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Namo Amitabha Buddha
南無阿彌陀佛 is how to express “The Compassionate Amitabha Buddha” (especially for the Pure Land Buddhist Sect).
Some will translate as “Homage to Amitâbha Buddha” or “I seek refuge in the Amitâbha Buddha.”
This is valid in Chinese characters, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
Sometimes modern Japanese use a different version of the 4th and last Kanji, but the version shown here is the most universal.
This is used to pay homage to Amitabha Buddha.
See Also: Bodhisattva | Buddhism | Nirvana
Namu Amida Butsu
namu amida butsu
南無阿弥陀仏 is the modern Japanese version of “Namu Amida Butsu” or “The Compassionate Amitabha Buddha.”
Some will translate this as “I sincerely believe in Amitabha; Lord have mercy on me.”
This phrase especially applies to Japanese Pure Land Buddhists.
There is a universal version using ancient characters (with more strokes) for the 4th and last characters. That version is also used in Chinese, Korean, and occasionally Vietnamese.
This is used to pay homage to Amitabha Buddha.
See Also: Bodhisattva | Buddhism | Nirvana
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Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your amida search...
| Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
觀世音 观世音 see styles |
guān shì yīn guan1 shi4 yin1 kuan shih yin Kanzeon かんぜおん |
More info & calligraphy: Guan Shi Yin: Protector Of Life(out-dated kanji) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion Regarder of the world's sounds, or cries, the so-called Goddess of Mercy; also known as 觀音; 觀世音善薩; 觀自在 (觀世自在); 觀尹; 光世音 (the last being the older form). Avalokiteśvara, v. 阿 8. Originally represented as a male, the images are now generally those of a female figure. The meaning of the term is in doubt; it is intp. as above, but the term 觀自在 (觀世自在) accords with the idea of Sovereign Regarder and is not associated with sounds or cries. Guanyin is one of the triad of Amida, is represented on his left, and is also represented as crowned with Amida; but there are as many as thirty-three different forms of Guanyin, sometimes with a bird, a vase, a willow wand, a pearl, a 'thousand' eyes and hands, etc., and, when as bestower of children, carrying a child. The island of Putuo (Potala) is the chief centre of Guanyin worship, where she is the protector of all in distress, especially of those who go to sea. There are many sūtras, etc., devoted to the cult, but its provenance and the date of its introduction to China are still in doubt. Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sūtra is devoted to Guanyin, and is the principal scripture of the cult; its date is uncertain. Guanyin is sometimes confounded with Amitābha and Maitreya. She is said to be the daughter of king Śubhavyūha 妙莊王, who had her killed by 'stifling because the sword of the executioner broke without hurting her. Her spirit went to hell; but hell changed into paradise. Yama sent her back to life to save his hell, when she was miraculously transported on a Lotus flower to the island of Poo-too'. Eitel. |
阿弥陀佛 see styles |
amidabutsu あみだぶつ |
More info & calligraphy: Amitabha Buddha |
阿彌陀佛 阿弥陀佛 see styles |
ē mí tuó fó e1 mi2 tuo2 fo2 o mi t`o fo o mi to fo Amida butsu |
More info & calligraphy: Amitabha BuddhaAmitâbha Buddha |
南無阿弥陀仏 see styles |
namuamidabutsu なむあみだぶつ |
More info & calligraphy: Namu Amida Butsu |
南無阿彌陀佛 南无阿弥陀佛 see styles |
nán wú ā mí tuó fó nan2 wu2 a1 mi2 tuo2 fo2 nan wu a mi t`o fo nan wu a mi to fo namo amida butsu |
More info & calligraphy: Namo Amitabha Buddha |
口称 see styles |
kushou / kusho くしょう |
{Buddh} (See 念仏・1) chanting the invocation to Amida Buddha |
大經 大经 see styles |
dà jīng da4 jing1 ta ching Daikyō |
The great sūtra, i.e. the 2 juan 佛說無量壽經, so-called by the Pure-land sect and by Tiantai, the Amida sūtra being the小本 smaller sūtra; cf. 大本 and大日經 . |
念仏 see styles |
nenbutsu ねんぶつ |
(n,vs,vi) (1) {Buddh} (See 南無阿弥陀仏) nembutsu; nianfo; the three-word invocation "Namu Amida Butsu" dedicated to the Amitabha Buddha; (n,vs,vi) (2) {Buddh} visualizing a Buddha (in one's mind); (place-name, surname) Nenbutsu |
