Amitabha Buddha is Like a Huge Mountain
By Recorded by Householder Jingzhi
In 2020, to celebrate Amitabha Buddha’s birthday, the Shandao Temple of the Pure Land Buddhist Association in Pingtung, Taiwan, held a 7-day Buddha recitation ceremony that concluded on the Buddha's birthday, November 17th of the lunar calendar. During this period, the temple organized morning sessions for chanting and afternoon sessions where venerable masters took turns teaching the principles of Pure Land Buddhism.
Ms. Hong Suqing, a retired elementary school teacher, recounted that one afternoon, when a Venerable Master was giving a Dharma lecture, she suddenly saw the statues of the Three Western Sages enshrined in the main hall become as tall and majestic as a mountain. The entire space of the hall seemed to expand, becoming wide and tall. She then saw the Venerable Master standing in front of Amitaha Buddha also appearing as tall and majestic as the Buddha.
She couldn’t help but think: where on earth am I! Immediately, everything in the hall returned to its original state.
Recorded by Householder Jingzhi on the Amitabha Buddha’s Birthday, 2020
(Translated and edited by the Pure Land School Translation Team)
Characteristics
- Recitation of Amitabha’s name, relying on his Fundamental Vow (the 18th)
- Rebirth of ordinary beings in the Pure Land’s Realm of Rewards
- Rebirth assured in the present lifetime
- Non-retrogression achieved in this lifetime
The 18th Vow of Amitabha Buddha
If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions or slander the correct Dharma.
Guiding Principles
Faith in, and acceptance of, Amitabha’s deliverance
Single-minded recitation of Amitabha’s name
Aspiration to rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land
Comprehensive deliverance of all sentient beings