Is Amitabha a Sambhogakaya?

Abstract

Some scholars following the ancient Chinese masters believe that Amitābha is a sa bhogakāya. However, after an analysis, Amitābha should be considered as a nirmāakāya, not as a sabhogakāya, on three grounds. First, as Śākyamuni did, Amitābha also made vows to liberate beings in his land, and he created a land and attained Buddhahood there. Śākyamuni is considered a nirmāakāya, so is Amitābha. Second, only the nirmāakāya, not the sabhogakāya, makes a display of parinirvā a, but Amitābha attains parinirvāa. Third, the sabhogakāya brings only bodhisattvas to maturity, but the nirmāakāya brings to maturity the śrāvakas as well as bodhisattvas in their initial stage.