Explain TWO Buddhist beliefs about the Pure Land.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching in your answer. [6 Marks]

• One Buddhist belief about the Pure Land is that it is easier to get enlightened there.

• It says in the Amitabha Sutra that ‘those living beings born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss [the Pure Land] are all non-regressive Bodhisattvas’.

• This means they do not need to fear a bad rebirth; they will keep making progress towards enlightenment.

• Another belief about the Pure Land is that anyone can go there.

• In the Amitabha Sutra we read that everyone who says ‘I vow to be born in Amitabha Buddha's Land’ will be reborn there.

• This gives hope to people who struggle with practising Buddhism in this life: they can always be reborn in the Pure Land and continue to practise there.

References

• The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra. n.d. Pure Land Buddhism <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64295c1d7db93a6d38d8ef8f/t/699d9ef7fc23f6513c523892/1771937527270/The+Buddha+Speaks+of+the+Amitabha+Sutra+%28updated%29.pdf> accessed 01 October 2026