I. THE CANONICAL BOOKS.

THE Buddha Shakyamuni left no writings of his own, and all we have of his teachings come from what his disciples retained in their memory and committed to writing after his death. These writings are called "sutras" or canonical books, of which a large number is still in existence. Among them, there are three sutras giving a full account of Amitayus Buddha who brought his effective name into perfection in order to save all sentient beings from sinking into the abyss of sin. The following are the three:

1. The Amitayus-sutra or Sukhavativyuha-sutra. Two volumes. In this the venerable Shakyamuni talks to Ananda and Maitreya on the Mount

[paragraph continues] Grdhrakuta concerning the spiritual history of Amida. It was translated into Chinese in 252 A.D., by Samghavarman.

2. The Amitayur Dhyana-sutra. One volume. This records what Shakyamuni preached for Ananda and Vaidehi at the Royal Palace in Rajagrha concerning the possibility of all sentient beings to be born in the Pure Land of Amitayus Buddha after the deliverance from this world of suffering. It was translated into Chinese in 424 A.D., by Kalayashas.

3. The Amitayus sutra, or Sukhavativyuha-sutra. One volume. In this is recorded what Shakyamuni preached for Shariputra at the garden of Anathapindika, Shravasti, concerning the magnificence of the land of happiness and the virtues of Amitayus Buddha. It was translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva in 402 A.D.

Of these three sutras, what is most

important is the Amitayus sutra in two volumes; for it is in this sutra that the true signification of Amida to save all sentient beings is explained with thoroughness, and the teaching of the True Sect of Pure Land is no more than the doctrine enunciated in this sutra. As to the signification of the other two sutras, we assume a double interpretation, apparent and inward. The apparent signification of these sutras, then, is that they supply us with a provisionary means whereby we are finally led to the ultimate reason of salvation by faith in Amida, while inwardly they unfold the real purport of salvation by faith in Amida, which is also the teaching of the Amitayus sutra in two volumes. Thus, all these canonical books constitute the sacred lore of the True Sect, whose essential doctrine is to show the way of salvation through the grace of Amida.

There were a great many Indian,