Below is a list of the main chapter titles for this book:

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. AMITABHA BUDDHA AND THE WESTERN PARADISE
(Going to Paradise through the Compassion of Amitabha)
The Western Paradise
The Pure Land School
The Three Sutras on Amitabha
How to be Reborn in Sukhavati

2. THE MARVELLOUS AND THE FUNDAMENTAL
(Scientific Knowledge and Basic Teaching of Buddhism)
Countless Buddhas, Countless Worlds
Buddhist Wisdom and Modern Science
The Buddha's Teaching on Cosmic Reality
Noble Truths and Middle Way

3. MAJESTIC GRANDEUR OF BUDDHISM
(The Compassion and Wisdom of Mahayana)
The Compassion of the Bodhisattvas
The Great Compassion Heart Dharani
Miraculous Powers of Sutras
Lay Followers and Non-Duality
Beyond Words and Beyond Thoughts

4. THE BUDDHA'S TEACHING ON EMPTINESS
(Why is the World an Illusion?)
The Wisdom of Emptiness
Emptiness and Non-Duality
Devoid of Characteristics
Does the Soul Exist?

5. HEAVEN AND ENLIGHTENMENT
(Aspects of the Buddha's Extensive Teaching)
The Marvellous Teaching of the Lotus
Closer to the Original Teaching
Different Periods of the Buddha's Teaching
From Awakening to Enlightenment

6. VARIOUS FORMS OF HEAVENLY BLISS
(Why the Paradise is called Eternal Bliss)
Getting to know the Heavens
The Buddha's Disciples
Heaven in a Distant Galaxy
Worldly Suffering and Heavenly Bliss

7. DESCRIPTIONS OF WESTERN PARADISE
(What Life is Like on Paradise)
What Does Heaven Look Like?
Heavenly Music and Inter-Galaxy Travel
Cultivating for Enlightenment
Boundless Light and Boundless Life

8. WINNING REBIRTH IN THE WESTERN PARADISE
(Conditions and Procedure for Going to Heaven)
Spiritual Roots and Blessings
Rebirth in Western Paradise
Making a Vow

9. BUDDHAS OF OTHER WORLDS
(Meeting Buddhas in All Directions)
Buddhas of the East
Buddhas of the South, West and North
Buddhas of the Nadir and the Zenith
A Sutra Endorsed by all Buddhas

10. THE PROCESS OF BEING REBORN
(How you Can Influence Your Own Rebirth)
The Importance of Making a Vow
Five Defilements in the Saha World
Causes and Determinants of Rebirth
Rebirth Modes and Linkage
Rebirth to the Brahma Heavens
Rebirth to the Sphere of Non-Form

11. COSMOLOGY AND METAPHYSICS OF THE SAHA WORLD
(Heavens, Hells and Other Realms of Existence)
The Saha World
Buddhism and Science
Realms of Existence Invisible to us
The Heavenly Realms
The Realms of Non-Forms
The Thirty One Realms

12. THE PURE LANDS
(Canons, Sutras, Heavens and Mahayana)
The Chinese and The Sinhalese Canons
The Five Principles of Commentary
The Concept of Pure Land
Mahayana and Theravada Perspectives

13. THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH
(Various Kinds of Faith in Amitabha Cultivation)
Four Kinds of Faith
Personal Self and Universal Self
Buddha and Karma
Doctrine of For Realms
Phenomena and Principles

14. UNDESTANDING AND EXPERIENCE
(How You May Verify the Buddha's Teaching)
Faith and Understanding
The Significance of Direct Experience
Verifying the Truth on Suffering
Vow to See Amitabha and Sukhavati

15. COMPASSION AND CARE IN BUDDHISM
(Structure and Content of a Liturgical Chanting)
Songs and Praises
Mantras and Paying Homage
Rare Opportunity Indeed
Praise of Fragrance
Mantra for Cleansing the Mouth
Mantra to Cleanse the Body
Mantra to Bring Peace to Local Deities
Mantra to Reduce Karmic Effect of Past Sins
Vow
Gatha to Start the Sutra
Homage to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
Gatha of Praise
Dharani for Eliminating all Previous Karmic Hindrances
Praise to Amitabha Buddha
Homage to Amitabha Buddha
Homage to Bodhisattvas of Sukhavati
Transfer of Merits

16. RECITING THE AMITABHA SUTRA
(The Benefits and Procedure in Reciting a Sutra)
Benefits of Sutra Chanting
Reciting the Sutra
Amitabha Sutra in Chinese
The Amitabha Sutra as Taught by the Buddha

17. CULTIVATION FOR SUKHAVATI
(Vow, Recitation and Transfer of Merits)
Requirements for Going to Sukhavati
Vows to be Reborn in Sukhavati
Recitation Methods
Transfer of Merits

18. SETTLING DOUBTS
(Some Common Questions and their Answers)
Can One Really go to Heaven?
Is Reciting Amitabha's Name Spiritual Cultivation?
Can a Cultivator Know his Death in Advance?
Why is Buddha-Recitation the most convenient?
Is the Buddha-Recitation Method Mahayanist?

19. SELECTED COMMENTARIES FROM THE CLASSICS
(What Masters Have Said About the Sutra)
Commentaries Through the Centuries
One-Pointed Recitation
Faith, Practice and Vow
Pure Land of the Mind
Mind and Cosmic Reality
Words, Deeds and Thoughts
Zen and Amitabha Buddha


20. AMITABHA SUTRA

Total Pages: 200

TO THE TOP