The 'Democracy' of the Pure Land Path

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如傑優婆塞
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The 'Democracy' of the Pure Land Path

Post by 如傑優婆塞 »

Buddhism of Wisdom & Faith: Pure Land Principles and Practice
It is a democratic method that empowers its adherents, freeing them from arcane metaphysics as well as dependence on teachers, gurus, roshis and other mediating authority figures
The above quote was listed as the fourth element in defining on the Pure Land. What's your take on it as Pure Landers? Thanks in advance!
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Astus
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Re: The 'Democracy' of the Pure Land Path

Post by Astus »

如傑優婆塞 wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:30 am
Buddhism of Wisdom & Faith: Pure Land Principles and Practice
It is a democratic method that empowers its adherents, freeing them from arcane metaphysics as well as dependence on teachers, gurus, roshis and other mediating authority figures
That is a half-truth. There are still teachers in the various PL organisations, there is also a hierarchy within those communities, etc. It is just a common human desire/behaviour to follow other people. At the same time, all Buddhist paths require the individual to proceed on the way on his own, nobody can push or pull instead of the practitioner.
1 Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?

2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.

3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.

4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.


1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Motova
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Re: The 'Democracy' of the Pure Land Path

Post by Motova »

如傑優婆塞 wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:30 am
Buddhism of Wisdom & Faith: Pure Land Principles and Practice
It is a democratic method that empowers its adherents, freeing them from arcane metaphysics as well as dependence on teachers, gurus, roshis and other mediating authority figures
The above quote was listed as the fourth element in defining on the Pure Land. What's your take on it as Pure Landers? Thanks in advance!
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Sentient Light
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Re: The 'Democracy' of the Pure Land Path

Post by Sentient Light »

Interestingly, the author is the head of a Tantric lineage of Pure Land Buddhism that requires initiations/empowerments from a teacher.

Pure Land is a path that doesn't necessitate teachers to practice and to make some progress. For some people, this is all they'll ever need. But for serious practitioners, it's a little bit different. We may not need to develop a deep and personal relationship with a single teacher, but we still need teachers in general in order to guide us and make as much progress as we're capable of making. Still, the path is deeply personal, and we must still commit to practicing and learning as much as we can on our own as well.

It is 'democratic' in that it is available to everyone, no matter their disposition and level of experience or knowledge, and no matter this, there is always something for a practitioner to do and to learn.
:buddha1: Nam mô A di đà Phật :buddha1:
:bow: Nam mô Quan Thế Âm Bồ tát :bow:
:bow: Nam mô Đại Thế Chi Bồ Tát :bow:

:buddha1: Nam mô Bổn sư Thích ca mâu ni Phật :buddha1:
:bow: Nam mô Di lặc Bồ tát :bow:
:bow: Nam mô Địa tạng vương Bồ tát :bow:
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