Reprint. Originally published: Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press, 1996.
關鍵詞
心靈=Spiritual; 佛教人物=Buddhist; 佛教經典=Buddhist Scriptures=Sutra; 長行=契經=修多羅=Sutra; 信心=Belief=Faith; 淨土=Pure Land; 無量壽經=Sukhavativyuha Sutra=The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra; 緣起=paticca-samuppada=pratitya-samutpada=conditions; 緣起=pratitya-samutpada=conditions=paticca-samuppada; 彌陀淨土=西方淨土=西方極樂世界=The Western Paradise of Eternal Bliss=The Land of Bliss=the Pure Land Sukhavati; 轉世=輪迴=Samsara=Rebirth=Reincarnation
摘要
A free translation of two Buddhist texts on what is arguably the most popular of all Buddhist conceptions of an ideal world，the "Land of Bliss" of the Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. The two texts, known to Western students of Buddhism as the "Smaller" and "Larger" Sukhavativyuha Sutra, explain the conditions that lead to rebirth in the Pure Land and the manner in which human beings are reborn there. The longer of the two texts also tells the story of how the Buddha of Infinite Light came to preside over this marvel-filled paradise. Both texts describe the layout and the wonders of the Pure Land，and the preconditions that lead to rebirth in this Buddhist paradise. They form the spiritual foundation of pure faith that pervades East Asian Buddhism，a doctrine of faith the parallels western doctrines grace while reflecting a complex historical and doctrinal cross-current of faith, effort，and visionary religion. At times solemn，fantastic，and humorous, the accounts reflect the rich literary and religious imagination of India, alternately expressing abstract conceptions and intense feelings deeply rooted in the culture and belief systems that gave birth to them.
目次
Preface I. The Sanskrit versions 1. Introduction to the shorter Sutra 2. The shorter Sukhavativyuha Sutra 3. Introduction to the longer Sutra 4. The longer Sukhavativyuha Sutra 5. Epilogue and transition II. The Chinese versions 1. Introduction to the Chinese versions 2. The shorter Sukhavativyuha Sutra 3. The longer Sukhavativyuha Sutra
