In our current Saha world, we are met with a chaotic society filled with instability and inequality. The human heart is plagued by the poisonous afflictions of greed, hatred, ignorance, and arrogance. Nations are not only embroiled in constant warfare but also frequently suffer from natural disasters, leading to widespread poverty and suffering. It is in this turbid and degenerate age that the Buddha introduces the pure and wondrous Buddha Lands of the ten directions. He explains that as long as sentient beings generate great vows and cultivate blessings, they can fulfill their aspirations and be reborn in these lands as they wish. The Land of Abhirati is one such pure land, described by Shakyamuni Buddha. Its merits are vast and pure, earning the praise of the Buddha: “Such qualities are not to be found in any other of the countless Buddha Lands!” Why did the World Honored One say this? In order to explore this question and understand the Buddha’s profound meaning, I will list the unique virtues of Akshobhya Buddha’s realm as follows, with the goal of encouraging those who aspire to be reborn in this land to develop a stronger desire to do so!
The Superiorities of Abhirati, Akshobhya Buddha’s Pure Land
1. Superiority of the Dharma
Akshobhya Tathagata is adept at expounding the Dharma. His assembly of Hearers are nourished only by the Dharma, without attachment to other forms of sustenance. Their bodies and minds do not experience fatigue. Compared to the Dharma Treasury of Akshobhya Buddha, the Dharma Shakyamuni Buddha teaches is like a single leaf in the hand compared to all the leaves on a tree. The sutra says: “Shariputra, the Dharma I teach in this world is minuscule. Compared to the Dharma treasury of Akshobhya Tathagata, it is less than one-hundredth, one-thousandth, one-hundred-thousandth, one-hundred-millionth, or even a fraction of a fraction.” It is further said: “Shariputra, all of this is due to the vows Akshobhya Tathagata made when cultivating the Bodhisattva path. He vowed that when he became a Buddha, all the Bodhisattvas in his land would, by his power, understand, accept, uphold, and recite whatever they heard. Shariputra, these Bodhisattvas, by the power of the Tathagata’s original vows, are able to receive, chant, and master all that they hear from the Buddha.”
2. Superiority of the Assembly
Akshobhya Tathagata skillfully tames and teaches countless beings with each sermon, enabling them to realize the Arhat fruit. Therefore, Akshobhya Buddha’s land is a land of Arhats, not ordinary beings. This led Shariputra to ask the Buddha: “Why is this so?” The Buddha replied: “Because there are so many Arhats in that Buddha land.” The sutra states: “Moreover, Shariputra, Akshobhya Tathagata is able to tame countless beings with his teachings, enabling them to realize the Arhat fruit and dwell in meditative states with the eight liberations. Shariputra, Akshobhya Tathagata possesses a countless number of Hearers. There is no mathematician or disciple of a mathematician who can calculate the number of Hearers, even with complex calculation units like pimbara, kingara, paduma, and arabuda. There is no way to know the exact number of these Hearers.” Furthermore, it is said: “It should be known, Shariputra, that Akshobhya Tathagata, with just one teaching, is able to tame countless sentient beings. Yet, no one can know the number of those who are tamed by the World Honored One. Shariputra, all the Hearers of my own assembly and those of Maitreya, and all the Hearers of the Buddhas of this kalpa, and all the Hearers they will tame, even if gathered together, would still be less than one-hundredth of the Hearers of Akshobhya Tathagata, even down to the smallest fraction. Why is this? Because their number is so great and their liberation is without equal.”
3. Superiority over Demonic Forces
Usually, demons and Buddhas are opposing forces. Demons not only disturb the minds of practitioners but also undermine the work of the Tathagata. However, in Akshobhya Buddha’s land, demons not only refrain from doing demonic deeds but also do not harm others; instead, they become good teachers and friends to practitioners. The sutra states: “Shariputra, the demon Papiyan is like this as well. Due to the good roots of Akshobhya Tathagata’s past Bodhisattva practices, he made the vow: ‘When I attain unsurpassed Bodhi, I will tame all the demons so that they do not cause obstacles.’ These Bodhisattvas, Hearers, and ordinary beings will not be obstructed by demons, even in the three thousand great thousand worlds. Rather, due to previous karmic imprints, they receive demon bodies in those heavens and they repent. They are born into these demon bodies, but although they attain autonomy, they are always weary of it. When the Tathagata expounds the Dharma, the demon retinues always listen with purified hearts. They develop love and respect for the assembly of Hearers and aspire to dwell in peace, desiring little and being content. These demons constantly wish to leave the household life without hindrance. Thus, the Hearers, Bodhisattvas, and ordinary beings in that land all dwell in peace due to the power of the Buddha’s past diligent vows. Shariputra, this is another unique and glorious feature of Akshobhya Buddha’s land.” It is also said: “Shariputra, the demons of the three thousand great thousand worlds constantly create obstacles for Bodhisattvas and Hearers. But in the Land of Abhirati, demons do not engage in demonic deeds. Bodhisattvas, whether they are already born, are currently being born, or will be born, have no fear. Why is this? Because of the good roots of that Tathagata’s past Bodhisattva path, he made the vow: ‘When I attain unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment, these demons will not cause obstacles nor engage in demonic deeds.’ Shariputra, just as a skilled person can take poison and make it nutritious, the demons of that land are beneficial rather than harmful. Shariputra, the Buddha Land is adorned with immeasurable merits.”
