Seeking Faith in Religion
Alan Kwan
29 April 2016
Those who have no intention of seeking faith in religion Although people are said to be superior to animals and are capable of reasoning and
“Faith through Devotion” is Favored over “Faith through Interpretation” in Pure Land Buddhism
Alan Kwan
15 April 2016
One must have previously cultivated deep roots of virtue in past lives in order to believe in the teachings of Pure Land Buddhism upon first
How Does Amitabha-recitation Nourish the Root of Faith?
Alan Kwan
1 April 2016
Faith through devotion is not necessarily the result of the root of wisdom One must have previously cultivated deep roots of virtue in past lives
Evidence Based on Sutras, Commentaries, and Accounts
Alan Kwan
19 February 2016
The teachings of Pure Land Buddhism are easy to practice but difficult to believe in At the end of the Amitabha Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha observes that
Three Ways to Introduce the Pure Land Teachings in the Three Pure Land Sutras
Alan Kwan
5 February 2016
In my last article, we discussed three modes of belief in religious teachings: belief through direct experience (factual evidence); belief through irrefutable deduction (comparative analysis);
Three Ways to Believe – Initial Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
Alan Kwan
22 January 2016
The multiple meanings of the Chinese word “xin” In the Chinese language, faith and belief are described by the word “xin” (信), which can be
More about Merit-Dedication and Rebirth-Aspiration
Alan Kwan
24 December 2015
A summary of the mind of merit-dedication and rebirth-aspiration By relying on the general understanding of the dedication of merit in the traditional bodhisattva teachings, some
The Tree in Buddhist Symbolism and Art
Meher McArthur
24 December 2015
For millennia, trees have occupied an important symbolic place in many of the world’s religious traditions, often representing the essence of life or a link
The Shakya Clan in India: A Rediscovered Heritage
Jennifer Yo
21 December 2015
The Shakya clan, to which the historical Buddha…
The Difference between Dedication of Merit on the Bodhisattva Path and Dedication-Aspiration in Pure Land Buddhism
Alan Kwan
11 December 2015
One is “born there at once” through the Three States of Mind As discussed in my last article, the context of dedication-aspiration in Pure Land
Three Ways, Two Paths, and One Practice for Rebirth
Alan Kwan
13 November 2015
Three ways to attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss In my earlier article, “Karmic Circumstance—Who is Entitled to be Reborn in the Pure Land,”*
The Only Sutra Spoken to Ordinary Beings for Ultimate Liberation
Alan Kwan
30 October 2015
The significance of the Buddha’s response to Queen Vaidehi’s request In examining the literal meaning of the title of the Contemplation Sutra, we may have the