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Origins of Hospice

Meaning of Amitabha

Amitabha is the chief Buddha of the Lotus (Sanskrit -Padma) family. He is also called the Buddha of Immeasurable Light and the Buddha of the Western Paradise or the Pure Land of Sukhavati (Tibetan - Dewachen). Practitioners of the Pure Land Schools of Buddhism (found in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan) believe that reciting the holy name of Amida (Amitabha) Buddha with devotion will direct their consciousness into his pure land after death.

Amitabha Buddha emanates ruby red light. Red symbolises love and compassion. Like the setting sun, his radiant form warms and pacifies the hearts of all who gaze at him. As head of the Lotus family, he represents gentleness and openness. This reflects his boundless compassion and receptivity enabling one to feel accepted and protected. His posture is one of composure and stillness. There is a serene smile of blissful wisdom on his face. Amitabha sits in the aspect of meditating, encouraging the viewer to follow the essential teaching of the Buddha, "to subdue one’s mind".

When the idea of this community service was blessed with the name Amitabha Hospice by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in October 1994, it manifested into a group of dedicated people who formed a registered Charitable Trust in 1995.

Recent Photo of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.