This paper explores the original forms of the two earliest versions of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha sūtra, the Da Amituo jing 大阿彌陀經 （T. 362） and the Wuliang qingjing pingdengjue jing 無量清淨平等覺經 （T. 361）. The issues have been approached from the following perspectives:
First, I clarify the concept of the Early Recension of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha sūtra based on a suggestion by Fujita Kotatsu.
Second, I determine the original form of the second-earliest version of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha sūtra, the Wuliang qingjing pingdengjue jing, and indicate that the original form of this version should be paralleled with the extant Sanskrit version, whose earliest manuscript was recognized as written in the middle of the twelfth century.
Third, I discuss the most significant characteristics of the Da Amituo jing, bodhisattva thought and rebirth. Moreover, I discuss the 129 characters found in the Dharmākara narrative associated with their counterparts in two verses, called in Japanese Tanbutsu-ge and Tōhō-ge, in the extant Sanskrit version. Furthermore, I discuss the six vows in the Da Amituo jing from the perspective of bodhisattva thought along with the concept of rebirth purposely highlighted in these vows.
Finally, I determine the formation of the 24th vow and its fulfillment regarding birth by praising the light of Amitābha and the texts regarding visualizing the Buddha by chanting his name as found in the latter of the Da Amituo jing.
In conclusion, I indicate that the original forms of the Da Amituo jing and the Wuliang qingjing pingdengjue jing were quite probably similar, and separately, quite parallel with the extant Sanskrit version.
