Amitabha Topics

• buddha shakyamuni
• guan yin
• dewachen
• chinese customs
• tibetan buddhism
• ratnasambhava
• yoga tantra
• pandara
• western direction
• vajrapani
• avalokiteshvara
• vairocana
• manjushri
• vajrayana
• mudra
• mantras
• bardo
• consort
• oneworld

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In the Highest Yoga Tantra class of the Tibetan Vajrayana Amitabha is considered one of the Five Dhyni Buddhas (together with , Amoghasiddhi, Ratnasambhava, and Vairocana), who is associated with the western direction and the skandha of , the aggregate of distinguishing (recognition) and the deep awareness of individualities. His consort is Pandaravasini, http://visiblemantra.org/pandaravasini.html http://www.geocities.com/amitabha48vows/d.htm http://kaykeys.net/spirit/buddhism/bardo/4thday.html http://www.himalayanmart.com/pandara.php a feminine form of Avalokiteshvara and the precursor of Guan Yin. http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/Guan_Yin.htm His realm is called either Sukhvat (Sanskrit) or Dewachen (Tibetan). As his two main disciples, similar as the Buddha Shakyamuni had two, are seen the Bodhisattvas Vajrapani and Avalokiteshvara, the former to his left and the latter to his right. In Tibetan Buddhism, there exists a number of famous prayers for taking rebirth in Sukhavati (Dewachen). One of these was written by Je Tsongkhapa on the request of Manjushri, who appeared to him in different visions.

Shingon, like Tibetan Buddhism, also uses special devotional mantras for Amitabha, though the mantras used differ. Amitabha is also one of the Buddhas featured in the Womb Realm Mandala used in Shingon practices, and sits to the west, which is where the Pure Land of Amitabha is said to dwell.

Amitabha can, however, often be distinguished by his mudr: Amitbha is often depicted, when shown seated, displaying the meditation mudr (thumbs touching and fingers together (as in the Kamakura statue of Amitbha) or the exposition mudr, while the earth-touching mudr (right hand pointed downward over the right leg, palm inward) is reserved for a seated kyamuni alone. He can also be seen holding a lotus in his hands while displaying the meditation mudr.

The meaning of this mudra is that wisdom (symbolized by the raised hand) is accessible to even the lowest beings, while the outstretched hand shows that Amitabha's compassion is directed at the lowest beings, who cannot save themselves.

Source: Wikipedia > Amitbha