The Amitabha Pure Land

you wrote:

>>I don't know if I can chant that mantra in good faith if that would help send my dog's spirit to be reborn as a human. He doesn't deserve that! To be born into today's world of poverty, disease, pollution, corruption, unfairness and struggle?

my response:

That is quite a dilemma for sure. To make it simple there are two types of realms. There are ordinary heaven realms and then there are Pure Lands. All Buddha's have their own Pure Land which they guide innumerable sentient beings towards freedom from suffering. The problem with abiding in an ordinary heavenly realm is that one is subject to reincarnating back to a lower realm once the individual's positive merits are exhausted.

Amitabha's Pure Land is a special place where there is no suffering. It is called Sukhavati - the "Land of Bliss" where one can continue on the Path uninterruptedly until one also becomes an omniscient Buddha filled with love and compassion for everyone.

If we aspire to a Pure Land while we are alive, such as Amitabha Pure Land, then we will NEVER have to be reborn in any of the six realms again. The six realms are as follows: god realm, jealous-god realm, human realm, animal realm, hungry ghost realm and hell realm.

From the Sutra of the Buddha's Teaching on Amitabha Buddha:

"Shariputra, if there is a good man or good woman who hears of Amitabha and holds his name whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days, as long as seven days with one mind unconfused, when this person nears the end of life, before him will appear Amitabha and all the Assembly of Holy Ones. When the end comes, his mind will not be utterly confused, and in Amitabha's Land of Utmost Happiness he will quickly be reborn. Shariputra, because I see this benefit, I speak these words; and, if living beings hear this teaching they should make the vow: I wish to born in that land."

To read more of the qualities of this Pure Land click here:
http://www.cttbusa.org/amitabha/amitabha.htm

Good Luck!
Neo Tweet