Answer: Why send them away? Just leave them alone. Let them stay and listen to
your Nembutsu, let them hear your thoughts and words of faith. One day, they
will become bored with a guy like you who minds his own business and constantly
says Nembutsu, or even better, they might be influenced by your devotion and
entrust to Amida themselves. In Jodo Shinshu we do not exorcize, nor fight with
spirits, rather we convert them by our example. The urge of Shinran,
"receive yourself faith and help others receive faith" applies to
them, too.
It is good to be friendly towards the spirit world. Realize that spirits,
ghosts and various types of nonhuman beings inhabit the same space with us.
Your land is their land, too. Some are in the same place for hundreds or
thousands of years, so they have the same right as you to be here. Who are you
to tell them to go away? Let them be and focus on living a life of gratitude
with as little damage as possible to other beings, and focus on Nembutsu.
All beings suffer, no matter they are humans or non-humans. Some spirits may
like you, feel neutral towards you or may be inclined to hate you due to karma
from the past. No problem! Let them hate you, while you just focus on Nembutsu.
How much can somebody hate another person if that one does not respond to the hate
and minds his own business?
Offer incense to Amida Buddha in the name of all beings, including the spirits
of the place you live, and make aspirations for them - may they be healthy in body and mind, always receive whatever is necessary and beneficial for them. May
all their obstacles be removed and may they create indestructible connections
with Amida Buddha, entrust to Him, say His Name (Namo Amida Bu) and wish to be
born in His Pure Land[1]. Also
pray to Amida to help them, although He already tries His best to help.
However, if you pray for them, they will feel your good intentions.
If you think this way, if you say Nembutsu and have devotion and faith, the
invisible beings who happen to live there or just pass through will know your
thoughts and might be inspired to entrust to Amida and say Nembutsu themselves,
and if not, they will finally leave you alone as they see that you are no
threat to them. In fact, they cannot harm you even if they try, because if you
have faith (shinjin) you automatically benefit from the protection of Amida and
all Buddhas.
So again, no matter what you see, hear, or feel around you, just focus on
Nembutsu and mind your own business.
[1] You can also use the specific ceremony to help the hungry ghosts and bardo beings fom my book Worshipping Amida Buddha – Liturgies and Ceremonies of Amidaji Temple.
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