bhakti elements in mahayana buddhism
this info is mostly copped from wikipedia.
Mahayana Buddhism mentiones the existence of an Adibuddha. This being is the primordial, self-existent, self-created Buddha who some believe that the whole of creation stems from. Some Mahayana devotees of a certain bodhisattva may also elevate this enlightened being to the status of godhood or deity as a mark of devotion. For example, the Japanese buddha Amida [Amitabha] of the Pure Land school of Buddhism is a popular choice of deity. Adherents of this system believe that mindfully chanting the name of Amitabha allows one to obtain rebirth in Amitabha's Pure Land of the West, a beautiful paradise peopled by angels and lesser buddhas singing next to lakes of ambrosia and sweet flowers. The awesome beauty of this heavenly paradise is beyond description and the souls of the dead may remain there as long as they wish until they are ready to reincarnate again.
Shan-tao (613-681 CE) was a very influential Chinese writer for the Pure Land school of Buddhism. When young, he entered the priesthood and devoted himself to the study of the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life and the Vimalakirti Sutra. One day he saw a painting of the Pure Land, which ultimately inspired him to follow and spread the Pure Land Teachings. Shan-tao was one of the first to propose that salvation through Amitabha Buddha could be achieved simply through his name [namo amitabha buddha or namu amida butsu]. This practice, known as the nembutsu, was a way of singular devotion to Amitabha Buddha and all that was needed to liberate oneself. In one of his more famous writings, Shan-tao spoke at great length about how simply saying the name of Amitabha Buddha was sufficient for salvation--
"Only repeat the name of Amitabha with all your heart. Whether walking or standing, sitting or lying, never cease the practice of it even for a moment. This is the very work which unfailingly issues in salvation, for it is in accordance with the Original Vow of that Buddha." (Coates and Ishizuka, Honen the Buddhist Saint, vol. II, page 184)
Amitābha is often portrayed with two assistants: Avalokiteśvara (Guānyīn) who appears on his right and Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Dà Shì Zhì) who appears on his left.
i can't seem to find any information on the ritual involved in pureland image worship or their attitude toward vegetarianism.
Mahayana Buddhism mentiones the existence of an Adibuddha. This being is the primordial, self-existent, self-created Buddha who some believe that the whole of creation stems from. Some Mahayana devotees of a certain bodhisattva may also elevate this enlightened being to the status of godhood or deity as a mark of devotion. For example, the Japanese buddha Amida [Amitabha] of the Pure Land school of Buddhism is a popular choice of deity. Adherents of this system believe that mindfully chanting the name of Amitabha allows one to obtain rebirth in Amitabha's Pure Land of the West, a beautiful paradise peopled by angels and lesser buddhas singing next to lakes of ambrosia and sweet flowers. The awesome beauty of this heavenly paradise is beyond description and the souls of the dead may remain there as long as they wish until they are ready to reincarnate again.
Shan-tao (613-681 CE) was a very influential Chinese writer for the Pure Land school of Buddhism. When young, he entered the priesthood and devoted himself to the study of the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life and the Vimalakirti Sutra. One day he saw a painting of the Pure Land, which ultimately inspired him to follow and spread the Pure Land Teachings. Shan-tao was one of the first to propose that salvation through Amitabha Buddha could be achieved simply through his name [namo amitabha buddha or namu amida butsu]. This practice, known as the nembutsu, was a way of singular devotion to Amitabha Buddha and all that was needed to liberate oneself. In one of his more famous writings, Shan-tao spoke at great length about how simply saying the name of Amitabha Buddha was sufficient for salvation--
"Only repeat the name of Amitabha with all your heart. Whether walking or standing, sitting or lying, never cease the practice of it even for a moment. This is the very work which unfailingly issues in salvation, for it is in accordance with the Original Vow of that Buddha." (Coates and Ishizuka, Honen the Buddhist Saint, vol. II, page 184)
Amitābha is often portrayed with two assistants: Avalokiteśvara (Guānyīn) who appears on his right and Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Dà Shì Zhì) who appears on his left.
i can't seem to find any information on the ritual involved in pureland image worship or their attitude toward vegetarianism.