Material: Bronze (Antique)

Size: Approximately 28cm

Description: Amitabha Buddha (Sanskrit: Amitābha; also known as Amitāyus, meaning "Infinite Light" and "Infinite Life") is one of the most important and widely practiced Buddhas in Mahayana Buddhism, especially in East Asian Han Buddhism (China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam), where he is almost synonymous with "Buddhism." The following is a complete account of his origins, scriptural basis, and profound influence on Buddhist culture.

I. The Origin of Amitabha Buddha's Story (Jataka Tales)

The origin of Amitabha Buddha is recorded in three major Pure Land scriptures:

1. *Infinite Life Sutra* (also known as *Larger Amitabha Sutra*)

2. *Contemplation Sutra* (abbreviated as *Contemplation Sutra*)

3. *Amitabha Sutra* (abbreviated as *Smaller Sutra*)

According to the scriptures, countless eons ago, there was a king named "King Shirao" who, after hearing the teachings of "Mahaprajnata Buddha" (or "King of Freedom Buddha"), resolved to become a monk, taking the Dharma name "Dharmakara Bhikshu".

Dharmakara Bhikshu made "Forty-Eight Great Vows" before King of Freedom Buddha. The core content is:

- If I attain Buddhahood, all sentient beings in the ten directions, "with sincere faith and joy, desiring to be reborn in my land, even with ten recitations, if they are not reborn, I will not attain perfect enlightenment" (the eighteenth vow, the famous "Ten Recitations Guarantee Rebirth" vow).

- My Buddha-land will be "free from all suffering, but filled with all joy," and will be called "The Land of Ultimate Bliss" (Western Pure Land). - I wish to possess "immeasurable light" illuminating the ten directions and "immeasurable life" that will never perish, so that all sentient beings may be free from suffering and attain happiness.

The monk Dharmakara, after five great kalpas of contemplation and gathering the splendor of the Pure Lands of the Buddhas in the three thousand great chiliocosms, selected the most excellent and wondrous land. After another ten kalpas of diligent practice, he finally attained Buddhahood, becoming known as "Amitabha Buddha." From then on, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss was established. Any sentient being who "recites the Buddha's name" will, at the time of death, be guided by Amitabha Buddha, along with Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta, to be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, never to regress, until they attain Buddhahood.

This is the special circumstance by which "Our Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha introduced another Buddha—Amitabha Buddha—to us in the Saha world."

II. The Spread of Amitabha Buddha in Buddhist History

- **Indian Period (1st-5th Centuries)**

The earliest Amitabha Buddha worship can be traced back to the Gandhara art of the Kushan Dynasty (1st-3rd centuries), which already featured images of Amitabha Buddha. Nagarjuna (2nd century), in his *Ten Stages of the Bodhisattva Path*, proposed the "Easy Path": Self-reliance in the difficult path is too arduous; reciting Amitabha Buddha's name is the "Easy Path," allowing even ordinary people to be reborn in the Pure Land.

- **The Establishment of the Pure Land School in China (4th-7th centuries)**

- During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Master Huiyuan (334-416) established the "White Lotus Society" on Mount Lu, where 123 people recited Amitabha Buddha's name seeking rebirth in the Pure Land, thus initiating the Pure Land School in China.

- During the Tang Dynasty, Master Shandao (613-681), revered as the "Second Patriarch of the Pure Land School," wrote the *Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra*, emphasizing "single-minded recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name" and proposing "recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name guarantees rebirth in the Pure Land," establishing "oral recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name" as the mainstream practice.

- Later patriarchs of the Chinese Pure Land School: Yongming Yanshou (Song Dynasty), Lianchi Zhuhong (Ming Dynasty), and Master Yinguang (modern times), all emphasized the practice of reciting Amitabha Buddha's name.

- **Japanese Jodo and Jodo Shinshu (12th-13th centuries)**

- Honen Shonin (1175-1212) founded the Jodo sect, advocating "exclusive practice of reciting the Buddha's name," simply reciting "Namu Amitabha Buddha."

- Shinran Shonin (1173-1263) founded the Jodo Shinshu sect, proposing the "Other-Power Vow": everything depends on the power of Amitabha Buddha's eighteenth great vow, even those who commit evil are saved, making it the largest Buddhist sect in Japan.

III. Profound Influence on Buddhist Culture

1. **The Most Accessible Buddhist Belief**

Amitabha Buddha lowered the threshold to "Buddhahood" to the lowest level: no meditation, no precepts, no scripture reading required; only "faith, aspiration, and practice" (believing in Amitabha's salvation, vowing rebirth in the Pure Land, and reciting the Buddha's name) are needed. This allowed ordinary people, illiterate women, and children to practice, truly making "Buddhism among the people."

2. **"Reciting the Buddha's Name" Becomes Synonymous with East Asian Buddhism**

- Taiwan: "Namo Amitabha Buddha" is heard at almost every Dharma assembly and funeral.

- Japan: "Namo Amitabha Buddha" (Nenbu School) or "Namo Daishi Henzo Vajra" (Tendai School) is recited in all activities, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down.

- South Korea: Reciting the Buddha's name is practiced in lotus societies, and drums are played while reciting it at night.

- Vietnam: Every household has an image of Amitabha Buddha.

3. **Art and Culture**

- The Western Pure Land transformation paintings in Caves 217 and 254 of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang are world art treasures.

- The Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Temple in Japan (1053) is a reproduction of Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

- Fo Guang Shan, Tzu Chi Foundation, and the Fo Guang Shan Buddha in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, are all modern representations of the Amitabha Buddha faith.

4. **End-of-Life Care and Funeral Culture**

- "Reciting Amitabha's name for rebirth in the Pure Land" has become the most common view of death among East Asian Buddhists.

- In Taiwan, "recitation assistance groups" recite Amitabha's name 24 hours a day for the dying, originating from the "reception at the time of death" in the *Amitabha Sutra*.

- In Japanese Jodo Shinshu funerals, almost 100% of the chanting is "Namo Amitabha Buddha."

5. **Modern Influence**

- Master Yin Guang said, "Even murderers and arsonists can be reborn in the Pure Land with ten recitations at the time of death." This statement shocked traditional Buddhist ethics, yet it also demonstrates Amitabha Buddha's boundless compassion and saving power.

- Although the three major contemporary Buddhist schools in Taiwan (Chung Tai, Fo Guang Shan, and Dharma Drum) each have their own specializations, they all regard reciting Amitabha's name as a fundamental practice.

In short (one-sentence summary): Amitabha Buddha is the "Buddha of salvation who attained liberation through the forty-eight great vows made by the monk Dharmakara countless eons ago." With the most accessible method of "reciting the Buddha's name guarantees rebirth in the Pure Land," he has become the most widely worshipped Buddha in East Asia for two thousand years, influencing everything from temple art to folk funeral rites.

Namo Amitabha Buddha