The Contemplation Sutra as a Philosophical Paradigm of Liberation: A Phenomenological Approach to Religion

The Contemplation Sutra, a key Pure Land Buddhist text, presents a coherent philosophical system for human liberation. Using phenomenological analysis, the paper interprets the sutra's symbolic imagery, meditative practices, and ethical teachings as a structured 'salvific paradigm.' Central motifs like Amitābha's luminous body and the Pure Land's architecture are seen as expressions of intentionality and numinous encounter, not mere ritual. The analysis shows how faith, visualization, and ethics interact to produce transformative experiences, bridging experiential insight and doctrine. This framework positions the sutra as a rigorous philosophical system, contributing to Buddhist studies and philosophy of religion by interpreting devotional practice as a philosophically coherent structure.

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Abstract

The Contemplation Sutra is central to the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, although its philosophical elements have received little scholarly study beyond doctrinal exegesis. This paper addresses the sutra as a systematic "salvific paradigm," using phenomenological tools to explain the fundamental patterns of religious awareness and soteriological orientation. Through rigorous examination of the sutra's symbolic imagery, contemplative activities, and doctrinal formulations, the research uncovers a coherent framework in which faith cultivation, meditative visualization, and ethical discipline interact to produce transforming liberation experiences. Central motifs, including the luminous body of Amitābha, the architecture of the Pure Land, and the sequential practices of visualization, are interpreted as expressions of intentionality and numinous encounter, rather than mere ritual prescriptions. By situating the sutra within the phenomenological discourse of Otto, Eliade, and Husserl, the paper demonstrates how its narrative and symbolic elements constitute a rigorous philosophical system oriented toward human emancipation. The analysis further suggests that the Contemplation Sutra exemplifies a dynamic interaction between experiential insight and doctrinal articulation, providing a model for understanding religious texts as cognitive and affective systems. Ultimately, this study contributes to both Buddhist studies and philosophy of religion by offering a framework that interprets traditional devotional practice as a philosophically coherent structure, bridging the domains of textual scholarship, phenomenology, and ethical reflection.