The Lord of Sukhavati

Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, is one of the Five Transcendent Buddhas. It is said that when all was perfect void (Maha-shunyata) the mystic syllable AUM became manifest, from which at his own will the Adi-Buddha was produced. At the creation of the world he revealed himself in the form of a flame and out of the Adi-Buddha's permanent state of meditation, the Five Dhyani or Transcendent Buddhas emanate in a spiritual sense among them one is Amitabha Buddha.

Amitabha is the lord of the Western Paradise called Sukhavati, also known as the Land of Bliss or the Pure Land. He is the synthesis of the purity of the maya-body with its appropriate signs in the clarity of mind, which in its essential nature is the same as light. He is the inexpressible luminous essence. He is represented in his Western Paradise of Sukhavati, and sometimes by himself as a Tathagata. Red in colour, he is in monastic robes with the vase for alms placed in his hands in Samadhi-mudra of contemplation. He is the nirmana-kaya, the preparation for the spiritual maturity of his devotees. It is said that before entering Mahaparinirvana, Shakyamuni transmitted to his favourite disciple Shariputra the splendour of Amitabha and his Pure Land Sukhavati. His symbolic syllable is HRIH: H is the sound of breadth, the symbol of all life, R is the sound of fire, I is the intensity of vibration which stands for the highest spiritual activity. Amitabha is of the nature of conceptualization. Conceptualization proliferates, sparking new ideas, and lording over it is Amitabha. His red colour bears the meaning that compassion is enamored of all of all living beings. The colour of Enamour (raga) is red in the Buddhist tradition. According to the principle of Hatha-yoga, the human personality is adduced into Amitabha's world by a projection of the conscious principle. In the great splendour of the Pure Land, the devotee can spend aeons in contemplation of Boundless Light preaching the Law.

Amitabha Buddha is very popular in Nepal. The highest devotion is tendered to him at Svayambhu, as he is the Buddha of the present aeon. Bountiful offering are bestowed on him in the western quarter of the Svayambhunath shrine. The Jodo sect and the Jodo-shin sect, the two most prevalent sects in Japan, pertain to Amitabha. When his immeasurable light shines upon the sadhaka, all his grave sins and hindrances of karma are nullified. He contemplates subtle distinctions of the spiritual capacities of beings and then he preaches Dharma according to their receptivity, revealing to them their lotus-like principle and the purity of their fundamental nature.

Amitabha belongs to the lotus family Vairochana enters the Tathagata's pure lotus Samadhi of the fundamental nature of all dharmas, and then radiates around a light of the colour of a crimson lotus which illuminates the immeasurable Western World.

In this painting Amitabha Buddha is seated in vajraparyankasana on a moon disk on lotus flower against a brilliant aureole with lotus flowers and branches of a tree against a moon disk. The complexion of his body is red and he has a smiling countenance, as he is filled with compassion for all beings of the universe. He looks down with tranquility, as Amitabha Buddha feels equal compassion for all beings. His both the hands are in Samadhi-mudra and hold a pindapatra or begging bowl. Amitabha is in silk monastic robes, covering both the shoulders. The painting is very much suitable for the prayer, sadhana and practice of Amitabha Buddha.

Click Here to View the Thangka Painting along with its Brocade

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