"Dharmakara knew that most human beings were incapable of completing the necessary religious practice, meditations, and virtues to attain Buddhahood through their own effort. He therefore conceived of a plan to build his own ideal Buddha-land- a blissful paradise in life and death that would be open to all sentient beings...So determined was he to build this perfect Buddha-land that he sat in meditation for five aeons...At the end of five aeons, he had completely visualized his Buddha-land in every detail. He named it "The Pure Land."
He declared - that he would not accept Enlightenment for himself until he was assured that his Name would be heard forever by all beings in all corners of the universe. He further declared - that he would not become a Buddha himself until he was assured that all his effort, aspirations, virtues, wisdom and compassion would be instantly transferred to all sentient beings as soon as they heard and voiced his Name, "Namo Amida Butsu" with a sincere heart.
Dharmakara then devoted himself for innumerable aeons to bring his Pure Land into being. His land was wide, expansive, and incomprehensively unique."(text taken from the Toronto Shin Buddhist Dojo website.)
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