Christianity and Pure Land Buddhism

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Christianity and Pure Land Buddhism

• Pat Canella
• FS 201 Death East/West

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Quick Overview of Christianity

• 3 Parts, one God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
• Sin came from Adam and Eve in the garden
• Christ died for our sins, so we could be saved
• Salvation comes to most faithful
• This life is meant to be hard
• Notions of Heaven, hell and Purgatory (more on
  that)
• Final judgment

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Quick Overview of Pure Land Buddhism

• Origins in India
• Faithful-driven Buddhism sect
• Focused on Amitabha
• Adopted by different schools
• Form of Mahayana Buddhism
• Common Man variant
• Basic Buddhist beliefs remain intact

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After DeathChristianity

• 3 Destinations
• Heaven
• Purgatory
• Hell

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Here is a Table to Help
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After DeathPure Land Buddhism

• 3 Choices
• Pure Land
• Enlightenment
• Pure Land
• Bodhisattva
• Parinirvana

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Here is a Table to Help
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Similarities and Differences
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Final Thoughts
Christianity and Pure Land Buddhism have
different variations among them, but their basic
principles are quite similar. Also, both are
quite vague in their afterlife descriptions.
After going to Heaven, not much is said. Also,
when one achieves Nirvana and dies, nobody knows
what happens the Buddha never worried or spoke
about this. I was unable to find if Pure Land
includes the result of rebirth. There was no
definitive ending for those who have lived
less-than-pure lives. I assume it does, but I
was not sure.