AMITAYUR-DHYANA-SUTRA

(Sanskrit: Discourse Concerning Meditation on Amitayus), one of three texts basic to Pure Land Buddhism. Together with the larger and smaller Sukhavati-vyuha-sutras (Sanskrit: Description of the Western Paradise Sutras), this text envisions rebirth in the celestial Pure Land of Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life (virtually identical with Amitabha, Infinite Light, called Amida in Japan). This sutra presents 16 forms of meditation as means of reaching the Pure Land and concludes that even the most wicked can attain this paradise by invoking the name of Amitayus. It contains many references to bodhisattvas, or Buddhas postponing final bliss in order to accomplish the salvation of men. The Amitayur-dhyana-sutra was translated into Chinese under the title Kuan-wu liang-shou ching in AD 424 and has inspired many Chinese commentaries. The Japanese version is entitled Kammuryoju-kyo. The Sanskrit original has since been lost.