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Amidism spread from India to China in the 4th century and from there to Japan by the 9th century. Like many Buddhist sects, it is a devotional cult that gained immense popularity. Amida Buddha presided over the Western Paradise, or Pure Land, and his benevolence is detailed in several important sutras. Devotion to Amida (Amitabha) began in Japan within the mikkyō sects, and in the 10th century Amida worship began to gain momentum as a distinct form of Japanese Buddhist belief. Amida’s compassion in welcoming the dying and securing a place for them in his paradise was a dimension of ...(100 of 29399 words)