First Session of Amitabha Dharma Function

The Amitabha Dharma function commenced at Fo Guang Shan on the morning of 16th November at 8:00am. 80 devotees gathered inside the Pagoda to diligently recite Amitabha Buddha’s name under the guidance of the Abbess and Venerables. Sound of surrounding water and breeze passing through the trees intermingled with chanting of the Buddha’s name, which can be likened to the appearance of 7 Treasured trees and 8 meritorious watered pond of the Pure Land.

Afterwards, the Abbess explained that the Pure Land’s magnificence is not just within the Sutras, but the purity in this present moment can unveil the Pure Land of our Intrinsic Nature. When practicing Buddhism one should use every moment and the conditions available while young to cultivate with diligence. From practicing Buddhism to improving one’s habits, creating wholesome affinities to increase wisdom, which will enable one to create a dignified Pure Land of our Intrinsic Nature during our daily activities. The Abbess further clarified many magnificent features of the Pure Land, which includes:
1. The Land is magnificent – Understanding that the Pure Land is formed from the 7 Treasures, from which brightness, purity and grandeur are of the utmost state.
2. The Buddha’s extraordinarily wondrous body represent Amitabha Buddha’s limitless virtuous and awe inspiring light, limitless life span, and supreme worthiness for respect.
3. The Pure Land’s Sravaka and Bodhisattvas are so vastly numerous that it is unmeasurable. Hence it’s called the magnificence Holy Gathering. Not to mention there are magnificent Treasure Trees, magnificent Heavenly Music, magnificent Palaces, magnificent Treasured Pond, magnificent Outfits, magnificent Fundamental Positive Karmic Effects and magnificent Associative Positive Karmic Effects. Everything there is reborn according to these Fundamental and Associative Positive Karmic Effects.

Learning Buddhism comes from purifying one’s actions, speech and thoughts, by magnificently adorning our own Fundamental Karmic Effects, the Associative Karmic Effect will also be magnificent. This will enable all to achieve a magnificently Purified Land.