Amita (Buddha)

Amitabha's body is the color of gold,
The splendor of his hallmarks has no peer.
The light of his brow shines round a hundred worlds,
Wide as the sea are his eyes pure and clear.
Shining in his brilliance by transformation
Are countless Bodhisattvas and infinite Buddhas.
His forty-eight vows will be our liberation,
In nine lotus-stages we reach the farthest shore.
Homage to the Buddha of the Western Pure Land,
Kind and Compassionate Amitabha.
(RH 137-138; UW 28)

The Buddha Amita is the Buddha of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. He is also known as Amitabha 'infinite light', and Amitayus 'infinite life'.

Ayus is a Sanskrit word meaning "life." (Source: Anonymous Buddhist Monk, June 9, 2007)

"Both Amitabha Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha were people who became Buddhas . . . . " (AS 11)

(Source: Epstein, 2003: p. 3)

1) Chinese Mandarin: a mi to fo (Jap. 'Amida'); 2) Sanskrit: amita, amitabha, amitayus; 3) Pali: ---.

See also: The Eight Great Bodhisattvas: Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha, Vajrapani, Bodhisattva, dharani, mantra, Five School of Buddhism - Esoteric

Buddhist Text Translation Society (http://www.BTTSonline.org) References: AS 10-11, 20; UW 28-29, 131-135, 215-217; SM IV 53; SM V 10-11.

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

1	(mwd)	amita	1 or %{Anta} mfn. perf. Pass. p. %{am} Pa1n2. 7-2 , 28.
2	(mwd)	amita	1 see %{am}.
3	(mwd)	amita	2 mfn. (3 %{mA}) , unmeasured , boundless , infinite RV. &c. ; without a certain measure S3Br. Sus3r. &c. ; (%{a4-mitam}) ind. immensely RV. iv , 16 , 5.
4	(cap)	amita	a. unmeasured, unlimited.

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

1	(mwd)	mita	1 mfn. (for 2. see below) fixed , set up , founded , established RV. AV. Sa1n3khS3r. ; firm , strong (see comp.) ; cast , thrown , scattered W.
2	(mwd)	mita	2 mfn. (3. %{mA} ; for 1. %{mita} see 1. %{mi}) measured , meted out , measured or limited by i.e. equal to (instr. or comp.) Su1ryas. VarBr2S. BhP. ; containing a partic. measure i.e. measuring , consisting of (acc.) RPra1t. ; Bhart2r. (v.l.) ; measured , moderate , scanty , frugal , little , short , brief. Inscr. Mn. Ka1v. &c. ; measured i.e. investigated , known (see. %{loka}) ; m. N. of a divine being (associated with Sammita) Ya1jn5. ; of a R2ishi in the third Manv-antara VP.
3	(mwd)	mIta	see under %{pra-mI}.
4	(cap)	mita	1 a. measured, defined, limited; scanty, succinct, small, concise; examined, known.
5	(cap)	mita	2 a. fixed, firm, solid.
6	(otl)	miTA	1. large earthen vessel; 2. pot
7	(otl)	mita-ttal	1. to float; 2. to rise high in the sky; 3. to be heaped in a measure, as corn; 4. to be abundant; to be in excess; 5. to assume, to pretend to a character above the reality

http://webapps.uni-koeln.de/tamil/

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

(mwd)

amitAbha

%{As} m. pl. , of unmeasured splendour "'N. of certain deities in the eighth Manvantara VP. ; (as) m. sg. = %{amitA7yus}.

