[Buddha-l] Where are the Pure Lands?

[Piya Tan]

Joanna,

In this connection, it is worthwhile to read Paul M Harrison's
*"Buddhaanusmr.ti in the Pratyutpanna-buddha-sam.mukhaavasthita-
samaadhi-suutra"
*in the Journal of Indian Philosophy 6 1978:35-57.

Harrison gives an interesting account that ancient text, one of the first on
Pure Land Buddhism also talks about smrtyupasthana (satipatthana).

The "Pure Lands" were probably originally meditation mandalas, but in due
course, became "universes" of their own. Nevertheless they serve as useful
mind-stilling practices for many (mostly) faith-inclined devotees.

In a sense, these paradises also represent the best we can visually and
palpably represent nirvana.

In religion, it is useful, when one is able to, to distinguish between
narrative
and reality, between the conventional and the real, between the constructed
and the unconstructed.

The former is like a map, while the latter is the territory.

Piya Tan



On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 6:33 AM, jkirk <jkirk at spro.net> wrote:

> In some of Thich Nhat Hanh's books, and also in Buddhadasa's _Heartwood of
> the Bodhi Tree_ (as I recall) they both speak of attaining the Pure Land
> through right-everything on the list, plus mindfulness meditation. So
> you're
> right--it dwells inwardly, via cultivation.
> The myths (E. Asian? Not sure of Indian) locate the Pure Land in the West
> somewhere, but none say precisely where. If paintings interest you, check
> out especially pp. 50-67 in _Performing the Visual : The Practice of
> Buddhist Wall Painting in China and Central Asia, 618-960_, by Sarah E.
> Fraser. Stanford UP, 2004. This book has lots of the various paradises of
> the main Buddhas. Maitreya rules the paradise of the Future, and this is
> where most East Asian Pure Landers plan to go after death, or to
> Amitaabha's
> jeweled paradise.
>
> Joanna
> ==================================
>
>
> In people's heads....
> maybe
>
> ----------------------------------------
> Dr David Webster
> Course Leader: Religion, Philosophy & Ethics University of Gloucestershire
>
> 01242 71 4778
> e-mail: dwebster at glos.ac.uk
>
>
> University Site: http://www.glos.ac.uk
>
>
>
> Course blog: http://www.r-p-e.blogspot.com
> ----------------------------------------
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com
> [mailto:buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Paul Fuller
> Sent: 26 March 2008 09:22
> To: buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> Subject: [Buddha-l] Where are the Pure Lands?
>
> I enjoy teaching about Pure Lands to students, I think you can cover a lot
> of ground about Buddhism in discussing them. But students ask some great,
> and simple questions. Like: 'where are the Pure Lands'? And where, for
> that
> matter is earth in relation to them? I'm aware of all sorts of ways to
> answer this, but I'm looking for a specific answer to do with their
> 'actual'
> location. Any ideas?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Paul
>
> --
> Dr. Paul Fuller
> University of Sydney
> Department of Studies in Religion
> Woolley Building
> Room N424
> NSW 2006
> Australia
> _______________________________________________
> buddha-l mailing list
> buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.0/1343 - Release Date:
> 25/03/2008
> 19:17
>
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.0/1343 - Release Date:
> 25/03/2008
> 19:17
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> buddha-l mailing list
> buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.0/1344 - Release Date: 3/26/2008
> 8:52 AM
>
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.0/1344 - Release Date: 3/26/2008
> 8:52 AM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> buddha-l mailing list
> buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>



-- 
The Minding Centre
Blk 644 Bukit Batok Central #01-68 (2nd flr)
Singapore 650644
Meditation courses & therapy: http://themindingcentre.googlepages.com
Website: dharmafarer.googlepages.com