How are we to regard the concept of the Pure Land? Are we to understand it as the Buddhist equivalent of Heaven? A Nirvanic "place" that lies beyond the Samsaric realm in which we are mired? Or is it to be conceived of metaphorically，as an upayic device tailored to our limited human imagination? Should we for seek the Pure Land，perchance，beyond the very boundaries of conceptualization itself? This topic has engaged the best minds and most enlightened masters for generations across the spectrum of Buddhist thought and practice.
A major clue to unraveling this doctrinal mystery may be found in the Lotus Sutra, which claims the distinction of representing the highest teachings of the Buddha. Indescribably profound，enigmatic，and engaging，this single text has permeated not only the Buddhism of East Asian societies, but their respective cultures as well. It also has inspired the most extensive commentarial literature of any Buddhist sutra, a testament to both its enduring influence and its nebulosity.
The Japanese Zen Master Hakuin has cryptically declared："Outside the mind there is no Lotus Sutra and outside the Lotus Sutra there is no mind." His succinct pronouncement should serve to put us on the trail of "mind" in our quest for comprehension，as it reveals a distinctly cognitive dimension to the text and its underlying message. This thread will be pursued in the presentation as a guide for elucidating the precise status of the Pure Land.
The philosophy of mind，or philosophy of no-mind，will be our focus, through an exploration of cognitive knowledge and intimations of transcognitive wisdom. In addition，the tools of creative hermeneutics will be applied to reveal the post-modern relevancy of both the Lotus Sutra and the Pure Land. Key elements in the structure of the Lotus Sutra to be discussed include：1) Buddhist philosophy of Language; 2) recognition of multi-leveled forms and contents of Dharma teaching，and 3) the pervasive presence of the Buddha in multiple guises and realms.
