01/04/2026
Today is Amithaba Day which is celebrated on every full moon.
As the head of the padma (lotus) family Amithaba is the highest embodiment of the wisdom of discernment, love and compassion and often known as the Buddha of Infinite Light. He resides in the Western Pure Land of Sukhavati – the Land of Bliss.
When I attain Buddhahood,
My Name shall be heard throughout the ten quarters;
Should there be any place where it is not heard,
May I not attain perfect Enlightenment.
Free of greed and with deep, perfect mindfulness
And pure wisdom, I will perform the sacred practices;
I will seek to attain the unsurpassed Way
And become the teacher of devas and humans.
With my divine power I will display great light,
Illuminating the worlds without limit,
And dispel the darkness of the three defilements;
Thus I will deliver all beings from misery.
Having obtained the eye of wisdom,
I will remove the darkness of ignorance;
I will block all the evil paths
And open the gate to the good realms.
When merits and virtues are perfected,
My majestic light shall radiate in the ten quarters,
Outshining the sun and the moon
And surpassing the brilliance of the heavens.
I will open the Dharma-store for the multitudes
And endow them all with treasures of merit.
Being always among the multitudes,
I will proclaim the Dharma with the lion's roar…
The Buddha said to Ananda, "As soon as the Bhikshu Dharmakara spoke those verses, the entire earth shook in six ways, and a rain of wonderful flowers fell from heaven, scattering everywhere. Spontaneous music was heard, and a voice in the sky said, 'Surely you will attain the highest, perfect Enlightenment’.”
(Verses spoken by the Bhikshu Dharmakara who became Buddha Amithaba.
Source: The Longer Sukhavativyuha Sutra)
Ultimately the Pure Land is not in a different place:
‘All phenomena of samsara and nirvana
Are but appearance arising interdependently.
They are thus unborn, primordially pure, and occur in the expanse of unity.
I bow to the indestructible mind.’
(Source: The Third Khamtrul Rinpoche from ‘Two Truths in Union’)
Today is a particularly good day for practice and for chanting Amithaba’s mantra “Om Ami Dewa Hri” to invite his blessings into your life. All actions today are traditionally said to be multiplied 100
