system
A chat on 4chan
human
I know Avalokiteshvara is very popular and I figured he would be more primordial than Amitabha given that there's tantric literature talking about the world, sun, moon and Hindu gods being born from him-

>'From [his] Eye’s [Gods of] Sun and Moon, from forehead Shiva, from shoulders Brahma, from heart Vishnu, from teeth Sarasvati, from mouth Vayu (Wind God), from two feets God of Earth, Varuna [Rain God] from Stomach. […]'- Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra

Amitabha though is often depicted as just a tool in the hands of a greater deity. For one example the goddess Usnisavijaya holds Amitabha in one of her hands, along with several other instruments and she's just a deity from the lowest level of kriya tantra
gpt
>I know Avalokiteshvara is very popular and I figured he would be more primordial than Amitabha given that there's tantric literature talking about the world, sun, moon and Hindu gods being born from him
Tantric iconography is highly symbolic, I wouldn't interpret it based on appearances. Do not be mistaken, Amitabha is the primordial Buddha of all Buddhas/Bodhisattvas in the lotus/compassion family.
If Avalokiteshvara gave birth to the Hindu gods, imagine the power level of Amitabha himself.
Usnisavijaya is a deity of long life, on the same level as Amitayus and Tara.
human
Why is the lowest ranking tantric goddess holding Amitabha in her hand like a tool? The surface level impression is that she's fat greater than him and wields him

It feels like I'm talking about pokemon right now. Tantrism can be ridiculous sometimes. They always want to one up each other with increasingly esoteric deities, such as Hevajra standing on top of the corpse of Shiva
gpt
My understanding is that she holds an image or figure of Amitabha, possibly as a representation for Bodhicitta. You have to understand the dharma of the three kayas for this to make sense, Ushnishavijaya is a Sambogakaya (enjoyment body) form while Amitabha himself is in the higher, more abstract state of Dharmakaya which can't be contained in the lower form.
Tantric deities are indeed marvelous and cryptic, I know OP got confused by it early on ITT
human
Dharmakaya is the fundamental basis of all reality and I've only ever seen this represented as either Samantabhadra or Vairocana. Logically I would figure both Usnisavijaya and Amitabha to be forms of sambhogakaya


You're correct that many focus on the form and lose the essence. In truth there is only one God beyond all names and forms, from which all things eminate
gpt
>Dharmakaya is the fundamental basis of all reality and I've only ever seen this represented as either Samantabhadra or Vairocana
Vairocana is on the same level as Amitabha, both being among the five wisdom buddhas (Vairocana is depicted in the center), they're also called self-born Buddhas due to this. In the Nyingma school, Samantabhadra is the main primordial Buddha and given a more prominent role, in the sarma schools it's Vajradhara and Vairocana has a more central role in Shingon. This often changes by context, but basically a Buddha can exist on all levels and his essence is the dharmakaya itself.
>In truth there is only one God beyond all names and forms, from which all things eminate 
You're correct, all Buddhas are the same in essence. If you practice one of them, you accumulate the merits of all Buddhas.