Amitabha

Sanskrit, meaning "Infinite Light" (amita, boundless + abha, light). Also interpreted as "Infinite Age" (amita, boundless + āyu, age). The name first appears in early Mahayana sutras, notably the Larger and Smaller Sukhavativyuha Sutras.

Tlie Chinese perversion of the Sanskrit Amrita Buddha, or the "Innnortal P]nlightened", a name of Gautama Buddha. The name has such variations as Amita, Abida, Amitaya, ere, ana is explained as meaning both "Boundless Age" and "Boundless Light". The original concej^tion of the ideal of an impersonal divine light has been anthropomnrpiiized with time. Ammon ( E(j.). One of the great gods of Egypt. Amnion or Amoun is far older than Amoun-Ra, and is identified with Baal. Ilammou, the Lord of Heaven. Amoun-Ra was Ra the Si)iritual Suii, the "Sun of Righteousness", etc., for — "the Lord God is a Sun". He is the God of Mystery and the hieroglyphics of his name are often reversed. He is Pan, All-Nature esoterically, and therefore the universe, and the "Lord of Eternity". Ra, as declared by an old inscription, was "begotten by Neith but not engendered". He is called the "self-begotten" Ra, and created goodness from a glance of his fiery eye, as Set-Typhon created evil from his. As Ammon (also Amoun and Amen), Ra, he is "Lord of the worlds enthroned on the Sun's disk and appears in the abyss of heaven". A very ancient hymn spells the name "' Amcn-ra", and hails the "Lord of the thrones of the earth. . . Lord of Truth, father of the gods, maker of man, creator of the beasts, Lord of Existence, Enlightener of the Earth, sailing in heaven in tranquillity. . . . All hearts are softened at beholding thee, sovereign of life, health and strength! We worship tlvj spirit wlio alone maele lis", etc., etc. (See Bonwicks Eqiiptian Belief). Ammon Ra is called "his mother's husGLOSSARY 19 band" and her sou. (See "Chuoumis"' and "Chnoupliis" and also Secret Doctrine I, pp. 91 and 393). It was to the "ram-headed" god that the Jews sacrificed Iambs, and the lamh of Christian theology is a dispruised reminiscence of the ram.

The name Amitabha, "Infinite Light," evokes a primordial radiance that predates the universe, a luminous source from which all existence emanates. In the rich cosmology of Mahayana Buddhism, Amitabha is not merely a historical figure but a cosmic principle, the embodiment of wisdom and compassion whose boundless light dispels the darkness of ignorance. His Pure Land, Sukhavati, is often described as a paradise, a realm of ultimate bliss where the conditions for enlightenment are optimally present. This concept, as explored in sutras like the Sukhavativyuha, offers a profound counterpoint to the often arduous paths of spiritual attainment. It suggests that liberation is not solely a matter of rigorous self-discipline or intellectual mastery, but can also be accessed through sincere devotion and aspiration.

The allure of Sukhavati lies in its promise of a spiritual environment free from the suffering inherent in samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It is a place where one can continue their spiritual journey unimpeded, guided by the wisdom and compassion of Amitabha himself. This resonates with psychological archetypes of the divine parent or the benevolent guardian, offering solace and hope in the face of existential uncertainty. Carl Jung might interpret Amitabha as an archetypal representation of the Self, the totality of the psyche, whose luminous presence offers integration and wholeness. The practice of chanting Amitabha's name, the nembutsu, can be understood as a form of mantra, a sonic anchor that helps to quiet the discursive mind and align the practitioner with the object of devotion. D.T. Suzuki, in his explorations of Zen, often highlighted the importance of direct experience and the realization of an underlying unity; while Pure Land differs in its devotional emphasis, the ultimate aim of realizing a state of profound peace and wisdom aligns with these broader Buddhist currents. Amitabha’s boundless light, therefore, is not just an external phenomenon but an invitation to recognize the inherent luminosity within one's own consciousness, a light that has always been present, obscured by the clouds of delusion. It is a vision of spiritual possibility, a reminder that the ultimate reality is not a void but a boundless, radiant presence.

RELATED_TERMS: Bodhisattva, Sukhavati, Mahayana Buddhism, Nirvana, Samsara, Dharma, Compassion, Wisdom