Verses of Joy is a collection of Pure Land Buddhist poetry themed around the deliverance of Amitabha and rebirth in his Pure Land, the cosmic Buddha-field of Sukhavati. According to the Infinite Life Sutra, the first scripture in the Pure Land canon, Amitabha’s 18th vow guarantees all beings that invoke his Name sincerely rebirth in his Pure Land after death.
This universal message from the Lord of Infinite Light provides the inspiration for those who have published poems with us, most of whom have penned their verses not out of literary eloquence per se, but from an inner welling of devotion and happiness at encountering the liberating other-power of Amitabha Buddha.
Posts
- A Good Friend Is Always Nearby in Spirit (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha
- It’s Good to be Mediocre (Master Jingzong)
- The Deep Void (Master Jingzong)
- I Wish to Die With a Bit of Humor (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Attributes of the Pure Land School: Worldly Truths (2)
- Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Attributes of the Pure Land School: Worldly Truths
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Teaching on the Infinite Life Sutra
- No Situation Can Defeat Amitabha-Reciters
- The Three Time Frames of Karma (Part 1)
- A Cook and a Dharma Master (Master Jingzong)
- Love Versus Principle
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Taking Refuge to Amitabha
- A Mind With Space in It is a Lively Mind
- Where There Is Love (Master Jingzong)
- Truth is Selfless (Master Jingzong)
- Amitabha Buddha’s Twelve Kinds of Light: A Brief Explication (General Exposition)
- Be a Bystander (Master Jingzong)
- The Syllables Flow Out Gently (John C. Del Bagno)
- Breathing In, Breathing Out (Master Jingzong)
- Vanity and Substance (Master Jingzong)
- A Message from Master Shandao
- Liberating Animals Destined for the Dining Table (Master Jingzong)
- Burn the Bridge After Crossing It (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about the Primary Sutras (General) (Master Huijing)
- Facing the Loss of a Loved One (Master Jingzong)
- Gatha of Praise for Amitabha Buddha
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Benefits in Amitabha-recitation (Master Huijing)
- Leap Out of the River of Time (Master Jingzong)
- How to Recognise the Buddha (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Exclusive Amitabha-recitation (Master Huijing)
- The Value Systems of Humans, Heaven and Buddha (Master Jingzong)
- Boarding the Plane at Ground Level (Master Jingzong)
- The Only Torch (Master Jingzong)
- The Light that Is Too Close (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Practice in Amitabha-recitation (Master Huijing)
- Slow Down and Feel Good (Master Jingzong)
- The Cost of Unhappiness (Master Jingzong)
- Compromise is Essential (Master Jingzong)
- Being Honest (Master Jingzong)
- Science and Religion (Master Jingzong)
- Conscience and the Buddha-Mind (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Attributes of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism: Ultimate Truths (Master Huijing)
- Far and Near (Master Jingzong)
- Unnecessary Worry (Master Jingzong)
- Being Used by Others (Master Jingzong)
- Hearing and Seeing (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about the Purpose of Life (Master Huijing)
- Good to See Our Own Misdeeds (Master Jingzong)
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Benefits in Amitabha-recitation (Master Huijing)
- Who’s Qualified to Teach the Children? (Master Jingzong)
- A Message from Amitabha Buddha to All Sentient Beings (Master Huijing)
- Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about the Purpose of Life (Master Huijing)
- Is Pure Land Buddhism a “Mystic” Tradition? (Raymond Lam)
- No Matter What (Master Huijing)
- Amitabha All Around Me (Massimo Claus)