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
Recently, we have received generous and exquisite fruits, food, and other consumer items from our other Pure Land Associations, places of Nianfo practice, Sangha members, and fellow practitioners. However, Master Huìjìng advises us to categorically decline such offerings, as it is a serious violation of the Buddha’s teaching.......
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Master Jingyi’s Passing: a Short Account
Jingyi Fashi (Fashi, a respectable way of addressing a Buddhist master), a bhikkhuni, was born in 1967 and passed away on April 4th, 2023, at the age of fifty-seven.
She became a monastic in 2016. Five years before her ordination, she suffered from an inoperable cerebral hemangioma that she had to live with. This condition is like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any time. She got motion sickness easily and that prevented her from driving and taking long car rides.......
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The Ultimate Aim of Life: Rebirth in the Pure Land
By Master JingkaimoreAll of us here are students of Buddhism, a belief system that is the main source of support in our lives. When we first came across Buddhism, we found it complex and hard to understand. However, you don't need to be a master scholar of all the scriptures to understand its essence. The key to opening the door to Buddhism is understanding death and how to deal with it.......