Showing posts with label DIVERGENCES FROM THE JODO SHINSHU TEACHING. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DIVERGENCES FROM THE JODO SHINSHU TEACHING. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

There is NO true spirit of compassion in the celebration of Christmas, Easter or other holidays of monotheistic religions

I think it’s necessary to continue the previous article We should not make publicity to nonBuddhist holidays or the gods and spirits they represent with a new one in which to explain even more why I think that promoting nonBuddhist holidays, symbols and so-called “divine figures” associated with them is creating a subtle obstacle for other people’s encounter with the true teaching of Buddhism. Many nowadays Buddhists and especially teachers or aspiring teachers suffer from the illness of political correctness, combined with an incapacity to use what they already have in Buddhism to promote its teachings. They are blind for subtle dangers and are unable to raise themselves above the ideologies or habits of their time and so they support some things just because the majority do it and it’s nice (and “compassionate”) to do them, or it pleases people, etc, without being aware that they actually build more obstacles for people’s encountering the Dharma and receive faith in Amida.
 
I usually do not read other people’s reactions to my posts, but sometimes their stupidity helps me to explain things better, which is why I think this article will be very beneficial to many.
 
Somebody wrote a reply to my previous article,
“The point I am making is that neither Amida Buddha, nor Shakyamuni Buddha, nor any other buddha (awakened being) cares whether you celebrate Christmas or not. Being an American raised in a Protestant Christian family, I personally celebrate Christmas, and treasure its spirit of forgiveness, charity, and compassion.”
 
Here is my answer,
The true spirit of Compassion is to be found in the Buddha Dharma because true Compassion is always related with true Wisdom which belongs only to Buddhas. From Infinite Wisdom arises Infinite Compassion, that is, from a real understanding of ultimate Buddha nature, the emptiness of samsaric phenomena and of the suffering of all beings drowned in delusion, Infinite Compassion arises. 

Thursday, December 28, 2023

We should not make publicity to nonBuddhist holidays or the gods and spirits they represent

Some time ago I posted this message advising Buddhists to stop making publicity to nonBuddhist holidays:
 
Being respectful towards our nonBuddhist neighbours and friends does NOT mean that we should pray to or make publicity to false, nonBuddhist gods. As Pure Land Buddhists we should promote only Amida Buddha and encourage people to entrust only to Amida Buddha. By making publicity to nonBuddhist gods and spirits you create the evil karma of offering false teachings to sentient beings. I very much dislike how fake Buddhists post images (and even praises) of nonBuddhist gods and spirits on various nonBuddhists celebrations, including Christmas, Easter and even pre-Christian holidays. Remember, respect does NOT mean promotion! Respect means working together with your neighbors, helping them in times of need, etc. Promoting the images of their gods and spirits is a mistake, not a sign of respect. Pull yourselves together and stop being stupid when you try to be nice.

Question and Answer - the True Teaching of Shakyamuni on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land

Rev Kosho Arana at Amidaji
 
 I recently received this question from a Facebook contact   Fatih Ozkan:

 I would like to ask some questions:

 Was Amitabha Buddha actually preached by Shakyamuni   Buddha  or was he later invented as an Upaya by the Mahayana   saints? Are Amitabha Buddha and The Pure Land literally real or   an archetype? Buddha-Dharma says that all dharmas   (phenomena) are sealed with three realities: pain, impermanence   and selflessness. How can Sukhavati be an eternal realm now?

 Sincerely, A-Mi-To-Fo 

*

  Hello Dear Ozkan, Namo Amida Bu

 Thank you for your questions. They are very important.

I will answer them as best I can.

The teachings about Amida Buddha (Amitabha Buddha) are an essential part of more than 290 Sutras in the Mahayana Canon, especially the Sukavativyuha or the Larger Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life which was preached by Shakyamuni Buddha.  This teaching has been praised by many Mahayana masters including but not limited to Bodhisattva Nagarjuna, Bodhisattva Vasubandhu, Bodhisattva Asanga, Master Tan Luan, Master Tao Ch’o, Master Shantao, Master Honen and Master Shinran. Shakyamuni Buddha Himself taught in many sutras the existence of innumerable Enlightened Realms outside Samsara, called Pure Lands which are created by different Buddhas according to their specific vows.

