-5 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)
Pure Land is Buddha field that is mentioned in Vimalakirti Sutra. But what "wisdom" does Amitayurdhyana Sutra want to give or clarify when it describes all the "different" contemplations of different "objects" that are nothing more than some human conceptions of our reality, but not reality itself? All the sounds of birds, colors of the world, .. are just vikalpa and has nothing to do with reality. I contemplate nature naturally, without reading the sutra. But all the descriptions of nature is unnecessary and I don't think it is even correct to contemplate nature like that, i.e., to look at our world as if it is a "collection of separable objects" that can be described by human perceptions and hence human vocabulary.
Comment by SolipsistBodhisattva at 03/02/2025 at 23:43 UTC
18 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The sutra is not a wisdom text like the Prajñaparamita, it's a faith and dhyana based text. Through faith in Amitabha and contemplating him and his land, one attains birth in the pure land through Buddha's power and then, once there, you can receive the Dharma directly from the Buddha Amitabha. So, in pure land, we're not working to realize emptiness / thusness in this life, instead we are cultivating faith in the Buddha which links us with his other power. It's a different Dharma door than the Prajña door. But no less effective.
Comment by Tongman108 at 04/02/2025 at 10:33 UTC*
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
contemplations of different "objects" that are nothing more than some human conceptions of our reality, but not reality itself?
Visulization is to purify the mind
In vajrayana purification of the three secrets of body speech and mind correspond to
Body > Mudras
Speech > Mantras
Mind > Visulization
Through single pointed concentration one can enter samadhi:
Hence
Through clear Visulizations one can directly enter Samadhi.
Through reciting mantras with single mindedly one can directly enter Samadhi.
contemplations of different "objects" that are nothing more than some human conceptions of our reality, but not reality itself?
Well the same could be said for the entirety of the Buddhadharma.
After teaching daily for 49 years the Buddha said that 'he never taught any dharma'.
Exerpt from Vajra/Diamond sutra:
“Subhuti, do not say that the Tathagata thinks, ‘I have spoken dharma.’ Do not think in this way. Why? Anyone saying that the Buddha has spoken dharma slanders the Buddha, as he does not understand what I have been saying.
Best wishes & great attainments
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