The transmission and importance of the Smaller Amida Sutra – commentary on section 1

This is a fragment from my 

Commentary on the Smaller Amida Sutra (Amidakyo) 

- work in progress and under constant revision - 

 “Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove monastery of Anāthapiṇḍada’s Garden at Śrāvastī, together with a large assembly of twelve hundred and fifty monks who were all great arhats well known to the people. Among them were great disciples such as the elders Śāriputra, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Mahākāśyapa, Mahākātyāyana, Mahākauṣṭhila, Revata, Śuddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ānanda, Rāhula, Gavāṃpati, Piṇḍola-Bhāradvāja, Kālodayin, Mahākapphiṇa, Vakkula, and Aniruddha. He was also accompanied by many Bodhisattva Mahāsattvas, such as Dharma Prince Manjuśrī, Bodhisattva Ajita, Bodhisattva Sweet-smelling Elephant, and Bodhisattva Constant Endeavor, and by innumerable devas, including Śakra, lord of the gods, and many others.”[1]

 

Although in front of Shakyamuni there were many monks, enlightened Bodhisattvas and gods, He addressed to Shariputra, which means that he was the one to whom the Buddha transmitted this sutra.

 

More than this, it’s of utmost importance to notice that this is a sutra taught and transmitted spontaneously, without answering a question. Shakyamuni simply started to talk in an ecstatic manner about the splendour of Amida Buddha and His Pure Land. He said on and on something like: “Shariputra, it is wonderful!!! … that place is supreme in beauty! …. Shariputra, in that land there are so and so places and so and so precious treasures! …. Shariputra …….Shariputra…”. It seems that Shakyamuni didn’t even allow himself time to breathe when He spoke about the beauty of the Pure Land, such was His enthusiasm in presenting them.

 

The exaltation with which He described the Pure Land of Amida without even being asked to do it, or the radiant light that emanated from His body when He delivered the Larger Sutra in which He expounded the story ofAmida and His 48th vows[2], are both an indication that His words were true and His listeners should accept Amida as a living Buddha and His Pure Land as a real enlightened place.

to be continued 

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[1] The Three Pure Land Sutras - A Study and Translation from Chinese by Hisao Inagaki in collaboration with Harold Stewart, Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai and Numata Centre for Buddhist Translation and Research, Kyoto, 2003, p.91

[2] It is recorded in the Larger Sutra on Amida Buddha that when Shakyamuni was about to deliver it” all the senses of the World-Honored One radiated joy, His entire body appeared serene and glorious, and His august countenance looked most majestic.” After Ananda asked Him about the reason for these wonderful manifestations, Shakyamuni reveals to him the true goal of His coming to this world, by presenting the history of Amida Buddha, the 48 Vows and encouraging sentient beings to aspire to birth in the Pure Land. In the same sutra, the whole gathering listening to the discourse, including Ananda, had a vision of AmidaBuddha and His Pure Land, which is further proof that Shakyamuni speaks about real things, not symbols or fictions.