Welcome to the English-language website of the Pure Land school.
Our aim is to introduce to international audiences the teachings and practices of Pure Land Buddhism according to the lineage of Master Shandao (善導大師, 613-681) of Tang Dynasty China.Master Shandao, long revered in East Asia as an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha, is universally acknowledged as the de facto founder of the Pure Land school of Buddhism. Grounding his teachings in the three Pure Land sutras preached by Shakyamuni Buddha, he urged practitioners to aspire to rebirth in the Land of Bliss by reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha exclusively.
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After the Charter, it is necessary to be familiar with the school’s founder, for the former is based on the teachings of the latter.
The founder occupies a preeminent position in the school, unmatched by others. The founder of the Pure Land school was Master Shandao of the Tang Dynasty, widely accepted as an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha. He synthesized and completed the Pure Land teachings and wrote the Five Works in Nine Fascicles, which definitively laid down the thought and practices of the Pure Land tradition.
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English translation by Householder Jingtu
A “charter” outlines the principles characteristic of a Dharma school and sets forth guidelines for practice by its adherents.
The Pure Land Charter was drafted by Dharma Master Huijing. It serves as a manifesto for the Pure Land school, summarizing its evolution over more than a millennium, up to the present day. The Charter consists of 18 clauses defining the essential elements of the school and clearly lays out its framework.
The Pure Land Charter was drafted by Dharma Master Huijing. It serves as a manifesto for the Pure Land school, summarizing its evolution over more than a millennium, up to the present day. The Charter consists of 18 clauses defining the essential elements of the school and clearly lays out its framework.more
Dharma Master Huijing
If we can experience Amitabha Buddha’s love, we will naturally treat others differently, and our surrounding atmosphere will change. What kind of change? We will be tolerant, considerate, and love others, and not picky, hateful, and jealous. Because once our hearts are touched by Amitabha Buddha's love, they will naturally lead us to words and deeds like the Buddha.more
Dharma Master Jingzong
The human body has the ability to heal its wounds if you give it time to rest. If the wound is constantly injured, it will continuously bleed and bleed, flesh and blood becoming indistinguishable. The human mind is even more capable of healing itself if you let it rest. But every day, we constantly feed it with a self-obsession of differentiation, delusion, narcissism, love and hatred, and quarreling so much that our mind has not a moment to rest, but instead generates endless afflictions and pains.more
Impermanence
By Master HuiyuanAll things in this world are unpredictable and impermanent, always arising and ceasing endlessly. There is no such thing as a banquet that never ends or a sun that never sets. Even sorrows and joys, like the waves of a sea, will dissipate in the end.more