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Pure Land Buddhism ( zh. 净土宗, pinyin jėngtǔzong), also known as Amidism, is a branch of mainstream Mahayana Buddhism and presently the most popular school of Buddhism in Asia.
Pure Land Buddhism is based upon the Pure Land sutras first brought to China circa 150, which describe Amitabha, an ancient Buddha. This concept, personified or otherwise, can be translated variously but is usually shortened to "Amituo" or "Amitofo" in Chinese (阿彌陀佛, Mandarin wg O1 Mi2 T'o2 Fo2), "Amida" in Japanese and "Amito" in Korean.
Although the Infinite Life Sutra, or Longer Pure Land Sutra, was translated in to Chinese by the royal Kuchean monk Po-Yen as early as 258, the Pure Land school first became prominent with the founding of a monastery upon the top of Mount Lushan by Hui-yuan in 402Events Stilicho recalls troops from the frontiers of the Roman Empire to defend Italy against the Visigoths. On April 6 he defeats them at the Battle of Pollentia Kumarajiva arrives at Changan and begins to translate Buddhist texts in to Chinese. Births D. It spread throughout China quickly and was systematized by Shan-tao ( 613For alternate meanings, see Number 613''. Events Clotaire II reunites the Frankish kingdoms by ordering the murder of Sigebert II. Saint Columbanus founds the monastery of Bobbio in northern Italy. The Abbey of St. Gall is founded. Isanapura becomes the c- 681Events Bulgaria is recognised as an independent state. Wilfrid of York is expelled from Northumbria by Ecgfrith and retires into Sussex Births Deaths January 10 Pope Agatho Ebroin, Mayor of the Neustrian Palace Heads of states Japan Temmu Emperor of Japan). The philosophy spread to JapanJapan (, Nippon/Nihon literally "the origin of the sun") is a country in East Asia situated on a chain of islands east of the Asian continent on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido , Honsh and slowly grew in prominence. Honen ShoninHonen Shonin (; 1133- 1212) is credited with the establishment of Pure Land Buddhism as an independent sect in Japan. External link 1133 births 1212 deaths. ( 1133Events Geoffrey of Monmouth produces the Historia Regum Britanniae Durham Cathedral is completed Construction of Exeter Cathedral begun Births 25 March Henry II of England Honen Shonin, who later established Pure Land Buddhism as an independent sect in Ja- 1212Events The first Great Fire of London burns most of the city to the ground. Battle of Navas de Tolosa. Children's crusade Crusaders push the Moslems out of northern Spain Births Emperor Go-Horikawa of Japan Deaths Honen Shonin, who established Pure Land B) established Pure Land Buddhism as an independent sect in JapanJapan (, Nippon/Nihon literally "the origin of the sun") is a country in East Asia situated on a chain of islands east of the Asian continent on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido , Honsh, known as Jodo Shu. Today Pure Land is the dominant form of Buddhism in Japan.
Contemporary Pure Land traditions see the Buddha Amitabha preaching the DharmaThe word dharma ( Sanskrit; "" in the Devanagari script) or dhamma ( Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, Dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. It occurs first in the Vedas, in his buddha-field ( sa. buddhakchetra), called the "Pure Land" ( zh. 净土, pinyin jėngtǔ, jp. jodo) or "Western heaven" ( zh. 西天), a region offering respite from karmic transmigration. In such traditions, entering the Pure Land is popularly perceived as equivalent to the attainment of nirvana.
In fact, the main idea behind Pure Land Buddhism is that nirvana is no longer practical nor possible to attain in our present day. Instead, devotion to Amitabha will gain one enough karmic merit to go to the Pure Land (reminiscent of Heaven) from which Nirvana will be easier to attain, because in this paradise there are no negative experiences so no new negative karma is created. Existing negative karma would disappear.
Some Pure Land Buddhists have taught that in order for a devotee to be reborn in Amitabha's Western Paradise, they should chant or repeat a mantra or prayer to Amitabha as often as possible to reinforce a proper and sincere state of mind. This fairly simple form of veneration has contributed greatly to its popularity.