Zodiac Guardian for DOG and PIG: Amitabha Buddha 阿弥陀佛

 

Friends born in the year of DOG and PIG, your zodiac Guardian -- Amitabha Buddha 阿弥陀佛 -- is the CEO.

If Vairocana Buddha 大日如来佛 (zodiac Guardian for those born in the year of Goat and Monkey) is the ultimate form, like the Chairman or the big boss, then Amitabha 阿弥陀佛 is the CEO. He is the master of "Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss 西方极乐世界".

 

"Wait. There's more than ONE Buddha?" When we started talking about the zodiac Guardians, this was one of the FAQs.

Yes. There is more than one Buddha. Long story.

That's why, hopefully, through the connection with serial dramas, more well-known tales and classics, and linking them to a corporate hierarchy (Chairman, CEO...), we can recognize them better.

TVB 1996's version of "Journey to the West"《齐天大圣》

Amitabha 阿弥陀佛 was the big boss who set the whole "Journey to the West"《西游记》in motion. He is also the boss of the many Bodhisattvas we talked about, Guan Yin 观音, Manjusri 文殊菩萨, Samantabhadra 普贤菩萨, Mahasthamaprapta 大势至菩萨...

Is he the same one who subdued the Monkey King 孙悟空 and banished him under the Five Finger Mountain 五指山?

Yes. Same Buddha.

 

When we say: 逃不出我的五指山 (can't escape from my control/palm/five-finger-mountain), we are referring to this specific episode.

 

Amitabha 阿弥陀佛 is the leader, and he vows to elevate people to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a realm of "Immeasurable Light and Life 无量寿、无量光".

 

For the Lotus version, you will see that the background is full of "The Wheel of the Law (dharmachakra) 法轮". It represents many things, of which: the path and direction to a blissful life.

 

May those who receive blessings from Amitabha 阿弥陀佛 be blessed immeasurably, and never let a worthy opportunity slip from your hand.

-- Kan, Executive Director