Huaigan (d. 699) was the leading disciple of the pre-eminent Pure Land master Shandao (613-683) and one of the earliest systematizers of Pure Land thought. His representative and only extant work, the Shi jinigtu qunyi lun, was a brilliant attempt at Pure Land apologetics, providing replies to virtually all the criticisms which had been raised against Pure Land ideas and practices. This paper begins with an account of the life of Huaigan based on the records found in ancient Buddhist iographies and bibliographies. The main body of the paper consists of an exposition of Huaigan conception of the nature of the Buddha Amit 槆 ha and the Pure Land. The exposition begins with a summary of the various views about the central Pure Land problem current in Huaigan time. It goes on to define Huaigan position drawing on the various analyses of Buddha-bodies and Buddha-lands that Huaigan proposed. It concludes with a detailed discussion of Huaigan contention that the Pure Land of Amit 槆ha ”transcends the three realms” and ”is defiled in substance and pure in appearance.” The exposition aims at ghlighting the crucial role played by the Yog 歊漷 a teaching of ere-consciousness in Huaigan Pure Land thought, and at bringing out some of the key elements which distinguish Huaigan Pure Land thought from that of his predecessors.
