T'ai Shen 泰神 Pure Land Centre

The high mountains, I look up at them.

The great road, I travel it.

The sufferings of many are numerous.

Yet, as the wind touches the bamboo: the sound "Amitofuo".

In the sighs of the work worn farmer: the sound "Amitofuo".

In the cries of the hungry child: the sound "Amitofuo"

I cross the mountain stream and hear the water bubble "Amitofuo"

Sit still and you may hear. Sit so very still.

Follow the sound to where it may go

and there you will know

Joy beyond all pain and sorrow.

Amitofuo.

Our Aims

To provide an awareness of the practise Pure Land Buddhism.

To make Pure Land Buddhism accessible.

To provide teaching in Meditation, Buddhist Psychology and Life Education.

To provide education and mental health outreach in rural China.

Director

Malcolm Hunt

To study the Buddha way is to study the self.

To study the self is to forget the self.

To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand dharmas.

To be enlightened by the ten thousand dharmas is to free one's body and mind and those of others.

No trace of enlightenment remains and this enlightenment is continued for ever. Dogen, 1200-1253

This is really what the work is about.

Pure Land Buddhism

Pure Land Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism originating in India and eventually introduced to China in approximately 64AD. Pure Land practice grew through the teaching of monk Hui Yuan (523-592) and later revival from the teachings of Zhuhong (1584), Shan Tao (613 – 681 AD) and later Yin Kuang (1861 – 1940) all of who were Buddhist monks and teachers of the Pure Land School.

Pure Land is a Buddhist school that understands by single mindedly focusing on the name of Amitabha Buddha- the Buddha of Infinite Light one is able to break free from the cycle of re-birth and death and live in a state enlightenment and bliss known as Pure Land.

The Shakyamuni Buddha knew that people would need great help in ages to come to achieve enlightenment. The Buddha told us of another Buddha, Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite Light and Life who had made 48 vows to help us reach Pure Land. It is in the Pure Land that we are able to cease the process of birth and death and suffering.

With the help of Amitabha Buddha we do not have to rely solely on ourselves to attain enlightenment as in other methods. We have the help of compassionate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to help us.

Pure Land is not just a location in paradise but is essentially the Buddha mind. Pure Land understands enlightenment through the concentration and purification of the mind and that enlightenment is available to all beings. In fact it is essential that our meditation is “meditation in action” that compassion is a fruit of our meditation that is active in doing good to others.

Our condition or ‘life situation’ is created by our mind. Mind can be likened to the glass of a window. If it is dirty we are unable to see things as they really are. Our dirtied minds, if you like, are our ego minds that crave to attachment to things as well as the past and future. When we are able to let go of our desires and attachments the job of cleaning the window begins. We are literally what we think. When we begin to change our thought patterns for good and pure thoughts this begins to have a radical effect on our daily living and ultimately our destiny.

With so many people living lives of quiet desperation, depression and an undercurrent of unhappiness and unfulfillment, Pure Land Buddhism teaches a way to complete happiness, serenity of mind and fulfillment.

The ultimate goal of Pure Land Buddhism is re-birth in the Western Pure Land by living a life Compassion, Peace and Mindfulness.