Question asked by Alex
Dear Pastor,
I recently read an article Pastor David Lai wrote about a trip to China where H.E. Tsem Rinpoche raised a question as to 'why is Buddha Amitabha So Prevalent in China'? So, Rinpoche asked that this Buddha be researched and said that it would be interesting to know the reasons for Buddha Amitabha’s popularity in the China.
With no disrespect to his H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, I was surprise he knew little of Buddha Amitabha.
I was wondering why I couldn't find any articles about Buddha Amitabha Pureland on this website (prior to the one that was recently written by Pastor David).
I have been following Buddha Amitabha for a while now and in my personal option believe it is the most convenient, easiest, 'short cut' way to enlightenment/becoming a Buddha as appose to other methods. You essentially put your utmost faith and sincerity in believing Buddha Amitabha. The practice involves recitation of the name of Buddha Amitabha (to gain 'one-point mindfulness') where you can be reborn into his western pureland and escape the cycle of birth and death in ONE LIFE TIME. With the help/power of Buddha Amitabha (and the vow he has made in the past to rescue all sentient being who wish to be reborn in his western pureland), you can be reborn in the western pureland, no matter how heavy your karma is. You basically carry your karma with you to the western pureland where you are guaranteed to become a Buddha.
Other methods/practices rely on self power/self cultivation to escape from the cycle of birth and death and achieve enlightenment/Buddhahood, which is very very difficult to do in one life time. You are also not assured that through many lifetime of cultivation you can become a Buddha.
So i was curious to why Buddha Amitabha was not practiced by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche or in Tibetan Buddhism. Many great sages have preached this Buddha Amitabha's and it is mentioned many times in the sutras by Buddha Shakyamuni. In fact, Buddha Shakyamuni has specifically said of all methods he has taught (around 84,000 methods i believe), this is the 'Gem' of them ALL, especially for people of this day in age with low spiritual capacities.
I was thinking, why 'work' so hard by yourself, cultivation through many 'life times', to walk the 'path to enlightenment' by your own self and efforts before you can become a Buddha. Why not take the 'easy', 'lazy' way/road and be reborn into Buddha Amitabha where you are assured Buddhahood?
Now that this method is known, would more people follow it, including H.E. Tsem Rinpoche?
What are your thoughts on this?
Dear Alex,
You are right in your observation of Amitabha’s practice. In regards to your questions there are a couple of reasons why this form of practice may not be emphasised within certain lineages.
For example, a person’s practices stem from what their Guru(s) gave them. Hence some people do not engage in the practice of Amitabha because this wasn’t a practice that their Guru’s told them to practice. As individuals with our own karma, each of us has affinity with various Buddha figures. The Guru would bestow practices to the student according to their affinity and various needs.
Another possible reason is that there exist within Tibetan Buddhism, ways to achieve enlightenment within just one lifetime, hence one does not to wait until the time of death to be taken to Amitabha’s Pureland, and then practice from there. These practices belong to the Highest Yoga Tantra.
That being said, the practice of Amitabha exists with the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. In fact Amitabha is classed among a very important set of five Buddhas known as the Five Dhyani Buddhas that play an important role within Vajrayana Buddhism. I hope this helps.