Pure Land Buddhist Practice

Pure Land Buddhist Practice: A Brief Guide for Beginners and Inquirers

Charles. B. Jones

ISBN 978-1-998248-26-1 / 108 pages, 6.14 x 9.21 / Available December 8, 2026 (Bodhi Day)

Over the past decade, Buddhist practitioners in western countries have become increasingly appreciative of Pure Land, the form of Buddhism most prevalent in East Asia. As they move beyond past stereotypes of Pure Land as a form of simple devotionalism or a salvationist sect and come to understand that its range of teachings and practices, from very simple to highly complex, can meet people wherever they are on their journey, more and more people are adopting it as their path.  This creates a need for teaching about Pure Land’s theoretical underpinnings and practical instruction in its methods of self-cultivation.

Dr. Charles B. Jones has long been noted as a leading western scholar whose work has revolutionized the academic understanding of the Pure Land teachings, and his 2021 book Pure Land: History, Tradition, and Practice provided the general reading public with a concise history of its spread and development across Asia. In this new book, Dr. Jones moves beyond the academic study of Pure Land to write as an active practitioner of this Dharma-gate. Drawing upon both his research in traditional and modern Chinese texts and his training in retreats in China and Taiwan, he presents a way to enter into the Pure Land path by defining the hallmarks of this tradition, describing various modes of Pure Land practice, giving practical tips on overcoming obstacles, answering objections, and laying out his own aspirations and plans for achieving rebirth in Amitabha’s buddha-land.

At the outset, Dr. Jones situates Pure Land squarely within the stream of Mahayana Buddhism. It rests squarely upon preexisting Buddhist understandings, and he notes that the final goal is to attain buddhahood in order not only to liberate the self but to gain the wisdom and skill needed to help others escape suffering and gain freedom. Rebirth in the Pure Land represents the most direct path to that goal for most practitioners, and Pure Land practice can blend seamlessly with other Buddhist methods of advancement.

At the heart of this book is the practice of nianfo, a term that encompasses at least three different modes of cultivation and is thus difficult to translate. In three separate chapters, Dr. Jones provides instruction and tips for nianfo as a form of mindfulness meditation, visualization, and simple invocation. Each chapter draws upon his own personal experiences as he shares what has worked for him as well as teaching tips from Chinese and Japanese masters past and present. The reader will learn how to think about these practices from a theoretical perspective, but also how to implement them by learning how to set up a proper space, how to select and use a rosary, how to deal with distractions, how to vary the practice to suit different situations, how to know when not to practice, and many other matters that arise when one embarks on a new path.

By the end of the book, inquirers will be able to decide if the Pure Land path is the right one for them, and beginners should have enough guidance to make a good start toward the nearer goal of attaining rebirth in Amitabha’s Land of Utmost Bliss and the final goal of enlightenment and buddhahood.

CONTENTS

• Preface
• Introduction

1. Preliminaries

• The Three Refuges
• The Four Expansive Vows
• Next Steps

2. The Pure Land Dharma-gate

• What is Pure Land?
• Pure Land is founded on the story of the Buddha Amitabha and the vows he undertook at the start of his journey to enlightenment.
• The Pure Land of Amitabha is uniquely suited to the needs of human beings in the present age because it is accessible to everyone without regard to their level of practice and attainment.
• Rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha represents the most realistic and efficient path to buddhahood.
• One attains rebirth primarily through the practice of nianfo.
• Is this the path for you?

3. Balancing Self-Power and Other-Power

• Stairs, Escalators, and Elevators
• The Case for the Escalator Model
• The Case for the Elevator Model
• Finding Your Way

4. Engagement or Escapism?

5. Pure Land Practice: Visualization and Vision

• Laying the Groundwork
• The Practice of Visualization
• Spontaneous Manifestations
• The Status of the Mental Image

6. Pure Land Practice: Invoking the Name

7. Pure Land Practice: Holding the Name as Meditation

• Advance Preparation
• A Sample Ritual Setting
• Nianfo as a Practice of Mindfulness
• A Word on Group Practice
• Nianfo as Insight
• Final Thoughts on Nianfo Practice

8. Pure Land and Other Buddhist Practices

• Morality
• Generosity
• Effort
• Forbearance / patience
• Meditation and Wisdom
• Conclusion

9. Objections and Pitfalls

• Is Pure Land even Buddhist?
• Pure Land is an expedient method meant for those of lesser capacity.
• Is Pure Land just a form of devotionalism?
• To contemplate the Buddha Amitabha is just to contemplate our inherent Buddha-nature.
• Is Pure Land hostile to women?
• Pitfalls in Pure Land Practice

10. At the Hour of Death

• Past Practices and Problems
• My Own Plan of Action

• Afterword
• List of Works Cited
• About the Author

ACCOLADES

Like a wise and compassionate tour guide, this book takes readers on an inviting journey into the heart of Pure Land Buddhism, illuminating the path's unique qualities with remarkable clarity. Welcoming seekers of all backgrounds and abilities, the author brings the Pure Land teachings vividly to life through accessible metaphors—such as the stairs, escalator, and elevator—that beautifully illustrate the different approaches within this rich tradition. Rarely do we encounter such clear, detailed, and practical guidance on the Pure Land practices of visualization, holding the Name, and invoking the Name, especially in a work written for contemporary English-speaking readers. What makes this book particularly compelling is the author sharing insights born of his own practice. Both an illuminating introduction and a heartfelt invitation, this book opens the door to a Dharma-gate that is at once accessible and reassuring. I believe many readers will come away not only with a deeper appreciation of the Pure Land way but also with the inspiration to explore it as their own spiritual path.

Kennth K. Tanaka, Professor Emeritus, Musashino University, Tokyo & Chair, Editorial Committee, English Tripiṭaka Translation Project of the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism (BDK)

Charles B. Jones is among the foremost experts on Chinese Pure Land Buddhism in Buddhist Studies. This is particularly valuable given the dominance of Japanese Pure Land literature among Anglophone resources. He's also made continuous efforts to introduce Pure Land as a distinct and clearly Buddhist tradition to beginners. This publication represents another step in his estimable work, with attention given to the core practices and beliefs of the school, and includes a section addressing common misconceptions that have been deployed as critiques of Pure Land.

Raymond Lam, Senior Writer, Buddhistdoor Global 

Jones’ Pure Land Buddhist Practice expands our understanding and appreciation of the Pure Land tradition, first, as a rich resource of meditation, visualization and recitation practices. And, second, the work highlights the too often overlooked Chinese form of the tradition. The personal depth of Jones’ involvement and the intellectual depth of his scholarship means this new work adds to the expanding genre of writings by scholar-practitioners—informed by a desire to share both the tradition’s relevance to today’s world and the centuries of Pure Land Buddhist thought that solidly grounds pesent practice.

Richard K. Payne, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley; author of Tantra Across the Buddhist Cosmopolis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charles B. Jones is a retired professor of religious studies whose work centers on Buddhism in Taiwan, Pure Land Buddhism, and the Jesuit missions to Ming dynasty China. His previous books include Chinese Pure Land Buddhism: Understanding a Tradition of Practice ( University of Hawaii Press 2019) and Pure Land: History, Tradition, and Practice (Shambhala 2021).