Shakyamuni Buddha’s supreme appearance and the reason for His coming to this world – commentary on the section 3 of the Larger Sutra

Shakyamuni Buddha with
Amida Buddha
on His head 

fragment from my commentary on the Larger Sutra 

                     
                              

Something very important happens with Shakyamuni Buddha just before starting to teach this sutra, and we must understand its significance:

“At that time all the senses of the World-honored One radiated joy, His entire body appeared serene and glorious, and His august countenance looked most majestic.”[1]

Ananda noticed this and realized that there is a reason, a holy intention of Shakyamuni for manifesting such a wonderful appearance like never before:

The story of Amida Buddha as told by Shakyamuni Buddha

           

Shakyamuni Buddha teaching about Amida Buddha
and his Pure Land

Because we are unenlightened, we cannot fully comprehend with our limited minds everything that is related with Amida Buddha and his Pure Land. But because we were given a teaching and guidance on how to look at them and how to accept them, I think it is good if we know these instructions, so that we can never be misguided by others.

            Shakyamuni Buddha’s main teaching about Amida Buddha can be found in the Three Pure Land Sutras[1], among which the Larger Sutra is the most important. In fact, Shinran thought that teaching this sutra was the main reason for Shakyamuni’s appearance on earth[2]. He was also convinced that the Larger Sutra is the true teaching of the Buddha Dharma, while all other methods and teachings Shakyamuni preached during his lifetime, are provisory. Here are just a few important passages from his Kyogyoshinsho that support this vision:

The Smartest Guy in the Room

by Paul Roberts, from trueshinbuddhism yahoo group 

Dharma Friends -

Recently, we had a brief discussion about Buddhist cosmology - the Buddha's vision of the cosmos.

Here's something I just read about what scientists are discovering right now:

Data from the Kepler telescope leads them to believe that there are some two BILLION earth-like planets in our own Milky Way galaxy. That is, planets with the kinds of basic conditions that would support the presence of liquid water, and thus have the potential of supporting sentient life as we know it.

The Purpose of Shakyamuni’s Coming into this World

Infinite Wisdom and Compassion are the essence of this universe, the    ultimate reality beyond everything and everyone. This is the only vision I accept. And another thing: even though this ultimate reality transcends me, at the same time it envelops me and accepts me for who I am and what I am. I can feel this: Buddhism has made me feel this.

There is no fear on the Path of the Buddha. There is no loneliness perceived as alienation or abandonment. If these feelings do show up, don’t fool yourselves: for they are only in your head and not real. Please, do not misunderstand Buddha’s Wisdom and Compassion, that is, do not try to understand it by means of your narrow mind. Do not use discriminative terms to explain the Infinite Light and the Infinite Life - the two ways of portraying Amida Buddha.

Shinran and Honen wondered what was the purpose of Shakyamuni Buddha’s coming to this world. What is in fact the profound signification of the Bodhi Mind related to the Mahayana[1] teaching? Furthermore, what is the purpose of the Enlightenment of a Buddha? Isn’t the Bodhi Mind the aspiration to reach Buddhahood for the sake of all beings? And once this is reached, aren’t all beings invited to partake of it? The Enlightenment of a Buddha isn’t a selfish act, as Nirvana is not selfish in Mahayana.