4. Superiority of Women
Typically, women are associated with negative traits such as intense jealousy, anger, and arrogance. However, in Akshobhya Buddha’s land, women possess heavenly virtues, and their bodies are free from impurities. The sutra says: “Moreover, Shariputra, in that Buddha Land, the clothing and adornments of women grow from trees and are used at will. The women of that country do not have the usual faults of women. They are not like the women of this world, who are full of jealousy, gossip, and harsh speech. Also, during pregnancy and childbirth, mother and child are comfortable and without any impurities. Why is this? It is due to the power of Akshobhya Tathagata’s original vows. Shariputra, there is peace and joy in that Buddha land.” It is also said: “Shariputra, the people of that land have no jealousy. All the women surpass the most precious jewels of women and have acquired celestial merits that cannot be compared. Even if you were to make such comparisons using percentages, fractions, and mathematical calculations, they still would not be comparable. It is as if one would try to compare a fraction of a fraction to something of immense magnitude.”
5. Superiority of Disciples
The four fruits of Arhatship include Stream-Enterer, Once-Returner, Never-Returner and Arhat. Except for Arhats, Stream-Enterers, Once-Returners, and Never-Returners must go through a process of maturation over time to achieve the state of No More Learning. However, in Akshobhya Buddha’s land, those in states of learning do not need to wait for conditions to ripen; they can directly achieve the state of No More Learning as soon as they are seated. The sutra states: “Shariputra, a Stream-Enterer who is lazy has to go through seven rebirths before obtaining a superior result. I refer to such a person as one who returns seven times. Shariputra, if someone in Akshobhya Tathagata’s first sermon obtains the fruit of Stream-Enterer, in the second sermon they obtain the fruit of Once-Returner, in the third sermon they obtain the fruit of Never-Returner, and in the fourth sermon, they obtain the fruit of Arhatship, then these are not lazy people since they can achieve complete liberation by sitting still once.” It is also said: “Shariputra, those who attain the fruit of Stream-Enterer in that land can achieve complete liberation in this very life, rather than going through seven rebirths, like in this world. Once-Returners achieve the end of suffering in their present life, rather than going through one more rebirth, like in this world. And Never-Returners in that land become Arhats in their current life, rather than being reborn in higher realms and not returning here, like in this world.”
6. Superiority of Dharma Affinity
The Dharma citadel of Akshobhya Tathagata (the land of Abhirati), is in accordance with all-knowing wisdom and the perfections (paramitas), achieving the perfect Dharma body of Akshobhya Buddha. The sutra states: “Shariputra, if a Bodhisattva wishes to see countless hundreds, thousands, and millions of Buddhas in one lifetime, they should aspire to be reborn in Akshobhya Tathagata’s land. If they are born there, they will see countless Buddhas and plant countless good roots. They will also expound the essential Dharma for countless beings, causing these beings to increase their good roots. Shariputra, if Bodhisattvas offer clothes, food, bedding, medicine, and other necessities to the Buddhas of this fortunate kalpa, and if those Bodhisattvas then leave their home life and diligently cultivate pure conduct in the Buddhas’ presence, their accumulated merits are not comparable to those that are accumulated by a Bodhisattva in the Land of Akshobhya through the practice of the perfections in one lifetime. All of the merit they achieve does not even compare to the tiniest fraction. Shariputra, this is another merit of Akshobhya Tathagata’s pure land.” It is also said: “Shariputra, if any good man or good woman in this world or other worlds, upon the end of their lives, are reborn in that land, then at the moment of their birth they will have the thought, ‘I have entered the Tathagata’s chamber and am dwelling in the city of fearlessness.’ Shariputra, all the conversations of those Bodhisattvas accord with the perfection of wisdom (Prajnaparamita). They respect and honor each other as if they were spiritual guides.” Furthermore: “Shariputra, Akshobhya Tathagata, in his past practice as a Bodhisattva, made the vow: ‘May all the Bodhisattva Mahasattvas in my Buddha land achieve the perfection of the Dharma body and be no different from me.’”
