Jiǔpǐn wǎngshēng Ēmítuó sānmódì jí tuóluóní jīng 九品往生阿彌陀三摩地集陀羅尼經
Sūtra of the Compendium of Dhāraṇī of the Amitābha Samādhi for Rebirth in the Nine Grades by 不空 Bùkōng (Amoghavajra, 譯)
About the work
A one-fascicle Esoteric scripture by Amoghavajra (不空) integrating the Pure Land nine-grades-of-rebirth doctrine (jiǔpǐn wǎngshēng 九品往生 — the Pure Land doctrine that rebirth in Sukhāvatī takes nine forms graded by the practitioner’s level of attainment) with the Esoteric samādhi-dhāraṇī practice. The text is one of Amoghavajra’s principal contributions to the Esoteric-Pure Land synthesis.
Abstract
The text presents a comprehensive Esoteric framework for Pure Land rebirth practice, establishing how each of the nine grades of rebirth corresponds to specific samādhi-attainments and dhāraṇī-recitations. The synthesis integrates the popular Pure Land devotional cult — based on the nine-grades doctrine of the Guān Wúliàngshòu fó jīng 觀無量壽佛經 (KR6f0071, T12n0365) — with the Esoteric Vajradhātu framework of the Lotus-family.
The composition dates from Amoghavajra’s mature Cháng’ān period (746–774).
Translations and research
- Sharf, Robert H. “On Pure Land Buddhism and Ch’an/Pure Land Syncretism.” T’oung Pao 88 (2002).
Links
- CBETA T19n0933
- Kanseki DB
- 不空 Bùkōng DILA
- Dazangthings date evidence (CBETA / Taishō; date: 750)