Jodo Shinshu
Buddhism or Amida Dharma is the Path to Nirvana (perfect Enlightenment) through
faith in Amida Buddha. This Path was taught by Shakyamuni Buddha (the
historical Buddha) and was later transmitted to our times by a long series of
Masters and teachers among which I mention Shinran Shonin (1173-1262), the
founder of this school in Japan and Rennyo Shonin (1415-1499), the restorer.
The words ”Jodo Shinshu” mean ”the True Pure Land School”
and Dharma means teaching. Amida Dharma is the teaching about the unconditional
salvation offered by Amida Buddha. With the help of this Buddha called Amida we
are born in His Pure Land (His sphere of influence) after death where we attain
perfect Enlightenment (Nirvana).
This book represents the essence of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist
teaching as it is taught at Amidaji temple and in our international Sangha. Its
study is an obligation for any follower. If somebody can’t read it, it will be
read to him by the priest or one of the Dharma colleagues.
Amida Dharma contains the minimum knowledge recquired for
a member of Amidaji. It is a simple book without quotations and technical terms[1],
limited to what is strictly necesary to understand the world of repeated births
and deaths (samsara) and the Path to escape from it.
The text is divided into fourteen fascicles, each
fascicle containing numbered passages for an easy lecture and quotation,
following the example of classical texts.
The reader is offered explanations about karma and
samsara, what is Buddha nature and what is Nirvana or Enlightenment, who are
Shakyamuni and Amida, what is faith, what one needs to do to have faith, how
one should listen to the teaching and how should one behave in relation with
faith (the eight precepts of faith), etc. I also explain what one can obtain in
this life through faith in Amida and the benefits of being born after death in
the Pure Land.
At the end of the book I present the moral ideal taught
by Shakyamuni in twelve points.
The fundamental teaching that Amida Dharma is not a justification
or an encouragement to do evil appears in the Larger Sutra, sections 31-40, which I explained in my Commentary on the Sutra on the Buddha of
Infinite Life, as well as in Shinran’s writing, like Mattosho and Tannisho where
it is clearly stated that we should not eat poison (do evil deeds) because we
have the antidote (unconditional salvation offered by Amida). Thus, we must not
think that because Amida saves us as we are, we should stop any effort to have
a good behavior towards others. What this right behavior means from the
Buddhist point of view is explained in many sutras and treatises from which I
made a detailed summary to offer the reader a daily guide of what to do and
what to avoid.
These 14 fascicles are explained in greater depth in my
other books as they contain teachings that are fully developed, with many
quotes and passages from Shakyamuni Buddha and the Masters of our tradition.
I invite you to
read and study these books if you wish to deepen the teaching presented here.
No matter what you read during your life you must keep in
mind the content of this book which is the essence of the Path towards birth in
the Pure Land of Amida Buddha. All that
is written here is in harmony with the Primal Vow of Amida and the intention of
all Buddhas.
Namo Amida Bu
Jōshō Adrian
Cîrlea
March 14, 2564 Buddhist Era(2020 C.E.),
Year of the Metal Rat
Amidaji
International Temple
[1] When a technical term
appears in the text, like for example, shinjin (faith), jiriki (self power),
Tariki (The Power of Amida Buddha), etc, they are followed by the explanation
in brackets, exactly as in this footnote.
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