懺法 忏法 see styles |
chàn fǎ chan4 fa3 ch`an fa chan fa senbou / senbo せんぼう |
(1) {Buddh} penitence by chanting sutras; confession (of sins); Tendai ritual of chanting Lotus Sutra or to Kanzeon, Amida, or Kichijoten for forgiveness of sins performed unknowingly; (n,n-suf) (2) {Buddh} penitence sutra; (3) {Buddh} guidebook to penitence The mode of action, or ritual, at the confessional; also the various types of confessional, e.g. that of Guanyin, Amitābha, etc. |
本願 本愿 see styles |
běn yuàn ben3 yuan4 pen yüan hongan ほんがん |
Amida Buddha's original vow; long-cherished desire; (surname) Hongan pūrvapraṇidhāna. The original vow, or vows, of a Buddha or bodhisattva, e. g. the forty-eight of Amitābha, the twelve of 藥師, etc. |
来迎 see styles |
raigou / raigo らいごう |
(n,vs,vi) coming of Amida Buddha to welcome the spirit of the dead; (surname) Raikou |
眞宗 see styles |
zhēn zōng zhen1 zong1 chen tsung shinjū |
The true sect or teaching, a term applied by each sect to its own teaching; the teaching which makes clear the truth of the bhūtatathatā. The True Sect, or Shin Sect of Japan, founded by Shinran in A. D. 1224, known also as the Hongwanji sect; celibacy of priests is not required; Amida is the especial object of trust, and his Pure Land of hope. |
編田 see styles |
amida あみだ |
(surname) Amida |
一向宗 see styles |
yī xiàng zōng yi1 xiang4 zong1 i hsiang tsung ikkoushuu / ikkoshu いっこうしゅう |
(See 浄土真宗) Ikkō sect (of Buddhism); Jōdo Shinshū; True Pure Land School The 眞宗 Shin or Pure-land Shin Sect founded by Shinran, in Japan, whose chief tenet is unwavering reflection on Amida (by repeating his name). |
亜美多 see styles |
amida あみだ |
(female given name) Amida |
王日休 see styles |
wáng rì xiū wang2 ri4 xiu1 wang jih hsiu Ō Nikkyū |
Wang Rixiu, a 進士 doctor who became a devout and learned follower of Amida and Guanyin; he was of 龍舒 Longshu, was also known as 虛中 Xuzhong, and compiled the 大阿彌陀經 1160-2. |
阿弥陀 see styles |
amida あみだ |
(1) (Buddhist term) Amitabha (Buddha); Amida; (2) (kana only) (abbreviation) ghostleg lottery; ladder lottery; lottery in which participants trace a line across a lattice pattern to determine the winner; (3) (kana only) (abbreviation) wearing a hat pushed back on one's head; (place-name) Amida |
阿彌陀 阿弥陀 see styles |
ā mí tuó a1 mi2 tuo2 a mi t`o a mi to Amida あみだ |
(out-dated kanji) (1) (Buddhist term) Amitabha (Buddha); Amida; (2) (kana only) (abbreviation) ghostleg lottery; ladder lottery; lottery in which participants trace a line across a lattice pattern to determine the winner; (3) (kana only) (abbreviation) wearing a hat pushed back on one's head (阿彌) amita, boundless, infinite; tr. by 無量 immeasurable. The Buddha of infinite qualities, known as 阿彌陀婆 (or 阿彌陀佛) Amitābha, tr. 無量光 boundless light; 阿彌陀廋斯Amitāyus, tr. 無量壽 boundless age, or life; and among the esoteric sects Amṛta 甘露 (甘露王) sweet-dew (king). An imaginary being unknown to ancient Buddhism, possibly of Persian or Iranian origin, who has eclipsed the historical Buddha in becoming the most popular divinity in the Mahāyāna pantheon. His name indicates an idealization rather than an historic personality, the idea of eternal light and life. The origin and date of the concept are unknown, but he has always been associated with the west, where in his Paradise, Suikhāvatī, the Western Pure Land, he receives to unbounded happiness all who call upon his name (cf. the Pure Lands 淨土 of Maitreya and Akṣobhya). This is consequent on his forty-eight vows, especially the eighteenth, in which he vows to refuse Buddhahood until he has saved all living beings to his Paradise, except those who had committed the five unpardonable sins, or were guilty of blasphemy against the Faith. While his Paradise is theoretically only a stage on the way to rebirth in the final joys of nirvana, it is popularly considered as the final resting-place of those who cry na-mo a-mi-to-fo, or blessed be, or adoration to, Amita Buddha. The 淨土 Pure-land (Jap. Jōdo) sect is especially devoted to this cult, which arises