The focus of this paper is an understanding of the theory of “purifying the land” as a Bodhisattva’s practice based on the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra (MSA) IX.43, XI.40, 44–46 and XX–XXI.50. This makes a preliminary step to understand the comprehensive view of the Pure Land in the Yogācāra school. Below is the conclusion.
1. The conversion of perceptions (udgraha or pañca-vijñāna) and their objects (artha or pañca/ṣaḍ-viṣaya) enables Bodhisattvas to attain mastery over purifying the land and to manifest their enjoyments. Furthermore, in the foundational conversion (āśraya-parāvṛtti), the mastery of Bodhisattvas is not limited to the land; purification of the land is one of the multiple benefits.
2. Objects and perceptions are elements of unreal mental construction (abhūta-parikalpa) that appears with the nature of the grasped and the grasping (grāhya-grāhaka). By the conversion of the three elements of the grasped including objects, which conjunctionally occurs with the conversion of ālaya-vijñāna, Bodhisattvas realize the uncontaminated realm (anāsrava-dhātu) and by the conversion of the three elements of the grasping including perceptions, four masteries are realized. In four ways, mastery to purify the land is attained in the eighth stage.
3. By reaching the Buddha stage, Bodhisattvas attain mastery of creation (nirmāṇa) and transformation (pariṇāmana) of objects and they will have a perfect command to create something from nothing or to convert something to another. This ability is required for purifying the land. MSA adapts this from the Bodhisattvabhūmi which regards it as one kind of supernatural power that Bodhisattvas master at the attainment in the eighth stage.
