The Background of the Sūtra of Contemplation on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life

The Sutra of Contemplation on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life (SCI) has been grouped into contemplation sutras which appeared is the fifth century in China, although the SCI is now known as one of the three Pure Land Buddhist sutras. The purpose of my paper is to assert that the SCI was compiled under the strong influence of the Sutra of the Lotus of the Marvelous Law (SL) translated by Kumarajiva. The reasons are as follows: 1) The SCI is a compilation of various sourses, which can be traced not only to the Pure Land Buddhist sutras, but also to other Chinese texts such as the Sutra on the Samtldhi ContemPlation of the Ocean-Like Buddhas translated by Buddhabhadra. 2) The SCI has some passages suggesting different ideas from those the other Pure Land Buddhist sutras give. 3) The description of the Land of Utmost Bliss in the SCI is closely connected with the SL; for example, the ground of Pure Lands is made of vaitjurya. 4) A careful comparison shows that the SCI is very similar to the SL with regard to the choice of words and the structure of sentences. 5) According to Hui-chiao's Biography of Eminent Monks, Kalayasas translated the SCI and the Sutra of Contemplation on the Two Bodhisattvas, Medicine King and Superior Medicine. The latter sutra was based on chapter XXIII of the SL, "Ancient Accounts of the Bodhisattva Medicine King" and chapter XXVII, "Ancient Accounts of the King SubhavYilha". Dharmamitra, a contemporary to Kalayasas, translated the Sutra on the Methods of Practicing on the Contemplation on the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. This sutra was based on the SL, especially the chapter XXVIII, "Encouragement of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra" . 6) In the chapter XXIII of the SL, "Ancient Accounts of the Bodhisattva Medicine King", we can see a depiction how to attain birth in Sukhavati. 7) The contemplation sutras were translated in the early fifith century in Chienkang the capital of Sung, where the practice of contemplation combined with the teachings of the SL was popular