Pure Land Sutras

Sutras are the written records of the Buddha’s teachings. There are many Mahāyāna texts which feature Amitābha Buddha and His Pure Land. It’s said 290 such works have been identified in the Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist Canon).

The teachings of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism are primarily based on the five sutras (particularly the three primary Pure Land sutras) plus one treatise:

Three Primary Pure Land Sutras

The Buddha Speaks of Amitābha Sutra (Amitābha Sutra, the Shorter Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra) 佛说阿弥陀经
The Buddha Speaks of the Infinite Life Sutra (Infinite Life Sutra, the Longer Sukhavatiyuha Sutra, or The Buddha Speaks of the Mahayana Infinite Life Adornment Purity Impartiality and Enlightenment Sutra) 佛说大乘无量寿庄严清净平等觉经
The Sutra of Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life (Visualization Sutra/Contemplation Sutra/Meditation Sutra, Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra) 佛说观无量寿经

Two sutras were added later:

One treatise (commentary):

The Rebirth Treatise: Bodhisattva Vasubandhu’s Commentary on the Infinite Life Sutra 往生论

We have also extracted the important Chapters from the Pure Land Sutras for people to study more easily:

You can also access the Pure Land Sutras and Treatise in audiobook (please note the translation is slightly different from the version we use, particularly the Infinite Life Sutra):

Fivefold Pureland Sutra and One Shastra: All 6 Scriptures (in English)
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Many other Dharma teachers and authors have come down to us with the message of the Western Pure Land. Among these is the Indian Master Nāgārjuna, who is understood to be an early proponent of Pure Land practice. Although Nāgārjuna’s writings are not considered to be part of the primary Pure Land literature, these are nevertheless of vital importance in helping us understanding the early history of the development of Pure Land Buddhism. His devotion to the Pure Land Dharma can be found in the following works: