Sukhavati (IAST: Sukhāvatī; "Blissful") is the pure land of Amitābha in Mahayana Buddhism. It is also called the Land of Bliss or Western Pure Land and is the most well-known of Buddhist pure lands due to the popularity of Pure Land Buddhism in East Asia.
The word is the feminine form of the Sanskrit word sukhāvat ("full of joy; blissful"),[1][2] from sukha ("delight, joy") and -vat ("full of").[3]
Sukhavati is known by different names in other languages. East Asian names are based on Chinese translations, and longer names may consist of the words "Western", "Blissful" and "Pure Land" in various combinations. Some names and combinations are more popular in certain countries. Due to its importance, Sukhavati is often simply called "The Pure Land" without distinguishing it from other pure lands.
Chinese-based names | |||||
Hanzi | Chinese | Korean | Japanese | Vietnamese | English |
極樂 | Jílè | Geungnak | Gokuraku | Cực Lạc | Ultimate Bliss |
安樂 | Ānlè | Annak | Anraku | An Lạc | Peaceful Bliss |
淨土 | Jìngtǔ | Jeongto | Jōdo | Tịnh Độ | Pure Land |
西方淨土 | Xīfāng Jìngtǔ | Seobang Jeongto | Saihō Jōdo | Tây Phương Tịnh Độ | Western Pure Land |
極樂淨土 | Jílè Jìngtǔ | Geungnak Jeongto | Gokuraku Jōdo | Cực Lạc Tịnh Độ | Ultimate Bliss Pure Land |
西方極樂淨土 | Xīfāng Jílè Jìngtǔ | Seobang Geungnak Jeongto | Saihō Gokuraku Jōdo | Tây Phương Cực Lạc Tịnh Độ | Western Ultimate Bliss Pure Land |
西天 | Xītiān* | Tây Thiên | Western Heaven | ||
Other names | |||||
Tibetan | English | ||||
Dewachen (བདེ་བ་ཅན་) | Blissful |
* Only common in Chinese.
In the final part of the Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra, Gautama Buddha discusses the nine levels into which those born into the pure land are categorized.[4] These are as follows:[5]
In Tibetan Buddhism, the world of Sukhavati is invoked during Buddhist funerals as a favorable destination for the deceased.[4] Such rituals are often accompanied with the tantric technique of phowa ("transference of consciousness") to the pure land of Amitābha, performed by a lama on the behalf of the departed. Halkias (2013:148) explains that "Sukhavati features in funeral rites and scriptures dedicated to the ritual care of the dead ('das-mchod). The structure and performance of Tibetan death ceremonies varies according to a set sequence of events...For the duration of these rites, the consciousness of the dead is coaxed into increasing levels of clarity until the time for the ritual transference to Sukhavati."
Raigō (来迎, "welcoming approach") in Japanese Buddhism is the appearance of the Amida on a "purple" cloud (紫雲) at the time of one's death.[6] The most popular belief is that the soul would then depart to the Western Paradise. A number of hanging scroll paintings depict the western paradise.
A number of temples are named after Sukhāvatī:
Sanskrit sukhavatī, sukhāvatī, from feminine of sukhavat, sukhāvat blissful, from sukha bliss, happiness, from su good, well + kha cavity, axle hole, from khanati he digs.
sukhavatī, f. N. of the heaven of Buddha Amitābha (see under sukhā-vat [...] possessing ease or comfort, full of joy or pleasure
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