Amitabha, the celestial buddha of infinite light, created a perfect world or “pure land” known as the Land of Bliss. His goal was to make buddhahood easily attainable, even for ordinary people. Anyone who spends one lifetime practicing Buddhist teachings in the Land of Bliss automatically becomes a buddha.
Buddhists from various traditions pray to be reborn in the Land of Bliss; others enter the pure land by merely reciting Amitabha’s name.
Amitabha
Central Tibet, ca. 1450–1500
Gilt copper repoussé, traces of pigments on hair and face
The Alice S. Kandell Collection; Arthur M. Sackler Gallery S2014.20
Central Tibet, ca. 1450–1500
Gilt copper repoussé, traces of pigments on hair and face
The Alice S. Kandell Collection; Arthur M. Sackler Gallery S2014.20