Question 12 （Doubts and Questions about Pure Land）

by Elder Zen Master T'ien Ju

Question 12

There are many Common Residence Pure Lands in the ten directions. Why is it that Buddha Sakyamuni specifically directed people to the Western Pure Land and extolled the supremely wonderful conditions and environment of that Land alone?
   
Answer

The Amitabha Sutra states,

     “Sentient beings in that Land experience no suffering but only know every kind of joy; therefore, it is called Ultimate Bliss.”

The environment and conditions of the Western Pure Land are most exalted. That realm provides sentient beings with many more advantageous circumstances than other pure lands, which ordinary beings in the Triple World cannot fully understand … Even on a general level, the gap between the auspicious environment and conditions of the Pure Land and the lowly environment and conditions of the Saha World is wide and profound. If we were to delve into them in detail, such differences are so great that they cannot be fully described! However, in general, those differences can be summarized as two factors:

1. The environment of the Western Pure Land is exalted, and can awaken the yearning and serve as a focus for sentient beings to achieve rebirth.

2. The conditions of the Western Pure Land are unfathomable and wonderful and can help those who are reborn to progress easily and swiftly along the path of enlightenment.

For these reasons, although there are many Common Residence Pure Lands in the ten directions, only the Western Pure Land possesses all auspicious conditions in full. This is why sutras and commentaries point toward rebirth in the Western Land.

related post:  Question 13 （Doubts and Questions about Pure Land）

Source Of Information:
《Pure Land Buddhism (Dialogues with Ancient Masters)》, by Elder Zen Master T'ien Ju, translated with annotations by Master Thich Thien Tam, printed and donated for free distribution by: The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation (11F, 55, Hang Chow South Road Sec 1, Taipei, Taiwan), printed in February 2023.
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.