AMIDA

 EXECERPT FROM THIS BOOK: A HANDBOOK FOR TRAVELLERS IN JAPAN (INCLUDING FORMOSA), BY BASIL CHAMBERLAIN,F.R.G.S. AND W.B. MASON, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND LATE OF THE IMPERIAL  JAPANESE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. WITH THIRTY MAPS AND PLANS AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. NINTH EDITION, REVISED THROUGHOUT. LONDON. JOHN MURRAY, ALLEMARLE STREET. YOKOHAMA, SHANGHAI,- KELLY&WALSH, LIMITED-HONKONG, SINGAPORE.1913

AMIDA

 Sanskrit -Amitabha a powerful deity dwelling in a lovely paradise to the west 

Originally Amida was an abstrac tion the ideal of boundless light.His image may generally be recognised by the hands lying on the lap with the thumbs placed end to end.

Very often too the halo gokō forms a background not only to the head but to the entire body and is then termed funa gokō from its resemblance in shape to a boat. 

The spot on the forehead is emblematical of wisdom. The great image Daibutsu at Kamakura represents this deity Kwannon and Daiseishi are often represented as followers of Amida 

The name Amida is sometimes shortened to Mida 

HERE IS THE EXCERPT OF THE DIRECT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS UNDERSTOOD BY THE NAME OF AMITABA. THE SOURCE IS : "A CATECHISM OF THE SHIN SECT (BUDDHISM),  BY AK REISCHAUER M.A,; From the JAPANESE SHINSHU HYAKUWA By R. NISHIMOTO ;1912 

38. If one believes in Shintai what must one believe?

One must believe in Amida Nyorai as the chief object of worship,

 "Vain is the heart that prays for a life of a hundred years, The boundless life of the gracious Buddha Amida alone is to be prayed for,"- Hōnen.

39 Who is Amida Nyorai ?

Amida Nyorai is the Buddha whose name is Namu Amida Butsu. This is Sanscrit and when translated means "The Glorious One Who has Boundless Life and Truth", or "The Glorious One from Eternity whose Light Radiates Freely in all Directions".