阿彌陀佛

(阿彌陀(佛), 阿弥陀(佛))

([lang id =1028]阿彌) (sa) amita, boundless, infinite; tr. by [lang id =1028]無量 immeasurable. The Buddha of infinite qualities, known as [lang id =1028]阿彌陀婆 (or [lang id =1028]阿彌陀佛) Amitābha, tr. [lang id =1028]無量光 boundless light; [lang id =1028]阿彌陀廋斯Amitāyus, tr. [lang id =1028]無量壽　boundless age, or life; and among the esoteric sects Amṛta [lang id =1028]甘露 ([lang id =1028]甘露王) sweet-dew (king). An imaginary being unknown to ancient Buddhism, possibly of Persian or Iranian origin, who has eclipsed the historical Buddha in becoming the most popular divinity in the Mahāyāna pantheon. His name indicates an idealization rather than an historic personality, the idea of eternal light and life. The origin and date of the concept are unknown, but he has always been associated with the west, where in his Paradise, Suikhāvatī, the Western Pure Land, he receives to unbounded happiness all who call upon his name (cf. the Pure Lands [lang id =1028]淨土 of Maitreya and Akṣobhya). This is consequent on his forty-eight vows, especially the eighteenth, in which he vows to refuse Buddhahood until he has saved all living beings to his Paradise, except those who had committed the five unpardonable sins, or were guilty of blasphemy against the Faith. While his Paradise is theoretically only a stage on the way to rebirth in the final joys of nirvana, it is popularly considered as the final resting-place of those who cry (sa) na-mo a-mi-to-fo, or blessed be, or adoration to, Amita Buddha. The [lang id =1028]淨土 Pure-land (Jap. Jōdo) sect is especially devoted to this cult, which arises chiefly out of the <Sukhāvatīvyūha>, but Amita is referred to in many other texts and recognized, with differing interpretations and emphasis, by the other sects. Eitel attributes the first preaching of the dogma to 'a priest from Tokhara' in A. D.147, and says that Faxian and Xuanzang make no mention of the cult. But the Chinese pilgrim [lang id =1028]慧日Huiri says he found it prevalent in India 702-719. The first translation of the <Amitāyus Sutra>, circa A.D. 223-253, had disappeared when the Kaiyuan catalogue was compiled A.D. 730. The eighteenth vow occurs in the tr. by Dharmarakṣa A.D. 308. With Amita is closely associated Avalokiteśvara, who is also considered as his incarnation, and appears crowned with, or bearing the image of Amita. In the trinity of Amita, Avalokiteśvara appears on his left and Mahāsthāmaprāpta on his right. Another group, of five, includes Kṣitigarbha and Nāgārjuna, the latter counted as the second patriarch of the Pure Land sect. One who calls on the name of Amitābha is styled [lang id =1028]阿彌陀聖 a saint of Amitābha. Amitābha is one of the Five '(sa) dhyāni buddhas' [lang id =1028]五佛, q.v. He has many titles, amongst which are the following twelve relating to him as Buddha of light, also his title of eternal life: [lang id =1028]無量光佛Buddha of boundless light; [lang id =1028]無邊光佛 Buddha of unlimited light; [lang id =1028]無礙光佛 Buddha of irresistible light; [lang id =1028]無對光佛 Buddha of incomparable light; [lang id =1028]燄王光佛 Buddha of (sa) yama or flame-king light; [lang id =1028]清淨光佛 Buddha of pure light; [lang id =1028]歡喜光佛 Buddha of joyous light; [lang id =1028]智慧光佛 Buddha of wisdom light; [lang id =1028]不斷光佛 Buddha of unending light; [lang id =1028]難思光佛 Buddha of inconceivable light; [lang id =1028]無稱光佛Buddha of indescribable light; [lang id =1028]超日月光佛 Buddha of light surpassing that of sun and moon; [lang id =1028]無量壽 Buddha of boundless age. As buddha he has, of course, all the attributes of a buddha, including the (sa) trikāya, or [lang id =1028]法報化身, about which in (la) re Amita there are differences of opinion in the various schools. His esoteric germ-letter is (sa) hrīḥ, and he has specific manual-signs. Cf. [lang id =1028]阿彌陀經, of which with commentaries there are numerous editions.

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譯義為無量光， 或無量壽， 故亦稱為無量壽佛， 是西方極樂世界的教主。