Yodpame, or as he is more famously known as Amitabha in Sanskrit, is
the Buddha of infinite light and life, the head of the lotus clan of
Buddha’s who resides in the western paradise, the Land of Ultimate
Bliss. He is also known as Nangwa Thaye or Endless Pure Perception as
he also represents the purified aspect of the mental aggregate of
perception.
The body is a ruby red and is said to resemble the color and shades of the setting sun. The significance of his body color has not only been linked to his function as the head of the Buddha Lotus Clan of the West (direction where the sun sets) but also to a representation of the physical element of fire and the emotion of passion.
“Though I attain Buddha hood, I will never be complete until people everywhere strive to attain enlightenment, practice virtue and wish sincerely to be reborn into my pure land of Dewachen or Sukhavati. To those with faith, I shall appear with a host of Bodhisattvas at their moment of death to escort and welcome them into my pure land”.
The Lotus or Pema is perhaps one of the most important and best known symbols of Buddhism. It is seen as a symbol of enlightened purity and of spiritual growth and evolution that blossoms into enlightenment. The lotus is a symbol of purification of the body, speech and mind. It is also symbolizes the original nature of the heart. It is the lotus of Love, Compassion, Passion, activity and all the qualities of the heart. The Lotus is among one of the eight auspicious signs that are perhaps the most prominent and ubiquitous group of symbols.