Pure Land

CaliGuy819

Just wondering, any Pure Land practitioners here?

Lady_Alison

Cali, do I have your permission to post on your thread?

With respect.

CaliGuy819

Of course.

Lady_Alison

What is pure land to anyone in the forum.

Lady_Alison

?

taiyaki

From what I understand a pure land can be thought of as an actual place.

But in my opinion it is a state of consciousness.

Jeffrey

I understand it as a world where dharma is focused.

Dakini

Here's some interesting history I found on wikipedia.

"The Pure Land teachings were first developed in India and were very popular in Kashmir and Central Asia, where they may have originated. Pure Land sutras were brought from the Gandhara region to China as early as 147 CE when the Kushan monk Lokaksema began translating the first Buddhist sutras into Chinese. The earliest of these show evidence of having been translated from the Gandhari language ... which was used in NW India.

In the Buddhist traditions of India, Pure Land doctrine and practices were disseminated by well-known exponents of the Mahayana teachings, including Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu.

Pure Land is a branch of Buddhism focussed on Amitabha Buddha."

I'm always intrigued by teachings originally recorded in Gandhari.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_Land_Buddhism

CaliGuy819

"Ordinary people generally think that if the Pure Land is Mind-Only, then it does not exist. This is the understanding of demons and externalists. Such a deluded view, which appears correct but is in reality wrong, affects more than half of all people and causes practitioners to forfeit true benefits."

(from Pure-Land Zen, Zen Pure-Land, Letters from Patriarch Kin Yuang.)

KarunaDharmakaya

pureland is awsome all buddhas have a pureland.

lamaramadingdong

Close- I live in Minnesota.

minimayhen88

I practice Humanistic Buddhism, in which 'incorporates all of the eight traditional schools of Chinese Buddhism - especially the Linji Chan and Pure Land schools.'

There is a great emphasis upon ethical principles (as in all Buddhist schools ... covering my back here!) ..... which Ch'an Buddhism (Chinese Zen) is often praised for. My perception of the 'Pure Land' .... is both a state one achieves, when one removes the dark clouds of delusion, greed, hate and ignorance from the mind and comes to the realisation we are all united on some deeper level. And a place, where upon departing this life we enter a plain of existence that is...well more pure, to put it simply!

To try and express it better I have found some extracts, from the Ven. Master Hsing Yun on the 'Pure Land' in his books.

'We promote the spirit of oneness and coexistence as we strive to bring Buddhism to everyone. Although the ultimate goal may be rebirth in the Western Pure Land or in the Medicine Buddha’s Pure Land, one we purify our minds the Pure Land exists at this very moment.' (p. 67 The Buddha's Light Philosophy)

'the thoughts of the deluded mind are diverse and changeable; hence everything worldly is subject to differentiation and relativity. It is only in the true and absolute mind that the Pure Land can be realized, and such a state of being is encompassed in compassion and in the spirit of benefiting others.' (p. 95 Infinite Compassion, Endless Wisdom: The Practice of the Bodhisattva Path)

This extract is interesting because It describes the 'Pure Land' as a literal place and emphasises that there are many Pure Land's (corresponding to the many Buddha's or enlightened beings, like continents perhaps!) ....

'Each pure land is unique and possesses its own special qualities. Due to the scientific and technological advances or our modern world, we see aspects of the Pure Land in our human realm. For example the Medicine Buddha's Pure Land is described as having abundant food and clothing, lodging and transportation available to all, and medicine available to anyone who need's it.' (p.26 Life: Politics, Human Rights, and What the Buddha Said About Life)

In my opinion the above ^ more literal interpretation of this notion of a 'Pure Land' .... utilizes post modern, Utopic ideals, to illustrate a destination that one should strive / desire to enter. I personally believe that the experience of compassion for all beings and oneness ... is the closest my understanding of a pure land will get, until perhaps after death, but this does not particularly concern me, as we must live in the present.

