Chinese Mahayana: Amitabha's Pure Land

Tung-Lin Temple, West Covina; Sayalay, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Cosmic Amitabha Buddha of Infinite Light

In the San Gabriel Valley, along the other foothills dividing Los Angeles from Orange County, in a house used for retreats, mostly by dedicated Chinese speakers interested as much in accomplished Theravada teachers as anything, tucked away in a beautiful residential area, we met an angelic girl, nearly blind.

It turned out she was not a girl but a full-grown woman, married, wise, gentle, compassionate, and wishing to teach the Dharma. We were amazed.

Then we came to find she had started a Meetup group as part of a small and much more obscure Chinese temple.

Ancient frescoes found inside Chinese caves

It might be in her backyard. But she made videos, too. As the Meetup fades out of existence, it's nice to hear what Mahayanists believe in the worship of Amitābha over the historical Buddha, emphasizing this "cosmic savior" figure and Guanyin (Goddess of Compassion) over the historical Buddha and his two chief female disciples, Ven. Khema Theri, foremost in wisdom, and Ven. Uppalavana Theri, foremost in powers.

Let's listen to a few minutes of this innocent angel's teaching.

Guanyin Goddess of Compassion

Weekly meditation and Dharma class (in English) is held on Saturdays from 10:00 am—11:30 am. Meditation cushions, chairs, and water are provided. All are welcome to join. Address:

• Tung-Lin Buddhist Temple
• 1488 E. Cameron Avenue
• West Covina, California 91791

Please park inside gate. (Keep going past roundabout driveway). The temple is the back building that looks like a house. Check out its YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/f4iken2002.

• Why does Pureland Buddhism believe as it does? Alan Watts has an excellent and historical explanation for it as Buddhism declined and degenerated, losing sight of what the historical Buddha taught and developing speculative views and "shortcut" methodologies that made sense to later teachers and the founders of new schools.