The Amitabha Sutra

📌 The Amitabha Sutra (English Translation)

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Bhagavān (World Honored One) was dwelling in Śrāvastī, at the Jeta Grove, in the Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

The Buddha addressed the bhikṣus:

“In the western direction, beyond a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha lands, there exists a world called ‘Sukhāvatī’ (The Land of Ultimate Bliss).

In that land, there is a Buddha named Amitābha, who is now teaching the Dharma.

Why is that land called the ‘Land of Ultimate Bliss’?

Because the beings there are free from all suffering and only experience supreme happiness.

The land is adorned with seven precious jewels, forming the ground, palaces, and lotus ponds, all shining with divine brilliance.

In that world, celestial flowers rain down continuously, and divine music plays in harmony with the Dharma.

All beings in that land have golden bodies, adorned with the thirty-two marks of a great being. They are pure and free from defilement.

Whoever sincerely recites ‘Namo Amitābhāya’ (Homage to Amitabha) with unwavering faith, for ten consecutive thoughts, shall, at the moment of death, be welcomed by Amitābha Buddha and his sacred assembly.

Those beings shall be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, never to fall back into lower realms again.

Therefore, I encourage all beings to cultivate faith, vow to be reborn in Sukhāvatī, and diligently practice reciting the name of Amitābha Buddha.

The Buddha then proclaimed:

‘All beings should aspire to be reborn in that Pure Land!

May all attain awakening and liberation.

Amitābha Buddha, Svāhā!’”

The Amitabha Sutra in Sanskrit

Evaṁ mayā śrutam ekasmin samaye।

Bhagavān Śrāvastyāṁ viharati sma jetavane anāthapiṇḍadasyārāme।

Tatra buddhakṣetre sapta ratnamayāḥ bhūmiḥ।

Padmāḥ jātāḥ divyagandhāḥ।

Buddhānām nāmadheyaṁ—"Amitābhaḥ" iti।

Yaḥ sadā "Namo Amitābhāya" iti japaṁ karoti,

saḥ buddhakṣetre upapadyate।

Buddhaḥ bhikṣūn āmantrayate—

"Bhikṣavaḥ! Amitābhaṁ buddhakṣetraṁ smarata।

Yatra suvarṇa-ratna-mayāḥ bhūmiḥ।

Yatra padmāḥ mahārajanīyāḥ।

Sarvasattvānāṁ sugatiḥ astu।

Amitābhaḥ bhagavān svāhā!"