The Buddhist traditions
Pure Land
Trust in Amida Buddha's vow and calling his name: the most grace-like form of Buddhism, and the most widespread in East Asia.
What it is
Pure Land Buddhism centres on Amitabha (Amida) Buddha, who, according to the Sukhavativyuha sutras, vowed long ages ago as the bodhisattva Dharmakara to bring to his Pure Land all who call on him with sincere trust. In Japan, Honen (1133-1212) taught that calling the name, Namu Amida Butsu, is enough; his disciple Shinran (1173-1263) taught that even our faith is Amida's gift.
Our response
Pure Land shows that people across Asia have longed for grace, for salvation by another's power instead of their own. The gospel says that longing is answered, not by a vow in a distant age, but by a real person in history who paid for sin on the cross and rose. Grace without atonement is a hope; grace through the cross is a fact.
6For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. 8But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8 (WEB) · context
18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,
1 Peter 3:18 (WEB) · context
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
Acts 4:12 (WEB) · context
In their texts
Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra, the eighteenth vow Summary, not a quotation
Promises birth in the Pure Land to those who entrust themselves sincerely and call on Amida's name.
Sources
- Luis O. Gomez, The Land of Bliss (University of Hawaii Press, 1996).
- Alfred Bloom, Shinran's Gospel of Pure Grace (University of Arizona Press, 1965).