In memory of Myoshin Friendrich Fenzl

Poems and sayings:

A Gatha: Redeemed by Great Amida Buddha

Yes, full redemption is the word,

My karma fully expiated,

And though my life is so benighted,

He carries me over the dangerous ford.

The river of birth and death it is,

Engulfing all the good and evil,

No matter how intense their will,

Their goal of Buddhahood it misses.

The Dharma Amida Buddha gives

Is full redemption from all pain:

The gift of Buddhahood we gain

At the end of our samsaric lives.

By faith and faith alone in Him,

When nary a single doubt have we,

The Pure Land is our Destiny,

Though now it seems distant and dim.

Nonetheless the Buddha's Primal Vow,

Assuring us of karmic release,

Enfolds us in His Arms of Bliss

And Boundless Love, both here and now.

I thank my Lord and Savior here,

Amida is my Savior true,

He leaves me with nothing more to rue

And never again to shed a tear.

True happiness, dissolved all karma,

For all entrusting in The Name:

Shakyamuni Buddha for us came

To teach Amida's Saving Dharma.

To all on the Sacred Eagle peak

Shakyamuni taught for all to hear

Redemption without hate or fear,

Salvation for the sad and meek.

There is no greater truth than this,

Amida's Name is True and Real;

Truer than what we think and feel,

His Name contains His fulfilled promise.

Yes, fulfilling all His Vows long past,

Amida as a Bodhisattva

Ascended to full, complete Nirvana

Securing Buddhahood at last.

And with His Buddhahood are we

Assured of that Nirvana too;

Yes Buddhahood for me and you,

Born in the Pure Land we shall be.

No effort on our part is needed,

Just our faith in Him suffices;

No matter what our faults and vices,

By Him shall we, arriving, be greeted.

Amida greets us, every one

Reborn in His Land of Bliss and Peace;

And by His Vow, my karma released,

A Buddha I'll be, shining like the Sun!

Namu Amida Butsu

Thank You, Amida Buddha

Shaku Egen (Richard St Clair)

click here to download Egen's book of poems (2nd edition) - To Amida Buddha, Songs of True Entrusting

NOTE: Copyright on my books and articles on this website is just a method to prevent the modification of the texts. Actually, I do not believe in things like "intellectual property" in matters related with religion, this is why permission to print and distribute what I write will be given upon request if you are a sincere Buddhist follower.

ATTENTION! Those who use passages from my books and articles must mention the source, and provide a link to it. This can guide the reader to more detailed explanations and eventually, put him in contact with me for further instructions.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

In memory of Myoshin Friendrich Fenzl

Myoshin Friedrich Fenzl
(Nov 4th 1932 - December 8th 2014)

I have just read about the death of my nembutsu friend - Myoshin Friedrich Fenzl from Salzburg. Many new European followers do not know him and perhaps never met him in person, as he was quite isolated in the last decade due to his advanced age and ilness.

He played a very important role in my religious life, as he was one of the first persons I came into contact with, many years ago, in my first days on the nembutsu path. I remember even now, the great surprise I had when I received his first letter, together with the best book a beginner like me needed to read at that moment – A Standard of Shinshu Faith by Ryosetsu Fujiwara. At his suggestion I immediately started to translate it into Romanian, and was soon published by IABC in the Shin Buddhist Romanian Translation Series, number 1 (2001).

The last photo I took
with Myoshin, in 2008

Since then we’ve kept a constant correspondence by post mail, as he was never comfortable with internet. Recently, I was thinking to him a lot, feeling guilty and ashamed that I have not written to him for a long time. I think it was two or three days ago when I decided again to send him a letter together with my book, The 48 Vows of Amida Buddha. Then, today, when I was surfing the internet I read the news of his death on the German website…..

Too late to send any letter now, and a hard lesson for me to never again postpone expressing gratitude to those who helped me on the nembutsu Path. My only relief is that after being born in the Pure Land of Amida, he will be able to forgive me and watch over me as an Enlightened friend.

Namo Amida Butsu

2 comentarii:

Paul & Camille said...: Dear Josho,

I was so sad to hear of the passing of your dear friend and mentor.

He will be in the Pure Land and will be watching over you and helping sentient beings, and fulfilling his life's purpose and dream.

I hope you find some peace knowing this.

Peace to you my friend.
Gassho, Camille; December 25, 2014 at 9:32 PM
Josho Adrian Cirlea said...: Thank you, Camille.
I was sad that I did not show enough active gratitude to him, before his passing, for his kindness and support when I was a beginner.

There are many people from my distant or recent past, and also from the very present, which are very helpful and supportive to me. The debt of gratitude we owe to Amida Buddha and our nembutsu friends and teachers is indeed, impossible to calculate....

I personally do not have one personal mentor. In fact, all my nembutsu friends with simple faith, are my mentors and teachers. I often learn from reading or hearing their words of faith.
Namo Amida Butsu; December 26, 2014 at 1:52 AM