Amida Buddha

The Buddha of Infinite Life and Infinite Light


While the essence of the Amida Buddha is Infinite Wisdom and Compassion, and has no physical form limitations or physical boundaries, for devotional purposes the Amida Buddha is traditionally represented in three forms:

1) the Chinese characters of the Name - Na Mo A Mi Da Butsu,
2) a picture scroll of a figure of Amida Buddha, and
3) a statue image of the Amida Buddha.

The picture and the statue image of Amida are identifiable by their hand gestures, or mudras. The right hand is held up with the palm facing outward and the thumb and forefinger forming a circle. This is the mudra known as "bestowing fearlessness" (abhayada-mudra).

The left arm is hung downward with the left palm facing outward and the thumb and forefinger also forming a circle. This is the mudra known as "fulfilling one's wishes" (varada-mudra), symbolizing the fulfillment of the Vows and the sharing of merit and virtue by the Amida Buddha to all sentient beings.

A radiating aura of 48 beams of light eminating from the Amida Buddha, symbolizes the 48 Bodhisattva vows made by the buddha previously when he was the Bodhisattva Dharmakara. After the completion of all conditions of those Vows, the Pure Land manifested from the perfection of the virtues and merits of Dharmakara's pure practice.

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