An Evolution of Pure Land Buddhism through the Prayers of <i>Bhadracarī</i>: Exclusion of the Escape Clause, and Rebirth into Sukhāvatī of All Sentient Beings

Abstract

Though the salvation for all sentient beings is vowed, there was a clear statement that rebirth into Sukhāvatī was not permitted for those who have committed grave sins, as found in the Sukhāvatīvyūha, the main Pure land sūtra in Indian Mahāyāna Buddhism. But this limiting tendency for salvation came to be eased gradually through a few prayers, especially the prayers beginning with that of Bhadracarī in the Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra. As a result, the prayer for the rebirth into Sukhāvatī of all sentient beings has become one of the major features of Pure Land Buddhism in East Asia.