Transcript The Pure Land School - The Ecclesbourne School Online

The Pure Land School
“Even a bad man will be received in
Buddha’s land, how much more a
good man”
Main points
Based on the teachings of Honen
Honen taught two main practices:
(i) Meditation on the infinite
qualities of Amitabha
(ii) Chanting the name of Amitabha
Main points
-Honen believed that the worst sinners
would be excluded from salvation. These
would be:
(i) Those who had killed their mothers
(ii) Those who had killed their fathers
(iii) Those who had killed a Buddhist saint
(iv) Those who had hit a Buddha
(v) Those who had deliberately caused a
schism in the monastic community
Main points
-Later, Pure Land leaders developed
the NIEN FO.
-This refers to a series of five
practices that should be
undertaken
Main points
1. Reciting Amitabha’s name
2. Reciting the Mahayana Sutras
3. Meditating on the wonders of
the Pure Land
4. Worshipping at statues of
Amitabha Buddha
5. Singing the praises of Amitabha
Buddha
- Main points
- Originally, some teachers tried to
combine the Nien Fo with more
traditional practices such as meditation
and the study of scriptures
- That said, the laity preferred the Nien
Fo and this took preference
- Main points
- Eventually the term Nien Fo came to
refer to merely an invocation to
Amitabha , commonly referred to as the
NEMBUTSU
-Summary of Pure Land
- Emphasis on the need to behave well
- Prove yourself worthy to Amitabha
- Follow the Five Precepts
- Ritual action to gain merit