SOTERIOLOGY AND PANTHEON OF THE MAHAYANA 113simply a show; any comprehensible expression of the Dharma inherently in-
adequate; and the great human disciples as-yet-unawakened. Faith is no longer
directed to a teaching that can be tested in practice. Rather, it is directed to
the hope that one will have the opportunity to see the Tathagata and hear his
teaching in a transfigured realm. As with the cult of Maitreya, valid efforts at
practice in this lifetime are thus limited to acts of faith, making vows, and af-
firmations of commitment in the hope of hearing the Dharma at the end of
the aeon. Many later Mahayana teachers found that they had to counteract
this implication of the Lotus Sutra-and cults of other Cosmic Buddhas as
well-as when the Japanese Zen master Hakuin (see Section 10.7) said, "This
very place is the Lotus Land, and this very body is the Buddha," in order to
spur his students on to the higher practice in this lifetime.
5.5.3 Ak~obhya
Ak~obhya was the earliest of the nonhistorical Cosmic Buddhas. In the Vi-
malakirti-nirde§a Sakyamuni says to the assembly, "There is a land named Abhi-
rati and a Buddha named Ak~obhya. This Vimalakirti died in that land and
came to birth here." To satisfY the assembly's longing to see the land, Vi-
malakirti enters samadhi, grasps Abhirati, and sets it down in this world to be
seen. Mterward it returns to its proper place in the East. In the Small Peifection
of Wisdom, Sakyamuni exerts his wonder-working power and enables his as-
sembly to see Ak~obhya and his retinue. Neither Sutra advocates devotion to
Ak~obhya. Apparently, however, rebirth in Abhirati was sought by some peo-
ple (Strong EB, sec. 5.4.3). It could be attained through moral acts or even
through hearing Ak~obhya's name. This Buddha became moderately popular
in Tantrism. In art he is represented as blue, with a vajra (diamond) in his right
hand, his left hand in bhumi-sparsa-mudrii (the earth-witness gesture), and a
blue elephant for his mount. The name Ak~obhya means "immovable" or
"imperturbable." Legend holds that while he was still a bodhisattva he made a
vow to practice deeds without anger. The bodhisattva who does similarly will
go to birth in Abhirati. Paradoxically, Ak~obhya's expressions in the systems of
Unexcelled Yoga Tantras (see Section 6.3.3) are all wrathful forms of Siva, ex-
pressing the Tantric concept that awakened forms of wrath are ultimately based
on nonanger.5.5.4 Amitabha (Am ita)
Amitabha (Unlimited Light) and Amitayus (Unlimited Life Span) are alternate
names for the same Buddha. Chinese A-mi-t'o and Japanese Amida are ren-
dered from the short form, Amita. The cult of this Buddha dates back at least
to 100 C.E.
Although the origin legends of the cosmic bodhisattvas are vague and sub-
ject to conflicting versions, the Amitabha legend is specific, furnished with
history-like detail, and unified. Successive translations of the Sukhiivati-vyuha
Sutra, and a related surviving late Sanskrit text, reveal-in spite of significant
variations-a consistent pattern of development. The later the version, the