chiefly out of the Sukhāvatīvyūha, but Amita is referred to in many other texts and recognized, with differing interpretations and emphasis, by the other sects. Eitel attributes the first preaching of the dogma to 'a priest from Tokhara' in A. D.147, and says that Faxian and Xuanzang make no mention of the cult. But the Chinese pilgrim 慧日Huiri says he found it prevalent in India 702-719. The first translation of the Amitāyus Sutra, circa A.D. 223-253, had disappeared when the Kaiyuan catalogue was compiled A.D. 730. The eighteenth vow occurs in the tr. by Dharmarakṣa A.D. 308. With Amita is closely associated Avalokiteśvara, who is also considered as his incarnation, and appears crowned with, or bearing the image of Amita. In the trinity of Amita, Avalokiteśvara appears on his left and Mahāsthāmaprāpta on his right. Another group, of five, includes Kṣitigarbha and Nāgārjuna, the latter counted as the second patriarch of the Pure Land sect. One who calls on the name of Amitābha is styled 阿彌陀聖 a saint of Amitābha. Amitābha is one of the Five 'dhyāni buddhas' 五佛, q.v. He has many titles, amongst which are the following twelve relating to him as Buddha of light, also his title of eternal life: 無量光佛Buddha of boundless light; 無邊光佛 Buddha of unlimited light; 無礙光佛 Buddha of irresistible light; 無對光佛 Buddha of incomparable light; 燄王光佛 Buddha of yama or flame-king light; 淸淨光佛 Buddha of pure light; 歡喜光佛 Buddha of joyous light; 智慧光佛 Buddha of wisdom light; 不斷光佛 Buddha of unending light; 難思光佛 Buddha of inconceivable light; 無稱光佛Buddha of indescribable light; 超日月光佛 Buddha of light surpassing that of sun and moon; 無量壽 Buddha of boundless age. As buddha he has, of course, all the attributes of a buddha, including the trikāya, or 法報化身, about which in re Amita there are differences of opinion in the various schools. His esoteric germ-letter is hrīḥ, and he has specific manual-signs. Cf. 阿彌陀經, of which with commentaries there are numerous editions. |
別時念仏 see styles |
betsujinenbutsu べつじねんぶつ |
{Buddh} recitation of Amida Buddha's name on a specified day and time period (practice of Pure Land Buddhists) |
口称念仏 see styles |
kushounenbutsu / kushonenbutsu くしょうねんぶつ |
{Buddh} (See 観念念仏) chanting an invocation (to Amida Buddha); reciting a prayer |
念仏三昧 see styles |
nenbutsuzanmai ねんぶつざんまい |
(yoji) {Buddh} being deep in prayer; praying devoutly to Amida Buddha |
悪人正機 see styles |
akuninshouki / akuninshoki あくにんしょうき |
(expression) (yoji) The evil persons are the right object of Amida's salvation; The evil persons have the unique opportunity to go to heaven |
観念念仏 see styles |
kannennenbutsu かんねんねんぶつ |
{Buddh} (See 口称念仏) contemplation (on Amida Buddha, the Pure Land, etc.) |
阿彌陀經 阿弥陀经 see styles |
ā mí tuó jīng a1 mi2 tuo2 jing1 a mi t`o ching a mi to ching Amida kyō |
Amitâbha-sūtra |
阿彌陀講 阿弥陀讲 see styles |
ā mí tuó jiǎng a1 mi2 tuo2 jiang3 a mi t`o chiang a mi to chiang Amida kō |
ritual for praise of the merits of Amitâbha |
願阿弥田 see styles |
ganamida がんあみだ |
(place-name) Gan'amida |
大阿彌陀經 大阿弥陀经 see styles |
dà ā mí tuó jīng da4 a1 mi2 tuo2 jing1 ta a mi t`o ching ta a mi to ching Dai amida kyō |
Sūtra of Immeasurable Life |
阿弥陀如来 see styles |
amidanyorai あみだにょらい |
{Buddh} Amitabha Tathagata; Amithaba; (person) Amida Nyorai; Amitabha Buddha |
阿彌陀三尊 阿弥陀三尊 see styles |
ā mí tuó sān zūn a1 mi2 tuo2 san1 zun1 a mi t`o san tsun a mi to san tsun Amida no sanzon |
Amitâbha triad |
阿彌陀佛名 阿弥陀佛名 see styles |
ā mí tuó fó míng a1 mi2 tuo2 fo2 ming2 a mi t`o fo ming a mi to fo ming Amida butsu myō |
name of Amitâbha |
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The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
| Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
| Namo Amitabha Buddha | 南無阿彌陀佛 南无阿弥陀佛 | na mu a mi da butsu namuamidabutsu | nā mó ē mí tuó fó na1 mo2 e1 mi2 tuo2 fo2 na mo e mi tuo fo namoemituofo | na mo o mi t`o fo namoomitofo na mo o mi to fo |
| Namu Amida Butsu | 南無阿弥陀仏 | namu amida butsu namuamidabutsu | ||
| In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. | ||||
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