Pure Land Buddhism

(This information is from Amitabha Pure Land Web)

The easiest way of practicing Pure Land is by chanting “Amituofo.” Amituofo primarily means “the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life.” While Amituofo is the name of the Buddha in Chinese, in Sanskrit it is Amitabha Buddha. We can chant in any language; however, it needs to be done properly. When we chant, the sound of Amituofo arises in our minds. And as we utter “Amituofo,” our minds focus on and embrace that sound. While chanting, we do so whole-heartedly and continuously.

This chanting is very powerful, for as the mind concentrates on the sound of Amituofo—effectively replacing wandering thoughts with this single pure thought of Amituofo—we will create less new negative karma. Negative thoughts are prevented from arising with a single thought of goodness: that of the name of a Buddha—of Amituofo. After Amituofo has been in our mind continuously for a long time, it will naturally replace our attachments, just as a “purifying pearl” dropped into impure water will gradually cleanse that water. In the same way, our true nature, our Buddha nature, will gradually be uncovered.

It is similar to a child remembering a dearly loved one: a mother, father, or someone equally close. The dearly loved one is always with him—always in his heart. Likewise, he is always in the dearly loved one’s heart: and never forgotten. In a similar way, Amitabha is always thinking of us, waiting for us to reach out to him so that he may respond to us.

Amitabha Buddha is the wise and compassionate teacher who understands everything, and who is always thinking of us lifetime after lifetime after lifetime. We are the students who are trying to learn and to practice. Just as a good teacher listens to the calls for help from a student looking for the right answer, if we sincerely practice, make the vow for rebirth, and have unwavering belief, Amitabha will respond. All we have to do is ask.

When, in our chanting, we reach the level of single-mindedness with the sole thought of Amituofo, we form a connection with him—in fact, we become one with him. In that instant we are in his land. If, as we breathe our last breath in this world, we can form this connection, this oneness with Amituofo, and thus, his Pure Land, we will attain our next rebirth in the Western Pure Land, and leave suffering behind. And once there, we will have all the time we need to continue our practice and learning, for we will be in the company of Bodhisattvas and Amitabha Buddha. They will help us learn all the ways to wisely help other beings.