Pure Land Buddhism

Amitabha Buddhism is a collective term for those schools of Mahayana Buddhism, which relate to the transcendent Buddha Amitabha. In 1 / 2 Originated century in India, the doctrine came from the 5th century to China, where they named Jingtu zong (Chinese净土 宗pinyin Jìngtǔ Zong, W.-G. Ching- t'u tsung, the Pure Land ') took. In Japan, founded honing Shonin (1172-1212) on the basis of the " Pure Land teaching" the Jōdo shū. From this, the Shonin Shinran (1173-1263) developed Founded Jōdo Shinshu.

The Amitabha Buddhism is often referred to as Amidism - this after the Japanese word Amida, which corresponds to the Sanskrit word Amitabha.

The Amidism is the only direction of Buddhism in which confidence in the supramundane Buddha Amitabha central importance claimed - while faith does not otherwise prominent role in Buddhism. ( Jap. Jōdo Sanskrit Sukhavati ) in the foreground In Amidism is confidence in the infinite goodness of Amitabha ( Amida ) and the expectation of a rebirth in the Pure Land. Therefore, one also speaks of Pure Land Buddhism.

Concept

In the world of Amitabha Buddhism Buddhas and Bodhisattvas reside in the Pure Lands, clean areas that are particularly favorable for spiritual development.

The base is about: In the era of steady decline of Dharma ( jap: Mappo ) it is almost impossible for the modern man to attain enlightenment and nirvana. However, there remains the possibility Amitabha to ask for help, because this has taken after his own enlightenment the vow not to leave this world until all beings are saved. He who trusts in him will be reborn in Amitabha's Pure land, a peaceful, paradisiacal world in which everything is designed to make the essence of enlightenment and the attainment of Nirvana easily.

Due to the central role of faith in this religious direction of Amidism has often been compared with the Christian Protestantism and its principle sola fide; Although this comparison is in some ways true, but in others also very misleading, so a careful study of the relationships is indicated.

In the Sino- Japanese room (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore) the Amitabha worship is now a widely used expression in the Buddhist teachings. Since in this school meditation is less important than, for example, Chan, this direction is widespread in the broad layers of working ordinary people whose way of life was no time for in-depth meditations.

Techniques for limited target

The name of Amitabha is pronounced many hundreds of times during the day - this can also inaudible. The practitioner may, according to the belief of the Pure Land, thereby stand still means " einspitziger concentration " the spirit. The technique does not claim to achieve absolute Nirvana, but rather relative Nirvana, ie a state where small adhesions exist in the sense of I - object relation. Samsara therefore is not completely broken. See also: Nembutsu

Other techniques are the visualization of complex landscapes. The first stage consists in the visualization of the setting sun and is comparatively simple. Higher levels of visualization as the visualization of the water start with the visualization of the water and as soon as they succeed, snow, crystal and complex landscapes is attempted from the crystal. These exercises are designed to interrupt the flow of thought and open the mind.