SESSION 3 – DEVOTIONAL BUDDHISM

DESCRIPTION

Buddhism has always had a devotional or 'faith-based' form of practice, originally focused on the Three Jewels (Triratna): the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. In addition to early practices of faith, in this session we also discuss the emergence of what has come to be called ‘Pure Land Buddhism’ c. 2-3rd Century AD.

Primary Texts

Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra (Long or Short Version)

Suggested Reading

Paul Williams, Mahāyāna Buddhism; The Doctrinal Foundations, Chapter 10.

Buddhist Cosmology; Philosophy and Origins by Akira Sadakata