Amitabha Buddha – the fourth Dhyani Buddhas

This article is about Amitabha Buddha – Who was He? Why he is known as Amitabha, his iconography, and his doctrine & advantages of reciting his Mantra.

Who was Amitabha Buddha?

Many a eons ago, a king received teachings from the Buddha Lokesvararaja. The sufferings of all creatures profoundly touched him. In these introspective moments he renounced his throne, decided to become a monk and took the monastic name Dharamakara (treasury of Dharma).

The monk Dharamakara took forty-eight vows to attain Buddhahood, with the condition that he would achieve Buddhahood only when all his vows were fulfilled.

He vowed to build a Buddhakshetra, a realm or virtue from his own practices, in which anyone being low or high, calling upon his name even as few as ten times will be a guaranteed a birth there. He promised to ferry His devotees to this adorned land of unlimited bliss, enabling them to be born there and attain quick Buddhahood.

After five eons of self-cultivation, unadulterated perception, and a profound comprehension of emptiness, He attained Supreme Enlightenment, becoming Buddha Amitabha. He subsequently created Sukhavati – the pure Land.

About Sukhavati – The Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha

In Sukhavati, everything is immaculate and comfortable. There is an exquisite scenery of lotus flowers, jewel trees, clear streams. The chirping of birds and the fresh refreshing breezes fill the atmosphere of Sukhavati. Everyone there is free from illness, achieve the highest state of spiritual consciousness and bliss, and possess glowing haloes and supernatural powers.

Amitabha remains alive in Sukhavati. Any living being who calls on Him sincerely and with faith gets re-birth on Sukhavati, the pure land of unlimited bliss. Amitabha himself receives him there. They get the instructions on Dharma from Him and ultimately becomes Bodhisattvas and Buddhas in their turn (the ultimate goal of Mahayana Buddhism). These Bodhisattvas and Buddhas return from Sukhavati to assist more beings

The openness that Sukhavati readily accepts all kind of people who are ready to reform, made the pure land one of the major influences of the Mahayana Buddhism.

His teachings and emphasis on faith, recitation, and aspirations, rather than the strict meditation techniques and monastic rules associated with Buddhism, made Enlightenment attainable even for simple folks.

Canonical Text having basic doctrine of Amitabha Buddha

The basic doctrine concerning Amitabha and His forty-eight vows are in three canonical Mahayana texts – Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra, Smaller Sukhavativyuha Sutra and the Amitayur Sutra. Amitayur Sutra focusses mainly on meditation. These three Sutras are the principal sutras from which the notion of Amitabha Buddha originates. These Sutras describes the merits of Amitabha Buddha and recounts his promise to establish Sukhavati (the Pure Land) and explains how re-incarnation occurs there.

These literatures and the sculptural remains, dating back to the end of the second century, suggest that his doctrine developed or got popular during the 1st and 2nd centuries. The Gandhar era witnessed his popularity. Researchers have discovered prayer busts from the Pala dynasty era as well.

About Amitabha Buddha

Amitabha Buddha is one of the five Dhyani Buddhas of the Vajrayana Buddhism. The other Buddhas considered among Pancha Dhyani or five meditating Buddhas are Vairocana Buddha, Ratnasambhava Buddha, Akshobhya Buddha and Amoghasiddhi Buddha. The word Amitabha means the one who glows with limitless (अमित) radiance (आभा). In Vajrayana Buddhism He is the most popular deity among the Pancha Buddhas.

Iconography of Amitabha Buddha

Artists usually depict him in a seated meditation position. His legs are in Vajra position. The hands are over his lap with palms facing upwards in the Dhayana mudra. In some instances, the artists raise the thumbs of Amitabha Buddha and touch them together. His eyes are half-closed, as if in meditation. His hair is piled atop his head and is crowned with a gem.

In addition, he holds a lotus flower that depicts the purity of Buddha’s teachings and/or a vase that represents the nectar of immortality. People associate Amitabha Buddha with the attributes of the lotus: gentleness, openness, and purity. A halo of brilliant light surrounds his head.

The gesture of Amitabha in standing position symbolizes that wisdom is accessible to all, even to the lowest beings. The outstretched hands shows that his compassion is directed at the lowest beings who cannot protect themselves.

The Amitabha Triad

He is often portrayed with his two assistants – Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta. This iconography is known as Amitabha Triad. In Tibetan Buddhism, Amitabha Buddha is typically red in color. Red color is associated with the color of love, compassion and emotional energy. It is however, not uncommon to see Him depicted in yellow or golden yellow as well.

Association of Amitabha with West

His direction is west and is represented on Stupa towards West. He is envisioned as the blissful red setting sun. He is seen as the supreme power and energy of nature, caste on earthly plain and accessible to all sentient beings. His association with the setting Sun suggests the withdrawal of the external sense perception and divert the consciousness inwards into higher state of meditative concentration.

The vehicle of Amitabha Buddha

His ride is peacock. As the peacock eats the poisonous snakes to save mortal beings; He also strives to alleviate the suffering of others.

The Consort and Emanation of Amitabha Buddha

His consort is Pandaravasini. The Panchen-lamas are considered his emanations.

Advantages of worshipping Amitabha Buddha

Amitabha Buddha renders longevity, discernment, pure perception and the purification of aggregates with deep awareness of emptiness of all phenomena. His worship helps in transmuting the negative trait of obsessive attachments into a discerning awareness. By realizing this discerning wisdom one unites with Amitabha.

Advantage of reciting the Mantras of Amitabha Buddha

By reciting his mantras a devotee can get several advantages –

• Establish a solid connection with Him.
• It supports mental clarity, lessens mental diversions and brings faster inner tranquility.
• It cleanses negative karmas built over several incarnations and can create good karmik imprints for the future.
• It makes birth in Sukhavati possible. The atmosphere there is conducive for spiritual development and advancement towards enlightenment.
• It aids in spiritual transition and ease the transition of a dying person in the after-life.

References

Buddhist Deities and Masters – An introduction by Chandra B Sakya

The iconography of Nepalese Buddhism by Min Bahadur Shakya

For more information, please watch the video below

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