The Story of Amitabha Buddha

Posted in Buddhism by admin on March 19, 2008

Once there was a king who was so deeply moved by the suffering of beings in the world that he gave up his throne and became a monk named Dharmakara which means ‘Treasury of Dharma’.

Dharmakara was heavily influenced by the then Buddha Lokesvaraja and vowed to become a Buddha himself. He studied & observed at length other Buddha-lands and then made his 48 vows to create a Pureland no other Buddha-lands could compare.

He vowed that he will only attain Buddhahood if the Perfect Pureland, where all beings can aspire to be reborn and never again fall back into endless suffering, were accomplished.

Eventually because of the power of his original vows & the merit of innumerable aeons of self-cultivation, he achieved Supreme Enlightenment and became Amitabha Buddha and ultimately established his Western Pureland of Ultimate Bliss. An incomparable Pureland that is so highly praised by other Buddhas.

His most important vow was the 18th, which said:

If I were to become a Buddha, and people, hearing my Name, have faith and joy and recite it for even ten times, but are not born into my Pure Land, may I not gain enlightenment.

Since he did gain enlightenment, those who do have faith, sincerity and aspiration to be reborn into his Pureland will be delivered by reciting his name ten times.

The simplest way of reciting his name or “Nien Fo” as it is known to the Chinese is “Namo Amituofo” which means “Homage to Amitabha Buddha” or “I take refuge in Amitabha Buddha”.

Proper cultivation of Buddha recitation helps to purify our mind which brings us closer to his Pureland of Ultimate Bliss.

Amitabha Buddha is now speaking the Dharma in his PureLand and helping all who are truly sincere in their personal vows to be reborn there. Just like a father waiting for the return of his prodigal son.

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