What Roles Do Gender and Class Play in Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land, Essay Example

The concept of both gender and class have no major significance in attaining the Pure Land ( achieving a state of Nirvana or enlightenment where you become reborn in the pure land).  The concept of whether you are male or female, rich or poor, black or white is irrelevant in Buddhism.  The religion is open to all of mankind regardless of race or creed.  In recent years it is considered that to achieve salvation or Nirvana is exceedingly difficult to obtain.  Only by a sense of devout prayer and devotion to Amitabha Buddha can true enlightenment be actually achieved. The road to the “Pure Land” has been widely adopted by elite monastic societies and commoners alike as the true means to finding lasting peace and salvation.

The concept of the Pure Land and Buddhism became very popular on the fringes of Japan where prostitutes and commoners readily adopted the faith.  It was a faith that was open to them and offered them salvation; a path that they were denied in the more mainstream Japanese religions.

“Buddhism is for everyone, regardless of gender, age, occupation, nationality or religion. Everyone can learn and practice Buddhism, for it is the teaching of ultimate, perfect wisdom. There is a need for Buddha’s teaching in all parts of the world. However, it is not easy to nurture Buddhist teachers. The difficulty lies with the fact that most people cannot renounce their worldly fame and wealth, which are the major obstacles in learning and practicing Buddhism. Without a pure mind, there is no way to truly understand Buddha’s teachings and to realize the causes of all the problems in this world.”  (Kung, 2009)

Works Cited

Kung, M. C. (2009). Buddhism as an Education. Retrieved 10 27, 2009, from Buddhism as an Education: http://www.buddhanet.net/budasedu.htm