Baihua Amitabha Sutra

Author: Wei Qi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: The carrier of Buddhist culture is the vast collection of Buddhist scriptures passed down through the ages. Just as Confucian classics are divided into classics, history, philosophy, and poetry, Buddhist scriptures are also categorized into three major divisions: Sutras, Vinayas, and Abhidharmas, collectively known as the "Three Baskets of the Dharma." The Sutras hold the highest status, as they are the teachings expounded by the Buddha to guide his disciples in practice. Therefore, what people are most concerned about today are these "Buddhist scriptures." Buddhist scriptures, also known as Buddhist classics, broadly include all writings of the Buddhist tradition—Sutras, Vinayas, and Abhidharmas—comprising over 20,000 volumes. Among these numerous scriptures, the Sutra of Immeasurable Life (Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra) can be said to be the most familiar to both devout Buddhists and ordinary people, and it has the widest influence in Buddhism. In China, Amitābha Buddha is well-known to all, even to the youngest children. However, if you were to ask most people about who Amitābha Buddha is, where he comes from, or what powers he possesses, many might be speechless. If you are interested in reading this book—The Plain Language Sutra of Immeasurable Life—you will gain a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of Amitābha Buddha, his status in Buddhism, and related Buddhist knowledge.
The Sutra of Immeasurable Life is also known as the Short Sutra of Immeasurable Life, and it is one of the three canonical texts of the Pure Land School of Chinese Buddhism, alongside the Sutra of Contemplating Immeasurable Life (Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra) and the Sutra of Immeasurable Life (Amitāyurābhidharmasūtra). Its main content introduces the wondrous and beautiful realm of the Western Pure Land and the inconceivable merits of its founder, Amitābha Buddha. It teaches that as long as people sincerely recite the name of Amitābha Buddha, they will be reborn into the Western Pure Land after death to enjoy infinite happiness.
The Buddhist philosophy in the Sutra of Immeasurable Life belongs to the Mahayana tradition. In its early stages, Buddhism was a religion that emphasized "self-power salvation," believing that individuals could only liberate themselves from the karma of past lives and escape the cycle of rebirths through their own efforts in practice. Therefore, it placed great importance on personal religious cultivation. In contrast, the Sutra of Immeasurable Life promotes a different path to liberation: it does not emphasize practice and even suggests that one need not rely on their own efforts. Instead, it advocates for faith in the existence of Amitābha Buddha and the Western Pure Land ("faith"), the sincere aspiration to be reborn there ("aspiration"), and the single-minded recitation of Amitābha Buddha's name ("practice"). By doing so, one can be reborn into the Western Pure Land after death to enjoy happiness beyond the reach of ordinary life and attain eternal life. This method is far simpler and more accessible than any form of religious practice, which is why it was quickly embraced by the general populace, and Amitābha Buddha became a household name.
Although the entire text of the Sutra of Immeasurable Life is less than 2,700 characters, its ideas and influence are profound within Chinese Buddhism. The concept of "other-power salvation" it promotes represents a revolutionary shift from the earlier emphasis on "self-power salvation." The Pure Land School of Buddhism, which takes this sutra as one of its foundational texts, spread this Buddhist thought throughout the dynasties following the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, understanding the Sutra of Immeasurable Life can enrich our knowledge of Buddhism, help us grasp the history of Buddhism, and encourage a more objective and fair-minded approach to the religion.
After the annotations of the Sutra of Immeasurable Life in this book, I have excerpted and compiled some Buddhist stories involving the figures mentioned in the sutra. These stories may further aid our understanding of the Sutra of Immeasurable Life. From them, we can also see how extensively Buddhist scriptures and stories are integrated into Buddhist teachings, their unique role in spreading Buddhist principles and helping people comprehend the Dharma, and their profound influence on ancient Chinese literature and art.