7. Superiority of Hearing the Dharma
Akshobhya Tathagata is skilled in taming beings. Each time he preaches, all who hear attain the Arhat fruit, even those beings in the deepest hells. The sutra says: “Moreover, Shariputra, the number of stars in this three thousand great thousand worlds is not as great as the number of Hearers of that Buddha. With just one sermon of that Tathagata, countless beings attain Arhatship. Shariputra, the stars of the three thousand great thousand worlds can be counted, yet the number of beings who attain Arhatship in each of his gatherings cannot be counted. “Furthermore: “Shariputra, on the day of Akshobhya Tathagata’s parinirvana, his manifested bodies will spread throughout all worlds. In hells, he will expound the wonderful Dharma, taming countless beings and enabling them to attain Arhatship. Then, before his parinirvana, the number of those who attain the fruit of No More Learning will increase further. On that day, he will give prediction to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva called Elephant Fragrance, saying, ‘After my parinirvana, you will attain Buddhahood and will be called Golden Lotus Tathagata, Worthy and Perfectly Enlightened.’”
8. Superiority of the World
The meritorious adornments of Akshobhya Buddha’s land are so great that no other Buddha land can compare. The sutra says: “Moreover, Shariputra, the meritorious adornments of that Buddha’s world are so vast that no other Buddha land can equal it. Shariputra, it is due to the great vows made by that Tathagata during his Bodhisattva practices that his Buddha land is so remarkably adorned, and these vows have now been fulfilled.” It is also said: “Moreover, Shariputra, the meritorious adornments of Akshobhya Tathagata’s Buddha land are vast and incomparable, such that no other Buddha land possesses such qualities. Therefore, Bodhisattva Mahasattvas should generate the thought: ‘With these good roots, may I be able to see this land. May I embrace the glories of this land. May I see the Bodhisattvas of this land.’ Shariputra, it is through these conditions that Bodhisattvas will be born into that land.”
9. Superiority of Practice
Those who are reborn in Akshobhya Buddha’s land become part of the Tathagata’s assembly, never falling into the Hearer or Solitary Realizer paths. The sutra states: “Shariputra, any good man or woman who, from this or other Buddha lands, after the end of their life, whether they have already been born, are being born, or will be born in Akshobhya Tathagata’s land, will definitely not believe or abide in the paths of Hearers. Why is this? Because they will always be on the Buddha Path, always meeting with the Tathagata. The demon Papiyan will have no opportunity to interfere. They will forever cut off the continuity of the paths of the two vehicles, and will surely attain unsurpassed enlightenment, always in the great assemblies of the Tathagata.” Furthermore: “Moreover, Shariputra, all the Bodhisattvas in that Buddha land, whether they have already been born, are being born, or will be born, will all follow one path, which is called the path of the Tathagata. Shariputra, what is the path of the Tathagata? It is to surpass the paths of the Hearers and Solitary Realizers. The name, one path, is an expedient designation. Therefore, Shariputra, if any Bodhisattva Mahasattva delights in following one path, they should aspire to be born into that Buddha land.” The Buddha predicted of these beings: “Shariputra, these hundreds and thousands of Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, be it known that they will enter into the assembly of the Tathagata, into the assembly of the Buddhas, into the assembly of those with the nature of all-knowing wisdom. Any Bodhisattva Mahasattva who will be born into that land will also enter into the assembly of the Tathagatas.”
10. Superiority of Achievement
Those who are reborn in Akshobhya Buddha’s land will swiftly achieve Buddhahood and fulfill the Bodhi aspiration. The sutra states: “These Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, whether they are from this world or other worlds, upon the end of their lives, in that Buddha land, whether they are already born, are being born, or will be born, will not regress from unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment. From one Buddha land to another, they will never be apart from the Buddhas, and will quickly attain unsurpassed enlightenment.” Furthermore: “Shariputra, if any Bodhisattva wishes to quickly attain unsurpassed enlightenment, they should accept, uphold, read, and master this Dharma teaching, and explain it to others. Why is this? Because Bodhisattva Mahasattvas should explain this gateway of merit and great wisdom, and in so doing they will accumulate merit. Through this accumulation of merit, they will exhaust all their defilements in this very life.”
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