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

1	(mwd)	bha	1 aspirate of %{ba}.
2	(mwd)	bha	2 (in gram.) N. of the weakest base of nouns (as opp. to %{pada} and %{aGga} q.v.) i.e. of the base before the vowel terminations except in strong cases , before feminine suffixes , and before Taddhitas beginning with vowels or %{y} Pa1n2. 1-4 , 18 &c.
3	(mwd)	bha	3 (in prosody) a dactyl.
4	(mwd)	bha	4 (1. %{bhA}) m. N. of the planet Venus or its regent , (= %{zukra}) L. ; semblance , delusion , error L. ; (%{A4}) f. light or a beam of lñlight , lustre , splendour MBh. Hariv. Var. &c. (cf. 2. %{bhA}) ; the shadow of a gnomon Su1ryas. ; appearance , resemblance , likeness (ifc. ; cf. %{agni-bha} , %{guDa-bhA} , %{tantubha}) ; n. a star , planet , asterism , lunar añasterism or mansion (and so also the number 27 ; cf. %{nakSatra}) , sign of the zodiac Gr2S. Su1ryas. Var. S3atr. &c.
5	(mwd)	bha	5 m. (prob. onomat.) a bee L.
6	(mwd)	bhA	1 cl. 2. P. (Dha1tup. xxiv , 43) %{bhA4ti} (pr. p. %{bhAt} f. %{bhAntI} or %{bhAtI} Vop. ; Pot. %{bhAyAt} TBr. ; pl. %{babhau} Mn. MBh. &c. ; aor. %{abhAsIt} Gr. Bhat2t2. ; fut. %{bhAsya4ti} Br. &c.) , to shine , be bright or luminous RV. &c. &c. ; to shine forth , appear , show one's self ib. ; to be splendid or beautiful or eminent MBh. Ka1v. &c. (with %{na} , to cut a poor figure Katha1s.) ; to appear as , seem , look like , pass for (nom. with or without %{iva} adv. in %{vat}) MBh. Ka1v. &c. ; to be , exist W. ; to show , exhibit , manifest Bhat2t2. (v.l.): Pass. %{bhAyate} , impers , radiance is put forth by (instr.) Bhat2t2.: Caus. %{bhApayate} ; aor. %{abIbhapat} Gr.: Desid. %{bibhAsati} ib.: Intens. %{bAbhAyate} , %{bAbheti} , %{bAbhAti} ib. [Cf. %{bhan} , %{bhAS} , %{bhAs} ; Gk. $ Lat. {fa1ri} &c. ; Germ. {Bann} ; Eng. &228178[750 ,3] {ban}.]
7	(mwd)	bhA	2 f. (nom. prob. %{bhA4s}) light , brightness , splendour &c. (cf. f. of 4. %{bha}) VS. S3Br. ; m. the sun L. (cf. 2. %{bhAs}).
8	(cap)	bha	n. star, asterism, lunar mansion.
9	(cap)	bhA	2 f. light, brightness, splendour, adj. --- resembling, like.
10	(cap)	bhA, bhAti	, pp. {bhAta} 1 be bright, shine, be splendid or beautiful, [[,]] please (acc. w. {prati} or {pratibhAti} w. acc.); show one's self, appear; look or be like (nom. {ñiva} or adv. in {vat}), pass for (nom.). -- {ati} shine bright or brighter than (acc.). {anu} shine after (acc.). {abhi} shine forth, appear. {ava} shine down or upon. {A} shine upon, illumine; shine forth, appear, look or be like ({iva, yathA} or adv. in {vat}). {ud} shine out, become manifest. {nis} & {vinis} shine forth. {pra} shine forth, begin to be bright (as the night), appear or be like (nom. {ñiva}). {prati} shine upon, illumine; become manifest, offer or present one's self, come into the mind, occur to (acc. or gen.); appear to (gen. or acc. {ñprati}), look or be like, resemble (= S.); seem fit, please. {saMprati} appear, come into the mind, occur. {vi} shine forth, shine far and wide, begin to be bright (night), be brilliant, make a show, catch the eye, appear, arise, look or be like (= S.); shine upon, illumine. {sam} shine out, become manifest, arise, appear as (nom. {ñiva} or {yathA}). -- Cf. {AbhAta, nirbhAta, prabhAta, vibhAta}.

http://webapps.uni-koeln.de/tamil/

amitayus

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

(mwd)

amitAyus

m. N. of a Dhya1ni buddha Buddh.

: Search Results

(mwd)	=	Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon
(cap)	=	Capeller's Sanskrit-English Dictionary
(otl)	=	Cologne Online Tamil Lexicon
(cpd)	=	Concise Pahlavi Dictionary

1	(mwd)	AyuS	(in comp. for %{Ayus} below).
2	(mwd)	Ayus	n. life , vital power , vigour , health , duration of life , long life RV. AV. TS. S3Br. Mn. MBh. Pan5cat. &c. ; active power , efficacy RV. VS. ; the totality of living beings [food Sa1y.] RV. ii , 38 , 5 and vii , 90 , 6 ; N. of a particular ceremony (= %{AyuH-SToma} q.v.) ; N. of a Sa1man ; of the eighth lunar mansion ; food L. ; (%{us}) m. the son of Puru1ravas and Urvas3i1 (cf. %{Ayu}) MBh. Vikr. VP. ; [cf. Dor. $ ; perhaps also $.]
3	(mwd)	Ayus	see col. 1.
4	(cap)	Ayus	n. life, vitality, longevity; world (= living creatures).

http://webapps.uni-koeln.de/tamil/

(NOTE: Numerous corrections and enhancements have been made under Shastra tradition and "Fair Use" by an Anonymous Buddhist Monk Redactor (Compiler) of this Online Buddhist Encyclopedia Compilation)

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(as found in the scripture storehouse of the Indian Sanskrit-Siddham, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese traditions of the Nalanda Tradition of ancient Nalanda University) of Shakyamuni Buddha, and his Arya Sagely Bodhisattva Bhikshu Monk and Upasaka disciples.