Sunday, August 7, 2022

On people who cannot be saved by Amida Buddha


“Indeed it matters not how vile we be whether in body or in mind. Whoever we are, we ought to put our trust in Amida’s Vow, and bend our whole mind to the one way, and so we shall assuredly be born into the Pure Land. Nevertheless, we must remember that many men have many minds. There are some who look only for the pleasure and glory of this present evanescent world, which is but a vision or a dream, and know nothing at all about that afterworld. There are others again who have come to dread the future, and accordingly bend their energies in that direction. Thus their minds flit from this to that religious practice, and they do not trust exclusively in the one and only way. Again there are some who, when they have once made up their minds in a certain way, will not change them, but persist therein in spite of everything they may hear. Then there are others who today have a most excellent faith, and it would seem as if they could never deviate therefrom a hair’s breadth, and yet they afterwards give it up entirely. Such being the case it is very hard to find anyone who has really entered the gate of Jodo (Pure Land), and is devoting himself heart and soul to the practice of the Nembutsu alone. I seem to myself to be the only one who secretly grieves over such a regrettable state of things, and indeed it is hard to find anyone in this world, who gives heed to the Dharma itself, irrespective of the character of the man who expounds it.”[1]
 
Commentary:

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Buddhas exist

Buddhas are real, living, enlightened Ones. Amida is a real, living, enlightened Buddha.

Unenlightened beings like us cannot say that the reality of the Buddhas is mythological, symbolical or metaphorical, thus denying their actual existence. They should rather see their own so-called samsaric reality as dreamlike and illusional and the reality of the Buddhas as truly real. Unlike us, samsaric beings, Buddhas (Amida included) have their existence grounded in the ultimate Reality of Nirvana which makes them truly real and alive. Thus, it is stupid, harmful and demonic to relate to the Buddhas as to symbols, metaphors or myths when they are actually more real and alive than us.

Our samsaric reality is an optical illusion and a dream while the Pure Land is a real enlightened place. Our world and everything we see here is dreamlike and not actually real, while the Pure Land is truly real because, I repeat, it is rooted in the ultimate reality.

The existence of the transcendental Buddhas and Enlightened Bodhisattvas of the Mahayana pantheon is not similar with our existence which is false and illusory. They don't exist like us, but this does NOT mean they don't exist. Samsaric minds cannot understand everything about the Buddhas but should accept, based on the sutras, that they truly exist and are active in guiding and saving us.

Please don't fall into the wrong view of denying the existence of the Buddhas just because your unenlightened mind cannot understand them yet. The time will soon come when you'll meet them face to face after birth in the Pure Land. Until then, enjoy and be grateful for their protection because all of them guided you to Amida Buddha.

(please click on the highlighted words as they lead to useful articles on this topic)

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

On those who slander the exclusive Nembutsu practitioners


Honen Shonin said in An Outline of Nembutsu:
 
 "It is even more unfortunate that there are many who insult and deride the exclusive practitioners of Nembutsu today. These unfortunate circumstances were foretold by incarnate
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas a long time ago. Accordingly, Bodhisattva Manjusri stated, 'Nonvirtuous beings in the future world will recite the Name of Amida Buddha in the West, become detached from the delusive worlds of saṃsara by relying on the Primal Vow, and be
born in the Pure Land through the depth of their sincere heart.'
 
In the Hymns of the Nien-fo Liturgy, Master Shan-tao thus stated:
'At the very moment when the World-Honored One [Buddha Shakyamuni] was coming to the end of His sermon, He entrusted to Sariputra with great care the Name of Amida Buddha[1].
Over time, after the death of Buddha Shakyamuni, the five defilements proliferated, and many people began to slander the teaching of Nembutsu. Monastics and lay people alike began to dislike the teaching of Nembutsu and ceased listening to it. This gave rise to the poison of anger, and when they saw Nembutsu practitioners, they struggled to incite intrigue and create grudges. Such people seem blind by nature and have no intrinsic goodness. Destroying the teaching designed for the instantaneous realization of Enlightenment, they will sink into the three lower realms for a long time. They will never be released from the three lower realms,
even though innumerable eons pass, more numerous than the number of particles released in the explosion of the earth.

