Pure Land Essentials (蓮宗必讀)

About 蓮宗必讀

Qing · by 古崑集

42,979 · about 143 min

"The Essential Readings of the Lotus School" is an important text of the Pure Land tradition compiled by the eminent monk Gukun during the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. Gukun was a renowned practitioner of Pure Land Buddhism who dedicated his life to promoting the method of reciting the Buddha's name for rebirth in the Pure Land. This work systematically brings together the core scriptures and discourses of the Pure Land patriarchs, encompassing the essential teachings of fundamental sutras such as the "Amitabha Sutra" and the "Infinite Life Sutra," as well as the Pure Land teachings of patriarchs throughout history, including Shandao and Yongming Yanshou. It emphasizes the practice of reciting the Buddha's name and the supreme virtues of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. As a practical guide for Pure Land practitioners, this book holds a significant place in the history of Chinese Buddhism. It profoundly influenced the spread of the Pure Land teachings during the late Qing and early Republican periods and remains regarded as one of the foundational texts for studying and practicing the Pure Land tradition.