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hmmm, why then is the pureland adorned with so much bling when just the dharma is enough?
There are many reasons why Pureland is adorned with ‘blings’. One very simple reason is to create a great contrast from Samsara. Imagine a Pureland that has nothing special, or is exactly the same as Samsara – the motivated drive to go there will reduce significantly. Personally, I view those ‘blings’ in Pureland as the state of mind one has… With an unpure mind, beings anywhere will be unable to see the Pureland filled with gems. When we are born in Pureland, we are actually flooded by Amitabha’s immeasurable merits and bcos everything in the Pureland projects the Dharma as well, pure mind is easily realised. Ven Sariputra in Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra wondered why the Shakyamuni Buddha’s Pureland (this world) is so ugly and filled with dust, but little did Ven Sariputra know that it was his not so-perfected mind that obstructed his perspective. With the Buddha’s help, Ven Sariputra then was able to view this world as magnificent and beautiful, filled with gems and jewels. With pure mind, even a grain of sand sparkles like a diamond! Amituofo
Hi Bling,
1. The precious items in Pureland are not ‘bling’ in the sense of being gaudy, glaring or over the top in a mundane materialistic sense. Manifested and shaped by Amituofo’s compassion and wisdom, they are spiritually pleasing.
2. To describe Pureland physically, forms are needed. And since Pureland is magnificent in nature, majestic forms in terms of gems, which are timelessly precious in our world are used as means to describe it. There are no other ways to express how Pureland is adorned.
3. It is true that the Dharma in Pureland would be enough – which is why the gems in Pureland DO stand for nothing but the Dharma in all its various aspects. All the gems (and other items) in Pureland are actually teaching aids, which radiate the Dharma in terms of sight, sound and smell. This is maximised skilful means in terms of pervading the environment with the Dharma.
4. If the Pureland sutras describe Pureland only in terms of the Dharma, without any physical attributes, Pureland would sound as ‘bookish’ and ‘unattractive’ as any voluminous and complex Dharma book! There would be no ‘marketing edge’. It is a skilful means by the Buddha to use the forms in Pureland to attract beings to seek birth there, to master the otherwise seemingly (to some) dry Dharma. Here’s an interesting experiment – try to write a ‘sutra’ in which you define how your Pureland will be like physically – with archetypal objects that beings find attractive. You will find it hard to top Amituofo’s.
5. Here’s an explanation of the rationale of the objects in Pureland: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/148 Amituofo
😀
ah…state of mind, so those are metaphorical gems?
‘Blings’ in Samsara arouse one’s greed, hatred/aversion and ignorance. However, in Pureland, blings would actually remind us to be mindful of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. They are thus physical, but linked to the spiritual (mental in this sense). One interesting fact – if one don’t like the physical aspect of Pureland, it is still due to our perspectives being pretty much dominated by the 3 poisons – e.g. aversion, While in Pureland, one’s mind is in the mode of no like or dislike; just equanimity and harmony with the Dharma gem-filled environment.
The gems stand for qualities of the Triple Gem (the Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha – awakening, uprightness and purity respectively 觉æ£å‡€). We know this is so because the Pureland sutras keep saying that elements in the environment ‘sing’ of the Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha. Purelanders are thus immersed in the Threefold Refuge all the time, which readily aligns them towards perfecting the qualities of the Triple Gem. The gems are both physical and metaphorical. In short, they are physically manifested metaphors of the Triple Gem. Amituofo
:-O
About the interesting fact, I thought the point is to make us like the physical aspects of Pureland to want to go there? If it is not targeted at those still possessing the three poisons, who then is the target?
Yes, the physical aspects of Pureland are supposed to entice us, who have the three poisons to go there. However, you don’t have to like all the physical aspects of Pureland to want to go Pureland. In fact, I’ve not come across any Pureland aspirants who want to go Pureland for its gems. Most are attracted by the Dharma represented by the gems (and other elements there).
For me, for example, i want to go Pureland because i want to learn from all Buddhas directly. The physical aspects of it only makes it more conducive for me to practise better. Pureland is not only a place for ‘severely’ poisoned beings like us, but also for beings like Arahants and Bodhisattvas who aspire to become fully enlightened, like the Buddhas.
That said, there are also beings who want to go Pureland because they are attracted by its gems. They might be less learned in the Dharma, who thus relate better to the picture of a wonderful place. Actually, Pureland’s description in the sutras is a balanced interweaving of both material and spiritual elements (which are really synonymously two-in-one) – such that any who is more enticed by either will be urged to seek birth there. Amituofo
(8) < Pureland Dharma birdsong
Actually, it is due to our lack of enlightened vision that makes us unable to picture the true magnificence of Pureland, which is a physical embodiment of Amituofo’s perfect compassion and wisdom. In fact, we are so lacking in vision in terms of the Dharma, that forms such as precious and beautiful gems have to be described to make up its environment, which represent the preciousness and beauty of the Dharma. Unfortunately, even this is not enough when we (I’m one of them) lack imagination of how these gems can skilfully and thus tastefully adorn the perfect place for spiritual practice.
Perhaps, if so, it is easier to imagine the best retreat centre we have ever come across, with the most pleasing scenery and facilities, teachers and ‘classmates’, and tell ourselves that Pureland is immeasurably much more excellent than this, because it is simply the ideal retreat centre created with immeasurable merits and detailed thoughtfulness, as universally praised and endorsed by Buddhas of all directions (as stated in the Amitabha Sutra). As Master Ou-I (the 9th Patriarch of Pureland Buddhism) put it,
“All these Buddhas are using their eloquence to urge us to have faith in this sutra. If we sentient beings still fail to have faith in this sutra, we are being utterly stupid and benighted.”
:w00t:
Just to add a little to the above comments:
The skillful means of highly-attained Bodhisattvas like Dharma store Bodhisattva (one of Amitabha Buddha’s previous lifetime, in which the 48 great vows were made)is not something that can be easily described and understood by most, even by Arahants.
It is therefore ok not to force ourselves to understand and accept every reason we come across, even by various ancient Venerables like Master Ou’I. We can of course continue to try our best to understand, but need not stretch ourselves too much in doing so.
Actually Sakyamuni Buddha has already provided a very simple and attractive reason for us to seriously consider being reborn in Amitabha Buddha’s Pureland.
That is: ‘..to be together with the most virtuous people’.
With or without precious stones and various out-of-the-world adornments as described by Pureland sutras, I would still want to be reborn in Amitabha Buddha’s Pureland: cos being together with the most compassionate and wise people every day is truly the most ultimate blessing and happiness anyone can ever have.
Now to say something related to this post’s topic:
Although Buddhists constantly emphasise Dharma as the best friend one (totally unconditional in compassion and wisdom) could ever have, one also cannot ignore the importance of having a human best friend.
But to be able to find a friend who can support and guide you in all these 3 aspects: physical, emotional and spiritual, is indeed very, very hard.
Usually most friends can only support us on one or two of the above areas.
Because such friends are so hard to find and not all of us can become such friends to others, no matter how much we continue to try, we somehow learn to understand and accept imperfections. We also learn to cherish these friends greatly without attachment, should we get the chance to meet them.
Other than constantly motivating ourselves to be such steadfast and virtuous friends to others, we also should not give up hope in being able to meet such friends one day.
We should not give up being able to meet such friends one day just because we ourselves have not become such friends to others yet.
Despite your countless flaws, there will definitely be someone who is willing to be a steadfast and virtuous friend to you; who will guide you gently and skillfully to change instead of imposing on you to change.
Don’t give up. 🙂