Saturday, March 31, 2012
Short explanation of the 12th Vow - the Infinite Light of Amida Buddha
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Those who deny the existence of Amida don’t have shinjin (faith) – some simple explanations
Check my new book on the topic of modern divergences |
Unfortunately, there are many false teachers in the international Jodo Shinshu community who support wrong interpretations of the nembutsu Dharma - the so called modern and progressive interpretations - but which are in evident contradiction with the teaching of the sutras and the sacred texts. One of the most widely distributed is the theory that Amida is a symbol, a metaphor or a fictional character.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The reason for the western location of the Pure Land and its wonderful description in the sutras
Question: „Why the Pure Land of Amida Buddha is called „the Western Pure Land” or „the Pure Land of the West”? Why the „west” is so much emphasized in many of the sacred writings related with Amida? And also why the Pure Land is described in such a fantastic way in the sutras?”
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Pure Land in the teaching of Jodo Shinshu
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Honen Shonin on Amida Buddha
Honen Shonin (1133-1212) |
Monday, June 13, 2011
Amida is a real Buddha (video teaching by Paul Roberts)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Shinran – a manifestation of Amida Buddha and Avalokitesvara
Did He become a Buddha during His life on this earth that we all know from history, or had He attained Buddhahood countless lifetimes ago, in the incomprehensibly remote past? Or was He the manifestation of Amida Buddha?
The answer depends on which sutras you choose to read. In many sutras the first situation is presented, in others the second is taken as a profound truth (for example, the Lotus Sutra, - Life Span chapter). The Pure Land sutras are interpreted by Shinran Shonin to clearly show the third situation in which the true reason for the appearance of Shakyamuni in the world was to teach the Dharma about Amida Buddha’s salvation. In my case, the third is the one I prefer.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Does the Pure Land really exist?
Answer: Yes it does.
"All conditioned things are impermanent." (sarvasamskaaraa anityaah)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
About Amida Buddha and His Pure Land
A Buddha is not somebody like us, although at some point in the history He was. In a well known dialogue (Dona Sutta), a brahman named Dona asked Shakyamuni Buddha[1] who is He:
“Sir, are you a god?”
“No, brahman.”
“Are you a yakkha?
“No, brahman.”
“Are you a human being?”
“No, brahman.”
“When asked, ‘Are you a god?’ you answer, ‘No, brahman…’ When asked, ‘Are you a yakkha?’ you answer, ‘No, brahman…’ When asked, ‘Are you a human being?’ you answer, ‘No, brahman…’ Then what sort of being are you?”
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Pure Land is NOT here and now
updated and revised September 30, 2021
Questions:
1. I sometimes think the central
theme of Buddhism is that it all comes from Avidya (ignorance) and this makes
us view the world as samsara rather than Nirvana. I wish to know what some
Buddhists mean when they say there is no distinction between the two. Also,
related to this and bringing it back to Jodo Shinshu: Is the Pure Land here and
now or not? Or is it to be reached after death when we become Buddhas?
Personally, I think it has to be here and now or it is nowhere. For me this is
what I thought was the essence of Shinran’s teaching, and why I was attracted
to it.
2. As far as the Nembutsu is concerned does it have a particular form? Or
rather is it a door through which ignorance is cleared and we realize we have
always been in the Pure Land?”
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Some discussions on the nature of Amida Buddha
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Amida as a Sambhogakaya Buddha
"…………I think this is a subject of extreme importance, because today the most lamentable divergence in the Sangha is false teachers declaring that Amida Buddha is only a symbol.
It is also critical to recognize that there are essentially two different means of talking about Buddhism that correspond to the two essentially different paths of self-power and Other-power.