沿革
東晉時慧遠在廬山東林寺，和慧永、慧持、劉遺民、雷次宗等一百二十三人，專修念佛法門，發誓願意往生西方淨土，因為掘開水池種白蓮花，於是被稱為白蓮社[2]。宋朝以後，念佛盛行，各地都有了白蓮社組織。中國淨土宗於是奉慧遠為初祖，宗派稱之為白蓮宗。民間白蓮宗與彌勒信仰、摩尼教結合，形成白蓮教，白蓮教也稱白蓮社[3]。
參考
延伸閱讀
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