Pure Land

In the Larger Pure Land Sutra, one of the Pure Land school’s central texts, Shakyamuni tells his disciple Ananda the story of Amida Buddha: how, long ago, a young man began his spiritual quest by going to see the buddha of that era, Lokeshvararaja. The young man, Dharmakara, is so overwhelmed by meeting Lokeshvara that he is inspired to make 48 great vows, and he perfects them through many rebirths to become Amida Buddha. The most important of these vows is the promise to receive in his Pure Land all those who simply turn their minds toward him and calls his name.https://tricycle.org/beginners/buddhism/who-is-amida-buddha/

Mahāyāna Buddhism was born and developed under the strong influence of Iranian religion in the time of Parthian rule in the area controlled by Parthia, Bactria and kingdoms of the Sakas. Amitābha was originally Celestial Mithra of Iranian religion, incorporated into Mahāyāna Buddhism during 1st to 2nd AD. Kwan-yin was originally Sraoša and Mahāsthāmaprāpta was Rašnu in Iranian religion.http://www.shamogoloparvaneh.com/A_History_of_Incorporation_of_Iranian_Gods_into_Biddhism.pdf

Syncretism is the process of amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. Esoteric Buddhists incorporated Mithra into their pantheon as Great Sun Buddha, i. e. Mahāvairocana Buddha 大日如来, and made Amitābha and Maitreya as His avatars (emanations).

Syncretism of mythology and Buddhist philosophical concepts gave birth to Mahāyāna Buddhism which make it more appealing to attract and garner followers.

All religions were created by humans. Right and wrong are subjective views. Believers can make it right by propagating qualities which are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted and carried out, lead to welfare and to happiness. Conversely, believers can make it wrong by propagating qualities which are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted and carried out, lead to harm and to suffering.

“Pure Land” as well as other Mahāyāna Buddhism sects are not original Buddhism. Some people, due to their upbringing, find it hard to learn from original Buddhism as recorded in the Early Buddhist Texts (EBT) or Nikayas. They like mythology and cannot live without it. Syncretism usually works to make them more accepting for some new flavors or foreign concepts. It may bring them “qualities which are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted and carried out, lead to welfare and to happiness.” Religions are not always bad. Lack of religion is not necessarily good for the happiness of oneself and societal peace.