Friday, June 17, 2022

Do not despise other Buddhas, Dharma Gates and Buddhist teachings because you have faith in Amida

Honen Shonin said: 

"Just because one relies solely upon Amida Buddha and believes only in Nembutsu, do not make light of the compassionate vows of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, or think ill of and slander wondrous sutras such as the Lotus Sutra or the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. The karma of defaming myriad Buddhas and of doubting and slandering many holy teachings is not in harmony with the heart of Amida Buddha. Such actions would certainly exclude one from His compassionate Vow even if one recites Nembutsu”.[1] 

Commentary:

This excellent teaching of Honen Shonin is fundamental to our Amidaji school. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

On past and present reincarnations of Moriya

Prince Shotoku
article by Shingyo Yuri Demianov - Amidaji Russia

In the Dharmaraja Sutra (AN 5.133), addressing an assembly of monks, the Buddha says:

“Monk, a wheel-turning monarch provides just protection and security for his court, relying only on principle—honoring, respecting, and venerating principle, having principle as his flag, banner, and authority. He provides just protection and security...”

Throughout history there have been many great statesmen who faithfully followed this and other teachings of the Buddha. One of these men was the father of Japanese Buddhism - Prince Shotoku Taishi. Being a true ruler-sage, striving to exalt his country and his compatriots, distinguished by an extraordinary breadth of views, open to new ideas, following the traditional mores of the Confucian way of life, Shotoku was a real example of a Buddhist layman, combining the life of a skilled student and preacher of the Teachings of the Buddha with the affairs of the court and his country.
Master Shinran Shonin highly valued the prince and revered him as the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Kuse Kannon:

Friday, April 8, 2022

Amida Buddha is the best guide to our Buddha nature

Amida Buddha is the best guide to the Buddha nature which is the true nature of all beings. However, attaining Buddha nature does NOT mean that transcendent Buddhas like Amida stop existing.  Rather it means Amida takes you to a dimension where all Buddhas dwell. It's like escaping a prison (samsara) and joining all Buddhas in the same beautiful park where you can know each other and have fun together. Of course, discovering Buddha nature is beyond words and conceptual understanding, but I'm using this image just to help you stop falling into the wrong view of nihilistic voidness.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Parrots who recite sounds without knowing their meaning

“… in this fleeting world - this burning house - all matters without exception are empty and false, totally without truth and sincerity. The Nembutsu alone is true and real." (Shinran Shonin, Tannisho)

If Namo Amida Bu/Namo Amida Butsu (Nembutsu) is true and real, then Amida Butsu is true and real. This is something that even children can understand. Namo means to entrust and take refuge in Amida Butsu (Amida Buddha). This refuge (Namo) is real and effective because the object of refuge – Amida Butsu – is true and real. Refuge in metaphors, symbols or fictional characters is not true refuge, but intellectual gymnastics.

Those deluded scholars who repeat “Namo Amida Butsu” but do not accept the transcendent reality and existence of Amida Butsu are like parrots who recite sounds without knowing their meaning. Please, stay away from them.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

On those who are not satisfied with Nembutsu only

 

Shinran Shonin said:

"Those who, it appears, will never attain Enlightenment

All attack the practice of solely saying the Name.

The mark of destroying the teaching of sudden attainment[1]

Is that for them, the vast sea of birth-and-death will have no end".[2]

We must pay attention here as the passage refers not to attacking the saying of the Name, but the solely saying of the Name. This means they attack the true teaching of exclusively saying the Name of Amida Buddha (Nembutsu). Those are the false teachers who, while wearing the kesa of Nembutsu faith (Jodo Shinshu), mix the saying of the Name with various meditative practices and make great efforts in convincing others that there is no problem with this combination. In the same time, they call those who follow faithfully the requirements of Amida's Primal Vow in which only the saying of the Name, faith and wish to be born in the Pure Land are mentioned, to be fundamentalists.

My advice is to please stay away from those who are not satisfied with "solely saying the Name".

