Mindful Visualization of the Body of Amitabha Buddha
A Mindfulness Practice Taught by Sakyamuni Buddha
Mindful Visualization of the Body of Amitabha Buddha is the 9th of the sixteen visualization techniques directly extolled by Sakyamuni Buddha to Queen Vaidehi, the queen of the city of Rajagrha, some 2,500 years ago in response to her yearning for a place to be reborn that is free of afflictions and sufferings.
Amitabha is the principal Buddha of Sukhāvatī, the Western Pure Land (aka the Land of Ultimate Bliss), situated at the uttermost Western Quarter beyond the bounds of this world. As Monk Dharmakara, he made forty-eight vows to help all beings in the Ten Directions. With his vows being accomplished, he became Amitabha Buddha and formed the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, an ideal land for all beings in any capabilities to learn and practice there. That’s why all beings are encouraged to make a vow to be born in the Western Pure Land. The purpose of being born there is to be close to Amitabha Buddha as a student and to complete one’s learning there. Once completed, one becomes a Buddha.
Amitabha Buddha is Sanskrit, where Amitabha means “infinite” and Buddha means “awakening”. This name thus conveys the meaning of infinite enlightenment. “Infinite” is innate in our true nature, which encompasses infinite wisdom, infinite virtues and abilities, and infinite auspicious marks. These threefold of “infiniteness” cover all the infinities in the entire universe. Amitabha Buddha is a name of innate, true nature.
At the time of Queen Vaidehi, she requested Sakyamuni to teach her how to visualize such a place where she may hear no evil words, see no evil beings, and be reborn there. Among all the Buddha-lands that were revealed, the Queen chose to reborn in the Western Pure Land. That was then that Sakyamuni described the magnificent splendor of the body of Amitabha Buddha to the queen.
By the teaching of this 9th visualization, we are immensely grateful to Sakyamuni Buddha that we then have a detailed account of the miraculous physical features of Amitabha Buddha — 84,000 auspicious and distinguishing marks reflecting his many virtues.
What’s better than learning to practice mindfulness directly from our teacher, the Buddha? Let’s dive into the words of the Buddha for the Visualization of the Body of Amitabha Buddha.
The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi,
“When this visualization has been completed, next, one should further visualize the physical features and the light of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life.
“Ananda, it should be known that the Body of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life is as bright as the sands of a trillion Jambu rivers in the Yama Heavens. That Buddha’s body is as tall as the number of yojanas equaling that of the sands of six sextillions of Ganges Rivers.
“Between that Buddha’s eyebrows, there is a tuft of white hair that curls gently to the right and is the size of five Mount Sumerus. The Buddha’s eyes are pure like the waters of the four great oceans; the blue irises and the whites are clear and distinct; the pores of the Buddha’s body emit rays of light that are the size of Mount Sumeru.
“The circle of light around that Buddha’s head illuminates an area as large as a billion three-thousand-great-thousand worlds. Within that all-encompassing light, there are miraculously created Buddhas whose number is as countless as the sands of ten sextillions of Ganges Rivers. Each of these miraculously created Buddhas is attended by a great assembly of countless miraculously created Bodhisattvas.
“The Buddha of Immeasurable Life has eighty-four thousand physical characteristics; and in each of those features there are eighty-four thousand secondary marks of excellence. Each of those marks sends forth eighty-four thousand rays of light; each ray of light shines universally upon the worlds of the Ten Directions; and those sentient beings who are mindful of the Buddha are embraced by that light, never to be abandoned.
“No words can adequately describe the lights, the physical characteristics, the secondary marks and the miraculously created Buddhas. But by concentrating your thoughts on these things, you can see them with your mind’s eye. To see these things is to see all the Buddhas of the Ten Directions. Because you see these Buddhas, it is called the Buddha-Remembrance Samadhi.
“To perform this visualization is to visualize the body of all the Buddhas. Because you perceive the bodies of the Buddhas, you also realize the mind of the Buddhas. The mind of the Buddhas is the mind of Great Compassion, and with this unconditioned compassion, all sentient beings are embraced.
“One who performs this visualization, upon taking leave of this life, will be born in the presence of the Buddhas and will acquire the insight into the non-origination of all existence. For this reason, those who realize the effectiveness of forming this perception should concentrate their thoughts and clearly perceive the Buddha of Immeasurable Life.
“In order to perceive the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, begin with one of the physical features. Visualize only the tuft of white hair between the eyebrows until it becomes very clear and distinct. Once you have visualized it, the eighty-four thousand physical characteristics and marks will appear of their own accord.
“Once you have seen the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, you see at once the infinite Buddhas of the Ten Directions. Because you are able to see the countless Buddhas, you will receive from each the prediction of your future Buddhahood. This is the comprehensive perception of all the physical features of the Buddha, and is called the Ninth Visualization. Performing this visualization is called the right visualization. If one performs other visualizations, that is called an incorrect visualization.”
Consider it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come across and practice this method, as one will then achieve non-retrogression (no falling back to lower realms) to ultimately attain the Highest Perfect Enlightenment.
By the power of his forty-eight vows, Amitabha has made it possible for all sentient beings who call upon him to be reborn into the Western Pure Land, there to receive direct Dharma teachings by him, and ultimately become Buddhas in their turn. From there, these same Buddhas will return to our world to help yet more people to reborn in his land of Sukhāvatī.
Buddha images and Buddhist art serve to convey a feeling of calmness and reflect proper mental discipline to control over our negative emotions such as greed and fear. If anyone is interested in learning the entire sixteen visualization, one may read the full sutra text of the Visualization Sutra.
Set aside time to practice it everyday. Immerse your mind in this visualization and cultivate a pure mind with the perception of the body of Amitabha Buddha.
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Resources:
Visualization Sutra — Full sutra text
Five Pure Land Sutras
Amitabha Mindful Chanting Music Collection
