

[Brian]

Yeah, as I said, "this could be a very lively discussion!"

[bodhi]

Pure Land is very much different from Christienity.
Christien belief in going to heaven whereas Pure Land Buddhist goes to Buddha Amitabha Pure Land.

Buddhist belief in different level of heaven and that it is not permanent, that is when one uses up all the merits one will still encounter rebirth.

Buddha Amitabha Pure Land is not consider a heaven but a place where everything is pure but its still not the ultimate place but just a place where condition is perfect for achieving enlightenment without the all the suffering, distraction and desire found in this world.

Pure Land Buddhist vow to rebirth to this Pure Land so as to become a Buddha that is to achieve enlightenment. As achieving enlightenment in this world is too difficult as compare to Buddha Shakyamuni time.

[kinlee]

Originally Posted by datapoly

i find it interesting that the Amitabha Sutra, mention that people who recite or call upon his name by the time of dying will be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss with the reception by Amitabha buddha. (ref : http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/Amitabha.htm)

i am not a christian, but i understand from my christian friend that all believer of God will be reborn in heaven upon dead.

this sound very similar isn't it?

is the pure land similar to the christian heaven?
is the western land pointing to the direction of jerusalem? (which is on the west side of india)
is Amitabha similar to God? (he who have faiths will be save)

any insightful comment?

happy metta

Pure Land is a place where there all supreme living and education conditions are available for Buddhahood achievement (Enlightenment). The main aim off course for it's citizens to learn from Buddha Amititabi. It's really a cultivation development with best practices ever-known. No is it not Heaven.

Based from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra(地藏菩薩本願經), it presents varies different levels of Heaven. There is a life-span for beings in these Heavens.

As far as I can understand, the state of true-self/nature is the concept of wholeness or oneness where there are no concept of polarity, distant and time. Everyting is just one, the diversity that we see today is the creation of our every wondering minds and ever-changing thoughts. Our minds created everything and our thoughts cause for things to change every moments (law of impermancy).

Amitabha is not similiar to God. God is a father and son relationship, whereas Amitabha is a teacher in helping others to gain Enlightenment, release free from all sufferings. Which includes the breaking away from reincarnation.
You can find interesting and valuable materials pertaining to God and Buddha at http://www.thubtenchodron.org/.

There is also an interesting writeup about God or NoGod at http://www.stanford.edu/~pj97/God.htm

Enjoy.

Kin Lee

[pj.pilgrim]

Among Pure Land practitioners, there is a variance in understanding. Pure Land is taught as a literal truth to beginners, but advanced practioners will tell you that Pure Land exists in the mind only. The sixth Patriach, Hui Neng said in the Platform Sutra "If one's mind is not pure, how can you expect Amitabha to welcome you in his Pure Land?" Pure Land practitioners will repeat his name over and over again, (although accorsding to the Sukhavati Sutra, reciting it once will allow you rebirth there), because they take it as a samatha meditation exercise to calm the mind and make it receptive to the Dharma. Hence metaphorically, being born in the Pure Land where one can then work out one's liberation.