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Amitabha
Amitabha is one of the most important and popular buddhas of the Mahayana. Although there are six principal purelands (namely east, west, south, north, up, and down) described in the sutras, Amitabha is at the center of the worship of the Pure Land school of Chinese and Japanase Buddhism (Amidism), and this sect has been widespread in Asia.
Amitabha's meditative training particularly focuses on the powers of consciousness that enables ones to transfer their consciousness into the field of pure perception of Sukhavati at the time of their death. He is the pure expression of the wisdom of discriminating awareness, which transmutes the poison of attachment and desire. Amitabha's Discriminating Wisdom conquers the poison of the passions--all cravings, covetousness, greed and lust.
Although Amitaba is usually depicted as red in color, his appearance various according to the different practices of tantra in relation to which he is visualized. This buddha normally sits in the full-lotus posture with his two hands resting on his lap in the gesture of meditative equipoise (dhyana mudra) and hold a begging bowl filled with nectar. He rules over the element of fire and personifies the skandha of perception. He is most often depicted flanked by two eminent bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Vajrapani, the Bodhisattva of Power. His mantra is Om Amitabha Hrih. |
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