A Di Đà kinh

Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The Amitabha Sutra: A core Buddhist scripture of the Pure Land (Tịnh Độ) school. It is a sutra that extols the virtues of the Buddha Amitabha (A Di Đà Phật) and describes the splendors of the Western Pure Land, or Ultimate Bliss (Cực Lạc).
   • The Sutra of the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life: This title reflects the meaning of "Amitabha," which signifies infinite light and infinite life. The sutra teaches that beings can be reborn in his Pure Land through faith, aspiration, and mindful recitation of his name.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Các Phật tử thường tụng A Di Đà kinh vào buổi tối. (Buddhists often chant the Amitabha Sutra in the evening.)
  • Giáo lý then chốt của A Di Đà kinh là pháp môn niệm Phật. (The key teaching of the Amitabha Sutra is the Buddha-recitation method.)

Advanced Usage

• The "A Di Đà Kinh" is often recited in daily practice, particularly in Pure Land traditions, as a primary method for cultivating mindfulness of Buddha Amitabha and generating the vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land.
• It is frequently studied alongside other core Pure Land texts like the "Vô Lượng Thọ Kinh" (Infinite Life Sutra) and the "Quán Vô Lượng Thọ Kinh" (Contemplation Sutra).

Variants and Related Words

• Kinh A Di Đà: An alternative word order with the same meaning.
• Tiểu Bản A Di Đà Kinh: Often called the "Shorter Amitabha Sutra" or "Smaller Sukhavativyuha Sutra" to distinguish it from the longer sutra on the same Buddha.
• Phật A Di Đà: Amitabha Buddha, the central figure of the sutra.
• Tịnh Độ Tông: The Pure Land school, which holds this sutra as fundamental.

Synonyms

• The Amitabha Sutra
• The Smaller Sukhavativyuha Sutra (Academic/Sanskrit term)

Related Concepts

• Niệm Phật: Buddha-recitation, the core practice advocated by the sutra.
• Tây Phương Cực Lạc: The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Pure Land described in the sutra.
• Pháp môn Tịnh Độ: The Pure Land method of practice.