Editing Amrita (section)

== Buddhism ==
Amṛta (Pali: amata; Tibetan: ’chi med/bdud rtsi; Chinese: 甘露, ganlu) symbolizes immortality, liberation, and spiritual purity. The term describes the "nectar" or "ambrosia" of the [[Trāyastriṃśa]] heaven, a divine substance consumed by gods ([[Deva (Buddhism)|devas]]) to confer immortality. This association extends to Buddhist teachings, which are often referred to as the "sweet rain of Dharma" (dharmavarṣam amṛtam).<ref name=":0">Buswell, Robert E; Lopez, Donald S. The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, p. 37. Princeton University Press, Nov 24, 2013.</ref>

In doctrinal contexts, amṛta often refers to the ultimate goal of spiritual practice: liberation (vimokṣa). [[Nirvana (Buddhism)|Nirvāṇa]] is described as "deathless," likened to an elixir that brings serenity and clarity to the enlightened person. Practitioners are said to metaphorically and physically "touch the deathless element" during profound spiritual experiences.<ref name=":0" />

Amṛta is also associated with healing substances, including the five divine nectars (pañcāmṛta): milk, ghee, butter, honey, and sugar. In Tibetan Buddhism, these are incorporated into tantric rituals, where they are transformed into offerings in a skull cup ([[Kapala|kapāla]]). Pills made from amṛta (bdud rtsi ril bu) are sometimes distributed by religious figures for spiritual and physical benefits.<ref name=":0" />

=== Theravada Buddhism ===
According to [[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]], "the deathless" refers to the deathless dimension of the mind which is dwelled in permanently after [[nibbana]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All About Change |url=https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/change.html |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=www.accesstoinsight.org}}</ref>

In the Amata Sutta, [[the Buddha]] advises monks to stay with the four [[Satipatthana]]: "Monks, remain with your minds well-established in these four establishings of mindfulness. Don't let the deathless be lost to you."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amata Sutta: Deathless |url=https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn47/sn47.041.than.html |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=www.accesstoinsight.org}}</ref>

In the [[Milinda Panha|questions for Nagasena]], King Milinda asks for evidence that the Buddha once lived, wherein Nagasena describes evidence of the Dhamma in a simile:

{{blockquote|"Revered Nagasena, what is the nectar shop of the Buddha, the Blessed One?"

"Nectar, sire, has been pointed out by the Blessed One. With this nectar the Blessed One sprinkles the world with the [[Deva (Buddhism)|deva]]s; when the devas and the humans have been sprinkled with this nectar, they are set free from birth, aging, disease, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair. What is this nectar? It is [[Kayagatasati Sutta|mindfulness occupied with the body]]. And this too, sire, was said by the Blessed One: 'Monks, they partake of nectar (the deathless) who partake of mindfulness that is occupied with the body.' This, sire, is called the Blessed One's nectar shop."

— Miln 335<ref>"The Blessed One's City of Dhamma: From the Milindapañha", based on the translation by I.B. Horner. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition), 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/horner/bl130.html</ref>}}

=== Chinese Buddhism ===
Chinese Buddhism describes Amrita ({{lang-zh|t=甘露|p=gānlù}}) as blessed water, food, or other consumable objects often produced through merits of chanting mantras.

=== Vajrayana Buddhism ===
{{See also|Pre-sectarian Buddhism#Ideas and practices}}
Amrita ({{bo|t=བདུད་རྩི་|w=bdud rtsi|s=dütsi}}) also plays a significant role in [[Vajrayana|Vajrayana Buddhism]] as a sacramental drink which is consumed at the beginning of all important rituals such as the [[abhisheka]], [[ganachakra]], and [[Homa (ritual)|homa]]. In the Tibetan tradition, ''dütsi'' is made during {{Transliteration|xct|[[drubchen]]s}} – lengthy ceremonies involving many high [[lama]]s. It usually takes the form of small, dark-brown grains that are taken with water, or dissolved in very weak solutions of alcohol and is said to improve physical and spiritual well-being.<ref name="dutsi">[https://archive.org/details/dutsi Dutsi], A Brief Description of the Benefits of the Sacred Ambrosial Medicine, The Unsurpassable, Supreme Samaya Substance that Liberates Through Taste.</ref>

The foundational text of [[traditional Tibetan medicine]], the Four Tantras, is also known by the name ''The Heart of Amrita'' ({{bo|w=snying po bsdus pa}}).

''The Immaculate Crystal Garland'' ({{bo|w=dri med zhal phreng}}) describes the origin of amrita in a version of the [[samudra manthan]]a legend retold in Buddhist terms. In this Vajrayana version, the monster [[Rahu]] steals the amrita and is blasted by [[Vajrapani]]'s thunderbolt. As Rahu has already drunk the amrita he cannot die, but his blood, dripping onto the surface of this earth, causes all kinds of medicinal plants to grow. At the behest of all the Buddhas, Vajrapani reassembles Rahu who eventually becomes a protector of Buddhism according to the [[Nyingma]] school of [[Tibetan Buddhism]].

''Inner Offering'' ({{bo|w=Nang chod}}, {{lang-zh|t=内供}}) is the most symbolic amrita offering assembly, and the ''Inner Offering Nectar Pill'' ({{bo|w=Nang chod bdud rtsi rilbu}}, {{lang-zh|t=内供甘露丸}}) is a precious and secret medicine of Tibetan Buddhism, which are only used internally for higher-ranking monks in Nyingma school. Its ingredients including Five Amrita and Five Meat, which represents five buddhas, and five elements respectively. According to ''[[Tantras (Buddhism)|Tantras]] of [[Chakravarti (Sanskrit term)|Chakravarti]]'', and ''Tantras of [[Vajravārāhī]]'', a ceremony needs to be held for melting and blessing the Inner-Offering Nectar. Five Nectar needs to be arranged in four directions: yellow excrement in the east, green bone marrow in the north, white semen in the west and red blood in the south; blue urine is placed in the center. Four Nectar should come from [[Lama|wise monks]] and the ova should be collected from the first menstruation of a blessed woman. The Five Meats are arranged similarly, meat of black bull in the southeast, the meat of the blue dog in the southwest, the meat of the white elephant in the northwest, the meat of the green horse in the northeast, and the meat of a red human corpse in the center. After the ceremony, these ingredients will transform into a ''one taste'' (''ekarasa'') elixir, which bestows bliss, vitality, immortality and wisdom. Actual modern practitioners will take a 'synthesized essence' of the Nectar Pill and combine it with energy drinks and alcohol, but mostly the "Nectar Pill" are derived from plants.<ref>The handbook of Tibetan Buddhist symbols, Robert Beer. {{ISBN|1590301005}}, Boston, MA. :Shambhala, 2003.</ref>