Sukhavati
Sukhavati (Sanskrit: "Sukhāvatī", "Blissful Abode") is a pure land in Mahayana Buddhism, associated with the Buddha Amitābha. It is commonly called the Western Pure Land or the Western Paradise, and is the most well-known of Buddhist pure lands, due to the popularity of Pure Land Buddhism in East Asia. Etymology and names. The word is the feminine form of "sukhāvat" ("full of joy; blissful"), from "sukha" ("delight, joy") and "-vat" ("full of"). Sukhavati is known by different names in other languages. East Asian names are based on Chinese translations, and longer names may consist of the words "Western , Blissful" and "Pure Land" in various combinations. Some names and combinations are more popular in certain countries. Due to its importance, Sukhavati is often simply called "The Pure Land" without distinguishing it from other pure lands. <nowiki>*</nowiki> Only common in Chinese. Nine levels of birth. In the final part of the "Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra", Gautama Buddha discusses the nine levels into which those born into the pure land are categorized. Buddhist funerals. In Tibetan Buddhism, the world of Sukhavati is invoked during Buddhist funerals as a favorable destination for the deceased. Such rituals are often accompanied with the tantric  technique of "phowa" ("transference of consciousness") to the pure land of Amitābha, performed by a lama on the behalf of the departed. Halkias (2013:148) explains that "Sukhavati features in funeral rites and scriptures dedicated to the ritual care of the dead ("'das-mchod"). The structure and performance of Tibetan death ceremonies varies according to a set sequence of events...For the duration of these rites, the consciousness of the dead is coaxed into increasing levels of clarity until the time for the ritual transference to Sukhavati." Namesakes. A number of temples are named after Sukhāvatī: