The Essence of the Mahayana Path

The Boundless Path of the Bodhisattva

The Mahayana refers to the path of the Bodhisattva. The entire purpose of the Bodhisattva’s practice is to attain complete and perfect Buddhahood. To achieve this, one must walk the path of the Six Paramitas, which are the foundational virtues of a practitioner. In truth, when you chant one Buddha's name to the end, you are simultaneously practising all six of these perfections. By focusing your heart and mind on the Buddha-name, you naturally embody the virtues of giving, discipline, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. Therefore, a Mahayana practitioner is, by definition, a Bodhisattva practitioner.

The Compassionate Guidance of the Buddha

Mahayana Buddhism is the Buddha’s teachings for guiding beings to attain Buddhahood. The Pure Buddha Land is the realm where Buddhas and Bodhisattvas reside; the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Huazang World are such realms. The difference between a Buddha and a Bodhisattva lies in the fact that a Buddha has achieved perfection in self-awakening, awakening others, and the practice of awakening, whereas a Bodhisattva has achieved self-awakening and awakening others but has not yet reached the perfection of the practice of awakening.

The Supreme Sutra of Enlightenment

The Infinite Life Sutra (The Buddha Speaks the Mahayana, Infinite Life, Adornment, Purity, Impartiality, and Enlightenment Sutra) is the sutra for attaining Buddhahood; if one accepts it with faith and puts it into practice, one can attain Buddhahood. This sutra is the method Shakyamuni Buddha used to teach the assembly of Bodhisattvas how to attain Buddhahood. Its content introduces Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss because the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the kingdom of Buddhahood, the realm where Buddhas and Bodhisattvas reside.

The Radiant Purification of the Spirit

It is mentioned in the Ultimate Vow of Namo Amituofo that upon entering the Western Pure Land, one immediately receives the blessing of Namo Amituofo’s power and becomes an Avinivartaniya Bodhisattva. An Avinivartaniya Bodhisattva is a steadfast Bodhisattva. Even for ordinary people who carry karma and have not yet severed their afflictions, they can still chant Namo Amituofo to suppress their afflictions and wandering thoughts. Once they enter the Western Pure Land, under the blessing of the Buddha’s power and the illumination of the Buddha’s light, their spirits can be purified, elevating their spiritual quality to the level of a Bodhisattva.

The Heart’s Manifestation of Truth

The above is a brief summary provided by Namo Amituofo in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings regarding the Mahayana and the situation of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In truth, all phenomena and all realms are manifested by the heart. By purifying and purifying, and by being good and being good, once one enters the Western Pure Land, one naturally arrives at a place that corresponds to one's spiritual quality. Before attaining Buddhahood, one can continuously practise and elevate oneself in the Western Pure Land until one finally attains Buddhahood. Namo Amituofo.