Honen Shonin said:

"Abandoning the miscellaneous practices and performing the exclusive practice of the recitation of Nembutsu are in accordance with the heart of Amida Buddha."[3]

To feel that the Name of Amida Buddha is somehow not enough for your religious life is a sign that faith (shinjin) is not yet firmly established in your heart. A true Amida devotee never thinks that something is lacking and is completely satisfied to say Amida's Name alone. He will never feel the need to add this or that meditation practice or this or that sacred mantra to his daily Nembutsu, and he will not pray to various gods and spirits. In the Primal Vow, Amida Buddha presented the guidelines for our religious life, "entrust yourself to me, say my Name, and wish to be born in my land".

So, we should do nothing else, but entrust to Amida Buddha, say His Name in faith and wish to be born in His Land after death.

 



[1] This is the teaching of sudden attainment of Nirvana upon birth in the Pure Land after death.

[2] Shinran Shonin, Hymns of the Dharma Ages (Shozomatsu Wasan)

[3] Honen Shonin, An Outline of the Doctrine for Birth in the Pure Land

 

Friday, October 8, 2021

On a teacher abandoning the Primal Vow

A few hours ago a friend showed me the message of Richard St Clair (Shaku Egen) posted on True Shin Buddhism Group from which I quote the most important sentence:

“My spiritual path has taken a very different direction, away from True Shin Buddhism and away from Buddhism in general”.

Here is my comment:

When you hear about a teacher leaving Jodo Shinshu and Buddhism after many years of writing, teaching and judging what is right and wrong, you should realize that person has never had shinjin (faith) but only knowledge and enthusiasm for the Dharma. As any enthusiasm is impermanent, it is inevitable that one day he will get tired and search for something else.

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Against the idea that the Pure Land is "here and now"

I have always wondered how can one say that the “Pure Land is here and now” or in “the mind” if he cannot actually manifest, here and now, the qualities of the Pure Land? Indeed, how can one be in the Pure Land, but continue to be impure in one’s mind and still unenlightened? This is clear evidence that such views do not belong to the Dharma Gate of the Pure Land, or to the simple faith oriented teaching of the Jodo Shinshu school.  

In the Larger Sutra it is said:

“They are of noble and majestic countenance, unequaled in all the worlds, and their appearance is superb, unmatched by any being, heavenly or human. They are all endowed with bodies of Naturalness, Emptiness, and Infinity.”[1]

So, are those deluded scholars who claim that the Pure Land is “here and now” endowed with “bodies of Naturalness, Emptiness, and Infinity”? Shinran himself made reference to the same passage from the Larger Sutra, in his work Passages on the Pure Land Way [REALIZATION] :

Friday, September 24, 2021

Don’t use formless Dharmakaya to deny the transcendent manifestation of Amida Buddha

Many nowadays false teachers who are slandering the right Dharma, often use the formless Dharmakaya (Dharmakaya of Dharma-nature) which is the Buddha nature of all beings and of Buddhas themselves, as an excuse and argument to reduce all transcendent manifestations (Dharmakaya of Expediency/Sambhogakaya Aspect) to mere symbols or metaphors, or even go so far as to blame “folk Buddhism” for their presence in the canonical writings. But surely, Master T’an-luan did not share such distorted views when he clearly said that exactly because Dharmakaya is formless, there is no form which it cannot manifest:

“Unconditioned Dharmakaya is the body of Dharma-nature. Because Dharma-nature is Nirvanic, Dharmakaya is formless. Because it is formless, there is no form which it cannot manifest. Therefore, the body adorned with the marks of excellence is itself Dharmakaya”. 

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Is Amida Buddha a real person or a symbol/metaphor?

the altar of Amidaji temple
- fragment from a letter to a friend - 

Question: Is Amida a symbol or metaphor for Wisdom and Compassion? Some scholars nowadays support this idea.

Answer: Those scholars are wrong. Amida Buddha is NOT a symbol or metaphor for Wisdom and Compassion, but a real, existing Enlightened Person possessing Infinite Wisdom and Compassion. 
I always insist on the actual, literal existence of Amida Buddha and His Pure Land because without realizing and accepting this existence, faith of unenlightened people becomes abstract and false. There can be no real faith without a real object of faith – in our case, Amida Buddha.
If you can’t say it to yourself and others that the object of your faith is a real, living Buddha, then you don’t have faith. No matter how great scholar you are, if your knowledge and study has not simplified your faith, and if you can’t talk about faith in simple terms, then you don’t have faith.

Dharma talks on my youtube channel