Outline of the Smaller Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life

This is a fragment from my 

   Commentary on the Smaller Amida Sutra (Amidakyo) 

 - work in progress and under constant revision - 

The sutra begins with Shakyamuni Buddha in the Jeta Grove monastery situated in Anathapindada’s garden in the city of Sravasti with an assembly of twelve hundred and fifty arhat monks and some Enlightened Bodhisattvas, including Manjushri.
The Buddha starts delivering this sutra spontaneous to Sariputra and all those present, without being asked a question, thus showing how important the teaching about Amida is.
(section 1 and section 2)
 
* 
He describes Amida and His Pure Land as a real enlightened place with a clear direction – the West. The manifestations of that land are enlightened, produced by Amida himself, and are naturally leading those born there to Enlightenment.
(section 2 and section 3)
 
*
 
Amida is presented as being both the Buddha of Infinite Life (Amitayus) and Infinite Light (Amitabha). Shakyamuni mentions again, like in the Larger Sutra, that Amida attained Buddhahood ten kalpas ago and is now living in His Pure Land, thus showing a clear distinction between our world of birth and death and His enlightened realm.
(section 4)
 
*
 
The inhabitants of the Pure Land are also described together with the methods for birth there.
(section 5 part 1 and section 5 part 2)
 
*
 
All Buddhas in the east, south, west, north, zenith and nadir praise Amida’s virtues, thus encouraging all beings to entrust to Him.
(sections 6-12)
 
*
 
All Buddhas praise Shakyamuni’s virtues and His mission of teaching the Path of the unconditional salvation offered by Amida Buddha in this world. Shakyamuni urges us to aspire to be born in the Pure Land and mentioned how hard it is for this teaching to be accepted in faith.
(section 13)
 
*
 
The enlightened audience accepted the sutra in faith and departed.
(section 14)

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