Abhirati (Delightful) is the buddhafield to the east inhabited by the Buddha Akṣobhya.
Acintyaprabharāja (King of Inconceivable Light ) is a bodhisattva who is the main speaker in Toh 104.
Ādarśamaṇḍalacakranirghoṣā (Sound of the Mirror Disk) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Candrabuddhi.
The buddha in the eastern realm, Abhirati. Akṣobhya (Unshakable) was well known early in the Mahāyāna tradition.
The buddha of the western buddhafield of Sukhāvatī, where fortunate beings are reborn to make further progress toward spiritual maturity. Amitābha made his great vows to create such a realm when he was a bodhisattva called Dharmākara. In the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, popular in East Asia, aspiring to be reborn in his buddha realm is the main emphasis; in other Mahāyāna traditions, too, it is a widespread practice. For a detailed description of the realm, see The Display of the Pure Land of Sukhāvatī, Toh 115. In some tantras that make reference to the five families he is the tathāgata associated with the lotus family.
Amitābha, “Infinite Light,” is also known in many Indian Buddhist works as Amitāyus, “Infinite Life.” In both East Asian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions he is often conflated with another buddha named “Infinite Life,” Aparimitāyus, or “Infinite Life and Wisdom,”Aparimitāyurjñāna, the shorter version of whose name has also been back-translated from Tibetan into Sanskrit as Amitāyus but who presides over a realm in the zenith. For details on the relation between these buddhas and their names, see The Aparimitāyurjñāna Sūtra (1) Toh 674, i.9.
Avaivartikacakranirghoṣā (Sound of the Wheel of Nonregression) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Suniścitapadmaphullitagātra. “Nonregression” (Skt. avaivartika, Tib. phyir mi ldog pa) refers to a stage on the bodhisattva path where the practitioner will never turn back, or be turned back, from progress toward the full awakening of a buddha.
Bhadraśrī (Excellent Glory) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Padmaśrī.
The stages a bodhisattva must traverse before reaching perfect buddhahood; traditionally ten in number, though some systems present more.
A buddhafield is the particular world system over which a specific buddha presides. There are innumerable such fields in Mahāyāna Buddhist cosmology.
Candrabuddhi (Moon-Like Mind) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Ādarśamaṇḍalacakranirghoṣā.
Dharmaraśmiprajvalitagātra (Body of Blazing Dharma Light) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Duratikramā.
Dharmadhvaja (Dharma Banner) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Virajā.
Duratikramā (Difficult to Transcend) is a buddhafield inhabited by the buddha Dharmaraśmiprajvalitagātra.
Kaṣāyadhvajā (Saffron-Colored Banners) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Vajrasārapramardin.
An ancient Indian kingdom that lay to the south of the Ganges River in what today is the state of Bihar. Magadha was the largest of the sixteen “great states” (mahājanapada) that flourished between the sixth and third centuries ʙᴄᴇ in northern India. During the life of the Buddha Śākyamuni, it was ruled by King Bimbisāra and later by Bimbisāra's son, Ajātaśatru. Its capital was initially Rājagṛha (modern-day Rajgir) but was later moved to Pāṭaliputra (modern-day Patna). Over the centuries, with the expansion of the Magadha’s might, it became the capital of the vast Mauryan empire and seat of the great King Aśoka.
This region is home to many of the most important Buddhist sites, including Bodh Gayā, where the Buddha attained awakening; Vulture Peak (Gṛdhrakūṭa), where the Buddha bestowed many well-known Mahāyāna sūtras; and the Buddhist university of Nālandā that flourished between the fifth and twelfth centuries ᴄᴇ, among many others.
Padmaśrī (Lotus Glory) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Bhadraśrī.
Pradīpā (Bright Lamp) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Siṃha.
The name for our world system, the universe of a thousand million worlds, or trichiliocosm, in which the four-continent world is located. Each trichiliocosm is ruled by a god Brahmā; thus, in this context, he bears the title of Sahāṃpati, Lord of Sahā. The world system of Sahā, or Sahālokadhātu, is also described as the buddhafield of the Buddha Śākyamuni where he teaches the Dharma to beings.
The name Sahā possibly derives from the Sanskrit √sah, “to bear, endure, or withstand.” It is often interpreted as alluding to the inhabitants of this world being able to endure the suffering they encounter. The Tibetan translation, mi mjed, follows along the same lines. It literally means “not painful,” in the sense that beings here are able to bear the suffering they experience.
Samantabhadra (Entirely Excellent) is one of the eight principal bodhisattvas. He is known for embodying the conduct of bodhisattvas through his vast aspirations, offerings, and deeds for the benefit of beings.
Sarvābhijñāmatirāja (King with a Mind of All Supernatural Abilities) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Vyūhā.
The exact place where every buddha in this world will manifest the attainment of buddhahood. Specifically, this is the place beneath the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gayā.
Siṃha (Lion) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Pradīpā.
Sukhāvatī (Blissful) is the buddhafield to the west inhabited by the buddha Amitābha, who is also known as Amitāyus. It is classically described in The Display of the Pure Land of Sukhāvatī (Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra).
Suniścitapadmaphullitagātra (Lotus Body Blooming with Utter Certainty) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Avaivartikacakranirghoṣā.
Suprabhā (Beautiful Light) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Vairocana.
Vairocana (Brilliance of the Sun) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Suprabhā.
Vajrasārapramardin (Vajra Essence Vanquisher) is a buddha who inhabits the buddhafield Kaṣāyadhvajā.
Virajā (Dustless) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Dharmadhvaja.
Vyūhā (Ornamented) is a buddhafield inhabited by the Buddha Sarvābhijñāmatirāja.
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