These Good and Wise Advisors (Kaliyanamitra) Dharma Master teachers include Arya Venerables Nagarjuna, Ashvaghosha, Aryasura, Kumarajiva, Shantideva, Chandrakirti, Chandragomin, Vasubandhu, Asanga, Hui Neng, Atisha, Kamalashila, Dharmarakshita, Tsong Khapa, Thogme Zangpo, Patanjali, Sushruta, Charaka, Vagbhata, Nichiren, Hsu Yun, Hsuan Hua, Shen Kai, Tenzin Gyatso, Kyabje Zopa, Ajahn Chah, Vasant Lad, and other modern day masters. We consider them to be in accord with Master Hsuan Hua’s "Seven Guidelines for Recognizing Genuine Teachers"

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At Nalanda Online University we practice daily and introduce you to (via downloadable multimedia MP3 audio and WMV video lectures) the teachings and practices of the Five Traditions transmitted by the Buddha Shakyamuni:

1. Teaching School (Mahayana Sutrayana - Paramitayana - Hua Yan and Tian Tai, Yogachara, Nalanda Prasangika Madhyamika, Theravada Sutta)

See also: Tripitaka (1. Sutras, 2. Vinaya, 3. Shastras or Abhidharma, or Tantra), Taisho Catalog Numbering System, Dharma, and names of individual sutras (such as Shurangama Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra [Flower Adornment Sutra], Lotus Sutra [Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra], Earth Store Sutra, Dharani Sutra, Brahma Net Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra, Sixth Patriarch Platform Sutra, Sutra in 42 Sections, Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching, et al.

2. Moral Regulations School (Vinaya Pratimoksha Shila - Bodhisattva Pranidhana - Vajrayana-Samaya - Yogic Yama)

3. Esoteric School (Vajrayana - Mantrayana - Tantrayana - Dharani - Secret School of the Mahayana)

4. Meditation School (Indian Dhyana Samadhi - Shamatha - Vipassana, Chinese Chan, Japanese Zen,
        Tibetan Mahamudra of Kagyupa, and Tibetan Dzogchen of Nyingmapa)

5. Pure Land Devotional School (Bhakti Puja - Buddha-Bodhisattva Mindfulness and Nama Japa --
         Name Recitation of Buddhas Amitabha-Amitayus, Medicine Buddha - Bhaisajya Guru - Akshobhya,
         and Bodhisattvas: Avalokiteshvara-Guanyin-Chenrezig-Mahakala, Tara, Samantabhadra Universal Worthy,
         Manjushri-Kalarupa Great Wisdom, Maitreya Great Loving-Kindness, Mahasthamaprapta Great Strength,
         Ksitigarbha - Earth Store Great Vows, Vajrapani, Vajrasattva,
         Chandraprabha Moonlight Radiance, Suryaprabha Sunlight Radiance, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva
         and others Dharma Protecting Dharmapala Lokapala Bodhisattvas, Gods and Goddesses)

Compilation Sources for the Above Material on the Teachings of the Buddha:

Primary Compilation Source: Epstein, Ronald B., Ph.D, compiler, Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z, Burlingame, California: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 2003. ISBN: 0881393533 Paperback: 284 pages. www.BTTSOnline.org www.Amazon.com
http://www.bttsonline.org/product.aspx?pid=118 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881393533/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20

Secondary Compilation Source: The Seeker’s Glossary of Buddhism, 2nd ed., San Francisco, California: Sutra Translation Committee of the United States and Canada, 1998: www.budaedu.org.tw

Secondary Compilation Source: Muller, Charles, editor, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism [DDB], Toyo Gakuen University, Japan, 2007: Username is "guest", with no password.
http://buddhism-dict.net/ddb - Based in large part on the Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms with Sanskrit and English Equivalents (by Soothill and Hodous) Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997.

Secondary Compilation Source: Ehrhard, Diener, Fischer, et al, The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, 1991. 296 pages. ISBN 978-0-87773-520-5 www.Shambhala.com, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0877735204/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20,
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-0-87773-520-5.cfm

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Updated July 17, 2008