Pure Land Buddhism for Westerners

What is Pure Land Buddhism? Most Westerners may overlook this tradition of Buddhism; however, it makes up the most practiced form by laypersons and is worthy of consideration.

Buddhists who follow Pure Land Buddhism accept everything any other Buddhist would: Shakyamuni Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, etc.

However, their practice is based upon a few things. Primarily, understanding and practicing the Dharma in our world/reality is difficult. Without the presence of a living Buddha, like Shakyamuni during his time on earth, progress is difficult or impossible.

Celestial Buddhas can create what is popularly known as "Pure Lands" where one, after death, can experience rebirth in. Instead of returning to a mundane existence, they are brought to a Pure Land in order to understand and practice the Dharma without hindrance under the guidance of a Buddha(s), Bodhisattvas, and other Dharma teachers. Think of it like going to a school with the best teachers where you can truly understand what you are studying without hindrance, compared to trying to do the same thing with distractions and challenges.

Buddha Amitabha and his Western Pure Land (Sukhavati) are the most popular among laypersons. The most widely visible form of this practice is reciting the name of Amitabha (called Nianfo, Nembutsu, etc.).

While this seems like an odd practice for Buddhists, it is rooted in meditative concentration and mindfulness - parts of the Noble Eightfold Path. While there are many Pure Land schools/sects, visualization of the Buddha and Pure Land and related recitation assist in attaining enlightenment or rebirth in the Pure Land. When one visualizes and recites the name of Amitabha, they are focusing on a wholesome being - a Buddha. Thus, unwholesome thoughts, ideas, actions, cannot exist.

There are also three levels of practice/attainment in Pure Land according to Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh. All are considered wholesome, and not one is necessarily the 'right' or 'wrong' one. At the highest level, one realizes that the Pure Land is actually the Pure Land of their mind. And they realize Amitabha Buddha is actually their true self/nature (Nirvana, non-self, Buddhanature, etc.).

While most Westerners are familiar with Japanese-style Buddhism, namely Zen and Pure Land schools, this separation of schools is not the norm. Chinese Buddhism/Humanistic Buddhism practices both Ch'an (the original Meditation School in China or 'Zen' as it is called in Japan) and Pure Land and considers this practice complementary to each other. Other countries followed this practice such as Vietnam, and Korea as well. However, Japan decided to separate the Zen and Pure Land traditions.

Links:

1) Finding our True Home: Living in the Pure Land Here and Now by Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh: https://amzn.to/321K7zJ (Amazon Affiliate Link)
2) Fo Guang Shan (FGS): English Services on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_LC..., Weekly Buddhism (https://fgsenglishdharmaservices.blog...)
3) Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) is an example of a Japanese Pure Land sect/tradition that has numerous locations in Northern America: https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica...

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