Pure Land Buddhism, one of the largest forms in East Asia, teaches salvation by the grace of Amida Buddha received through trust, not by self-effort, which is a striking point of contact with the gospel.

Much of what is said about Buddhism, that it offers no savior and puts liberation entirely in your own hands, fits the early and Theravada traditions but not Pure Land Buddhism, which is enormous across China and Japan. Pure Land centers on Amida Buddha, who is said to have vowed to bring all who call on him in trust into his Pure Land, from which enlightenment is assured. Shinran, founder of the largest Japanese school, taught that self-effort is useless and that even the faith to trust is Amida’s gift, language Christian observers from Francis Xavier onward found startlingly close to grace. Amida is not a creator God, but a person talking with a Pure Land Buddhist already believes in rescue by another’s merit.