In a hospital room, a terminal cancer patient urgently asked, “Can chanting the Buddha’s name really take me to the Western Pure Land?” A monk replied, “That is Amitabha Buddha’s vow—he will not break his promise.” One devotee shared how her mother, upon first hearing this Buddhist doctrine on her deathbed, immediately put her faith in it and began chanting Amitabha’s name. With fellow devotees chanting alongside her, she believed her mother received the Buddha’s help and was reborn in the Pure Land.

Pure Land Buddhism is the largest school of Northern Buddhism and centers its practice on chanting the Buddha’s name. It is deeply accessible—even an elderly, illiterate woman can chant sincerely, hoping to be saved.

Drawing from the Sutra of Infinite Life, Pure Land Buddhists believe that Amitabha Buddha will welcome into his Western Pure Land those who live virtuously, yearn for rebirth there, and call upon his name. The Contemplation Sutra even says that an evildoer, chanting Amitabha’s name ten times at the moment of death, can also be reborn in the Pure Land. The Amitabha Sutra, a staple in the daily liturgy of Chinese temples, emphasizes that salvation comes entirely by the grace of the Buddha. Such reliance on other-power is rare in Buddhism, where most teachings stress the need to accumulate merit through personal effort. Yet Pure Land Buddhism promotes “faith” and “salvation by other-power.”

Perhaps this opens a door for Christians to discuss salvation by faith? May those who chant for the next life come to know that the Lord not only leads us into eternal life, but is also Lord of everyday life—present with us in every moment.

PRAYER

Father, may followers of Pure Land Buddhism remain open to the concepts of faith and salvation through a power beyond themselves. Let this become an opportunity for them to come to know You. How earnestly they long for salvation and paradise—may they respond with great faith when they hear of Christ’s redeeming grace, and knock on the door to seek the Savior, Jesus Christ!

As You’ve promised in Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” May Pure Land Buddhists come to see how deeply their Father in heaven loves them, and that He has already prepared for them a new heaven and a new earth. What You offer is more than just eternal paradise or abundant life—it is a love so powerful that not even death or hardship can separate us from it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.