Buddhism Pure Land Essay - 685 Words

AO1: â€Å"Examine the distinctive features of Pure Land Buddhism† Pure Land Buddhism offers a way to enlightenment for people who can’t handle the subtleties of meditation, endure long rituals, or just live especially good lives. The essential practice in Pure Land Buddhism is the chanting of the name Amitabha Buddha with total concentration, trusting that one will reborn in Pure Land, where it is much easier for a being to work towards enlightenment. Pure Land Buddhism is particularly popular in China and Japan. Pure Land Buddhism as a school of Buddhist thinking began in India around the 2nd century BCE. Tan Luan was the first master of Pure Land lineage. He had his religious calling while recovering from a serious illness. He said he†¦show more content†¦Honen popularised the chanting of ‘Namu Amida Butsu’. The result was a form of Buddhism accessible to anyone, even if they were illiterate or stupid. Honen didn’t simplify Buddhism through a patronising attitude to inferior people. He believed that most people, and he included himself, could not achieve liberation through any of their own activities. They only way to achieve Buddhahood was through the help of Amitabha. A century after Honen, one of his disciples Shinran brought a new understanding of Pure Land ideas. Shinran taught that what truly mattered was not the chanting but just said have faith in Amida – making it simpler, yet more strange. Chanting on its own had no value at all. AO2: â€Å"Pure Land Buddhism is the easy route/path of Buddhism† Assess this claim Pure Land Buddhism can be seen as both an easy and difficult path of Buddhism. Pure Land Buddhism can be seen as an easy route because Buddhists can get help to enlightenment and can still reach heaven if they have had a bad life by just reciting the name Amitabha with complete trust and sincerity. Pure Land also surrenders personal responsibility, which means they don’t have to go through the eightfold path or the Tibetan wheel of life meaning that it is simple. In addition, on a deathbed, a person can get transported to sukhavati heaven if they call out to Amitabha. It is easy to live a non moral life and then chant outShow MoreRelatedZen And Pure Land Buddhism1584 Words   |  7 Pagestradition). In East Asia, these teachings developed into ten different schools, several of which remain important to this day: Zen, Tantric and Pure Land (Li 4 April 2016). These schools of thought differ in many ways but also have overlapping similarities. In my essay, I will explain three underlying differences and similarities between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism and its relation to emptiness and compassion. The differences the reader will encounter will be the role of language, the role of practiceRead MoreThe Dharma of Mahayana Buddhism Essay1073 Words   |  5 Pagesselfish and lonely. As a matter of fact, a hypochondria is becoming so popular that one in seven adults is facing it. In our society today, Buddhism, especially Mahayana Buddhism, becomes a cure to the duhkha that we are facing today. The Dharma of Mahayana Buddhism becomes very helpful to resolve many, even all the problems humans are facing today. Mahayana Buddhism believes in the Path of Bodhisattva, which is path to become Awakened by achieve own-being’s enlightenment and more importantly, to helpRead More Comparing Buddhism and Christianity Essay1410 Words   |  6 PagesComparing Buddhism and Christianity In the early sixth century Christianity was evolving at a rapid pace. The spread of Christianity was not only moving westward through Europe, but it was also moving eastward down the Silk Road. The eastward spread of Christianity was primarily a form of Christianity known as Nestorianism, after the teachings of Nestorius, a fifth century patriarch. By 635 Nestorian Christianity had reached the heart of China spreading through all of Persia and India. DuringRead MoreBuddhism and Christianity1411 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween Christianity and Buddhism. They noticed many other similarities in doctrine and books as well. The early missionaries to China and Japan were both shocked and disturbed by their findings that another religion had similar beliefs. The missionaries determined that this was the devil at work, inventing a counterfeit faith. In recent years scholars discovered the evidence of Nestorian Churches in Asia. Many people now believe that the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity are dueRead MoreFinding A Middle Way Between Zen And Pure Land Buddhism1692 Words   |  7 Pagesa Middle Way between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism Introduction After the death of the historical Buddha occurred and his lineage had ended with Buddha Sakyamuni, his teachings spread in two main directions, southward (Theravada tradition) and eastward into China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan (Mahayana tradition)(Blake 16 March 2016). In East Asia, these teachings developed into ten different schools, several of which remain important to this day: Zen, Tantric and Pure Land (Li 4 April 2016). These schoolsRead MoreEssay: Formal and Stylistic Analysis of Buddha Amit746 Words   |  3 Pages! Essay: Formal and Stylistic Analysis of Buddha Amitabha Naiwen Zhang 02/10/2014 Professor Jones ! The sculpture Buddha Amitabha is a typical Sui Dynasty style art piece that represents the will of people who wish to have peace and joy. Their life goals is achieve enlightenment. Their believe of the existence of the western paradise where they will suffer no more from anything. It is also a piece of love and good fortune that was sent from the women to their family. ! Buddha Amitabha is a bronzeRead MoreThe Buddha Vairocana And Buddhism1598 Words   |  7 PagesBuddhism was introduced into Japan in Nara Period through Korea, with only some scripts in Chinese writing. At the time, Japanese find their country in lack of civilization like writing and cultural religion. By sending people to China to accept more doctrine from foreign countries, different Buddhism schools are developed later in time. During the end of Heian Period, one of the popular sect is dedicated to Shingon, which is established by a monk named â€Å"Kukai†. Buddha Vairocana is one of many BuddhasRead MoreThe World Of The Apocalypse2467 Words   |  10 Pagescivilization time and time again. From modern day film and literature, to ancient religions, talk of the apocalypse is unavoidable. Despite Buddhism being a religion with tenants based on detachment from the material, emphasis on the distinguishment of suffering, and an enlightened existence, there have been several no table moments in East Asian history when Buddhism was the source of all apocalyptic panic. The first took place in 6th century China when Chinese intellectuals closely examined the â€Å"ThreeRead MoreSimilarities Between Buddhism And Buddhism1936 Words   |  8 PagesBuddhism, like other world religions, is not one homogeneous grouping of like-minded devotees adhering to one school of thought. Just as Christianity has its Catholics and Protestants, and Islam its Sunnis and Shiites, Buddhism is also comprised of various schools and sects. Some scholars separate Buddhist schools into geographical groupings, such as Southern, Eastern and Northern traditions, whereas some prefer to focus on a more tradition-specific delineation, such as Theravada, Mahayana, and VajrayanaRead MoreInvestigate the impact Buddhism had on Human Rights in China Essay2603 Words   |  11 PagesThis essay will investigate the impact that Buddhism had on Human rights in China. Discussion will centre on the h istory of Buddhism in China and the Cultural Revolution. Considering how Marxist ideology implemented changes to the religion of Buddhism and the social conditions in this country, using politics has the base to build this essay to analyse the impact of communism on religion ,regarding Tibet. The paper will then discus the post communist society up until the present day using human right