Contemplation Sutra
Encyclopedia
The Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra (Sanskrit
; ), is one of the three major Buddhist sūtras
found within the Pure Land
branch of Mahāyāna
Buddhism
. Amitāyus is another name for the buddha Amitābha
, the preeminent figure in Pure Land Buddhism, and this sūtra focuses mainly on meditations involving complex visualization. This is reflected in the name of the sūtra, which translates to the "Amitāyus Meditation Sūtra."
to murder his father, King Bimbisara, in order to ascend the throne. Ajatasatru kills his father, and nearly kills his mother, Queen Vaidehi, but after advice from his other ministers, he relented and threw his mother in prison.
Lamenting her fate, Queen Vaidehi prays to the Buddha for help, and he is able to visit her. Vaidehi expresses her wish to be born in Amitābha Buddha's Pure Land
. Shakyamuni smiles, emitting light from his mouth, and goes on to tell Vaidehi how to be reborn in the Pure Land. The Buddha tells her that although she is in prison, she could still obtain liberation through the practices of Amitābha Buddha. The Buddha goes on to describe Amitābha and how one could obtain rebirth in his land of Sukhavati
.
The thirteen contemplations are described in order as follows:
According to Shakyamuni Buddha, all nine grades of human beings can achieve rebirth into the Pure Land if they contemplate Amitabha Buddha, or at least call on his name. This is similar to the 48 Vows made by Amitabha Buddha, according to the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life
, which includes the Primal Vow
.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
; ), is one of the three major Buddhist sūtras
Mahayana sutras
Mahāyāna sutras are a broad genre of Buddhist scriptures that are accepted as canonical by the various traditions of Mahāyāna Buddhism. These are largely preserved in the Chinese Buddhist canon, the Tibetan Buddhist canon, and in extant Sanskrit manuscripts...
found within the Pure Land
Pure land
A pure land, in Mahayana Buddhism, is the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The various traditions that focus on Pure Lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism. Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bön.The notion of 'pure...
branch of Mahāyāna
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. Amitāyus is another name for the buddha Amitābha
Amitabha
Amitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
, the preeminent figure in Pure Land Buddhism, and this sūtra focuses mainly on meditations involving complex visualization. This is reflected in the name of the sūtra, which translates to the "Amitāyus Meditation Sūtra."
Preliminary matters
The text begins with a story where a prince named Ajatasatru was enticed by the villain DevadattaDevadatta
Devadatta was by tradition a Buddhist monk, cousin and brother-in-law of Gautama Siddārtha, the Śākyamuni Buddha, and brother of Ānanda, a principal student of the Buddha...
to murder his father, King Bimbisara, in order to ascend the throne. Ajatasatru kills his father, and nearly kills his mother, Queen Vaidehi, but after advice from his other ministers, he relented and threw his mother in prison.
Lamenting her fate, Queen Vaidehi prays to the Buddha for help, and he is able to visit her. Vaidehi expresses her wish to be born in Amitābha Buddha's Pure Land
Pure land
A pure land, in Mahayana Buddhism, is the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The various traditions that focus on Pure Lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism. Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bön.The notion of 'pure...
. Shakyamuni smiles, emitting light from his mouth, and goes on to tell Vaidehi how to be reborn in the Pure Land. The Buddha tells her that although she is in prison, she could still obtain liberation through the practices of Amitābha Buddha. The Buddha goes on to describe Amitābha and how one could obtain rebirth in his land of Sukhavati
Sukhavati
Sukhāvatī refers to the western Pure Land of the Buddha Amitābha in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Sukhāvatī translates to "Land of Bliss."-In other languages:In traditional Mahayana Buddhist countries, there are a number of translations for Sukhāvatī....
.
Attaining birth in the Pure Land
Shakyamuni explains the importance of performing certain meritorious acts in order to be reborn in the Pure Land. He then goes on to teach Vaidehi how to visualize the Pure Land, to further her efforts in attaining rebirth there. Shakyamuni describes thirteen "contemplations," or mental visualization exercises, that are to be followed in order. By deeply contemplating various aspects of the Pure Land and attempting to visualize them in detail, the aspirant draws closer to the Pure Land.The thirteen contemplations are described in order as follows:
- Contemplation of the setting sun
- Contemplation of an expanse of water
- Contemplation of the ground in the Pure Land
- Contemplation of trees in the Pure Land
- Contemplation of ponds in the Pure Land
- Contemplation of various objects in the Pure Land
- Contemplation of the lotus-throne of the Buddha
- Contemplation of the image of Amitabha Buddha
- Contemplation of Amitabha Buddha himself
- Contemplation of Avalokiteshvara
- Contemplation of Mahasthamaprapta
- Contemplation of the aspirants to the Pure Land
- Contemplation of Amitabha and the two bodhisattvas
Nine levels of birth
In the final part of the sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha discusses the nine levels into which those born into the Pure Land are categorized. The levels are ranked from highest to lowest as follows:- The highest level of the highest grade
- The middle level of the highest grade
- The lowest level of the highest grade
- The highest level of the middle grade
- The middle level of the middle grade
- The lowest level of the middle grade
- The highest level of the lowest grade
- The middle level of the lowest grade
- The lowest level of the lowest grade
According to Shakyamuni Buddha, all nine grades of human beings can achieve rebirth into the Pure Land if they contemplate Amitabha Buddha, or at least call on his name. This is similar to the 48 Vows made by Amitabha Buddha, according to the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Infinite Life Sutra
The Infinite Life Sūtra, or Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra, and the primary text of Pure Land Buddhism. It is the longest of the three major texts of Pure Land Buddhism...
, which includes the Primal Vow
Primal Vow
The Primal Vow , also known as the 18th Vow is part of a series of 48 vows that Amitabha Buddha made in the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life...
.
Conclusion
The sutra ends with a short section describing the benefits gained by those who listened to these words of the Buddha. Vaidehi experienced "great awakening with clarity of mind and reached the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas," while her five hundred female attendants and "innumerable devas" also awakened aspiration for the highest enlightenment. Shakyamuni names the sutra, mentions benefits connected with the name of Amitabha Buddha, and exhorts all to hold the words of the sutra in their minds. Shakyamuni then returns through the air to Vulture Peak.External links
- The Contemplation Sutra, translated into English by J. Takakusu
- English translation of the Contemplation Sutra
- The Taima Mandala Image of the Pure Land from a medieval Japanese scroll, based on the descriptions found in the Contemplation Sutra. This site offers explanations in English of the various motifs of the scroll.
- "Le Sutra des Contemplations du Buddha Vie-Infinie" ("The Contemplation Sutra" translated and annotated in French by Jérôme Ducor), Brepols, 2011