Buddha contemplation

Buddha contemplation

Buddha contemplation (Chinese: guānfo 觀佛), also known as Contemplative nenbutsu (Japanese: kan nenbutsu, 観念仏) is a central Buddhist meditation practice in East Asian Buddhism, especially popular in Pure Land Buddhism, but also found in other traditions such as East Asian Yogācāra, Tiantai and Huayan. This practice involves the visualization and contemplation of a mental image of a Buddha and the attributes of their Pure Land, aiming to develop faith, devotion, and a deep connection to the Buddha's spiritual qualities. Buddha contemplation is a Mahayana type of "buddha mindfulness" (buddhānusmṛti) meditation which focuses on imagination or visualization. The most popular Buddha used in this practice is Amitābha, but other figures are also used, like Guanyin, Maitreya, Cundi, and Samantabhadra. In the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, this type of contemplation (also termed "contemplating the visualization", C: guānxiǎng niàn 觀想念) is often contrasted with another popular form of nenbutsu practice called "contemplation of the name [of the Buddha]" (C: chēngmíng niàn, 稱名念), especially the audible "vocal nenbutsu" (J: shōmyō nenbutsu) or "recitation of the name" (C: míngchí 明持), which refers to the practice of reciting nenbutsu. The practice of Buddha contemplation is taught in various Mahayana sutras called Contemplation Sutras (Chinese: 觀經, Guān jīng, sometimes also translated as Visualization Sutras), which teaches contemplative practices based on fantastic visual images of Buddhas, bodhisattvas and their buddhafields. These works mostly survive in Chinese translations dating from about the sixth century CE. In Pure Land Buddhism, one of the most important sutras is the Amitāyus Contemplation Sūtra.

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Buddha contemplation

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