I hope this okay I rushed it a little, sorry


xxxx

claudia

BonsaiDoug

the Ven. Master Hsing Yun on the 'Pure Land' in his books.

Can you recommend one of his books that might be a good introduction to Pure Land?

TIA

minimayhen88

To be honest I read them mainly online, and Humanistic Buddhism is more of a combination of Orthodox Chinese Buddhism and Pure Land. I was looking for you though, and here are a couple of Book previews ... to maybee help you make up your mind :-)

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NvnDimfxE3QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=pure+land+buddhism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NFlvT9PgEoqY1AXdzdCOAg&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=pure land buddhism&f=false



http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=c2Nm052NT-oC&printsec=frontcover&dq=pure+land+buddhism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OVpvT-uLEcKk0QX5qP2NAg&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=pure land buddhism&f=false


I actually have this book and find it a loveley look at Buddhism,

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BSy4C7JkTaIC&pg=PA89&dq=Hsing+Yun+pure+land&hl=en&sa=X&ei=blpvT6eTK8e_0QXdt5COAg&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false


Hope these help :-) x x x

Invincible_summer

Just wondering, any Pure Land practitioners here?

I used to identify as a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, but I've drifted more into the Chan/Zen camp now. Chan sometimes incorporates Pure Land stuff, more along the lines of "creating a Pure Land on Earth" type of discourse/activity.

Why do you ask?

Iñigo

Hi,
I have heard that Chan and Pure Land can be mixed. Does anyone know if there is a sect which supports 'enligthenment in life' and hence avoiding having to reach the Pure Land? My understanding is that in Pure Land Buddhism one can only hope to be reborn into better circumstances but not become enlightened in this life.
Metta

Invincible_summer

This is all based on my fairly limited experience:

Well, Chinese Chan Buddhism often incorporates the Pure Land practice of chanting the niànfó (chanting Amitabha's name) as a form of meditative practice. Also, chanting the niànfó is sometimes used instead of "mental noting of thoughts" that arise during meditation - when a thought comes up, one is supposed to chant (silently) the niànfó as it helps the thought dissipate and improve concentration during meditation.

In Amitabha's Pure Land, one can become a Buddha or a Bodhisattva, so it's basically the same as Enlightenment to more literalist Pure Land followers.

The views on enlightenment are pretty much those found in Zen, since Chan is basically Chinese Zen.

KarunaDharmakaya

Hi,
I have heard that Chan and Pure Land can be mixed. Does anyone know if there is a sect which supports 'enligthenment in life' and hence avoiding having to reach the Pure Land? My understanding is that in Pure Land Buddhism one can only hope to be reborn into better circumstances but not become enlightened in this life.
Metta

maitreya is the next thus come one(fully enlightened one)chan incorperates pureland into its practices,you might meet a person chanting omitofo in china and come to find out they are chan members whos practices is centered around pureland in mind and in next life

Iñigo

Thanks for the replies!
Chan with chanting appeals to me, I will try to find more information; I'd be happy for any links/book recommendations. I am not as attracted to the idea of a pure land after death I consider enlightenment whilst living to be more favorable personally.

Metta

KarunaDharmakaya

Thanks for the replies!
Chan with chanting appeals to me, I will try to find more information; I'd be happy for any links/book recommendations. I am not as attracted to the idea of a pure land after death I consider enlightenment whilst living to be more favorable personally.

Metta

If you like chan look up to end tainted self and gain ture self(Tathagatagarbha)(also check out the founding text (Lankavatara sutra)

peace and love

suopohe

You may try this :
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. It was created by Master Hsuan hua. His teacher was Master Hsu Yun.

http://www.drba.org/

History:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsuan_Hua
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsu_Yun

Thanks for the replies!
Chan with chanting appeals to me, I will try to find more information; I'd be happy for any links/book recommendations. I am not as attracted to the idea of a pure land after death I consider enlightenment whilst living to be more favorable personally.

Metta