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Buddhism, especially Mahayana Buddhism, believes that through practice, one can be reborn in a Pure Land, which is the realm where the Buddha resides after death. This book will introduce the Western Pure Land, which is considered the easiest world for beings to be reborn in.
There are countless Buddhas, and therefore countless Pure Lands. Among them, the place where Amitābha Buddha resides is known as the "Western Pure Land of Amitābha," also referred to as the "Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."
Buddhism holds that Amitābha's Western Pure Land is the easiest place to be reborn. Why is this so? It is because Amitābha made forty-eight great vows to benefit the beings of this world. One of these vows says, "If any beings hear my name and wish to be born in my Pure Land, accumulating merit and dedicating it to this goal, but are unable to be reborn, I vow that I will not attain Buddhahood!" Because of the power of these compassionate vows, beings only need to make a small effort in their practice, and they can easily be reborn there.
The Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is accessible to all, with no discrimination. Whether male or female, old or young, monks or laypeople, intelligent or not, rich or poor, those with wisdom or without, as long as they possess the five powers and vow to go there, they will certainly reach it. There is no rejection, and there is no worry of overcrowding.
If someone asks, "Where is the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss?" Buddhist scriptures say, "From the western direction... there is a world named Ultimate Bliss, and in this land, there is a Buddha called Amitābha." This direction is used merely as a convenience to accommodate the concept of ordinary beings. For those who have attained the state of liberation, with a single thought or a snap of the fingers, they can instantly reach Amitābha's Pure Land, unaffected by directions or distances. This Pure Land is manifested by the power, wisdom, compassion, and accumulated merit of Amitābha over countless kalpas. In Tibetan, it is called Dewachen, meaning "Infinite Bliss" (Note: commonly translated in Chinese as "Ultimate Bliss"). This land is round and vast, and its soil is not like the hard, gravelly earth of our world but rather smooth and elastic. In our world, even the most beautiful landscapes eventually grow tiresome, but the scenery in the Pure Land is perfect and will never become boring.
The mountains in the Pure Land are created from Amitābha’s wisdom and merit, not like the ordinary hills of our world. The mountains there are made of beautiful gems like lapis lazuli. The grassy hills are covered with flowers, and the ground is as soft as walking on a sofa. The snow-capped mountains bring a sense of cool joy, and though they are refreshing, they do not cause cold or harm.
The gardens in the Pure Land are filled with marvelous trees, such as sandalwood and wish-fulfilling trees. The forests are home to birds of all colors, including white, yellow, red, green, blue, and multicolored birds. These birds are not like the animals of the six realms but are the creations of Amitābha’s wisdom. These birds sing pleasant and harmonious sounds that convey the teachings of Buddhism, helping listeners to gain insight into the Dharma.
In the gardens, there are waterfalls, rivers, and small streams, all filled with the "water of eight virtues." The sound of the water is not only pleasing to the ear but also serves to transmit the Dharma.
The wind in the Pure Land also conveys the subtle sound of the Dharma, different from the ordinary howling winds of our world.
Buddhas are unlike ordinary beings. When the Buddha gives a sermon, those who listen, whether near or far, can hear him clearly. His teachings are understood by all without needing translation, and each listener hears the teachings according to their own capacity. This method of teaching is just one of many ways the Buddha instructs others. The Buddha also has the power to empower others to speak the Dharma. For example, the Heart Sutra was spoken by Avalokiteśvara, but it is actually the Buddha’s teaching. The Buddha can also use miraculous powers to make sounds—such as the wind, the movement of trees, the flowing of water, and the chirping of birds—convey the Dharma, helping the listeners to realize the true teachings.
In many parts of the Pure Land, there are various treasure pools, like swimming pools. Above these pools are pavilions made of precious stones, adorned with flowers, nets, and auspicious decorations, creating a beauty that is beyond imagination.
Everywhere in the Pure Land, there are flowers emitting delightful fragrances. When the flowers bloom and fall, a gentle breeze blows them away, only for new flowers to bloom in their place. These flowers are not like the ordinary flowers of this world. Each individual flower has a diameter of one hundred or two hundred kilometers. If one tries to imagine these details with the limited capacity of an ordinary mind, it is impossible to truly understand the richness of the Pure Land’s features.
At the center of the Pure Land, there is a wish-fulfilling tree. This tree is exceptionally strong and beautiful, and in front of it is Amitābha’s palace. The palace is made of four kinds of precious gems and is vast and magnificent. In the grand hall of the palace, there is a Dharma seat made of precious stones, supported by eight peacocks. On the seat is a lotus flower, with a moon-shaped platform in the center where Amitābha sits and gives teachings. Amitābha attained Buddhahood countless eons ago and is the main deity of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, as well as its teacher. In the Pure Land, Amitābha gives teachings in the form of a Buddha who appears in his transformation body. He wears the three robes of a monk and sits in a cross-legged posture, manifesting the thirty-two marks and eighty auspicious signs of a Buddha. Surrounding the Dharma seat are many listeners, including Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Mañjuśrī, Samantabhadra, Kṣitigarbha, Metteya, and other Bodhisattvas, as well as the beings living in the Pure Land. These Bodhisattvas, though already Buddhas in their own Pure Lands, appear in the form of Bodhisattvas and disciples of Amitābha in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Amitābha tirelessly gives teachings on the peacock throne, personally guiding the listeners in the Dharma of the Pure Land.
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