If you have a question, ask the Dharma

It is the way of Amidaji to always ask the Dharma in both the most important aspect of the afterlife as well as the details of our daily life.

Do you want to understand samsara? Contemplate the Dharma texts which describe the various sufferings of samsaric existence.

Do you want to escape samsara? Contemplate the teachings of Shakyamuni and the Masters of our lineage on the salvation offered by Amida Buddha and never forget the simple requirements from His Primal Vow, “entrust to me, say my Name and wish to be born in my land”.

Do you want to know about Amida and His Pure Land? Do not ask deluded scholars and priests who complicate their minds and others with difficult theories and who cannot accept the real existence of  Amida and the Pure Land. Better ask Shakyamuni and read the testimony of Ananda and all those present on Vulture Peak when the Larger Sutra was taught, who actually saw Amida and His Pure Land with their very eyes! 

Do you want to get married and have a happy life together? Contemplate the teachings that Shakyamuni gave to couples (men and women). If you are a wife, contemplate what He said about the duties of a good wife and if you are a husband contemplate the duties of a husband. Do not accept feminist groups or people who denigrate family to be your guide in such matters. Believe in Dharma as the Dharma always knows better. 

Do you want to have a moral sexual life? Contemplate the teachings of Shakyamuni and the various Masters against sexual misconduct. Do not ask for instructions in such matters to ideological groups like LGBTQ or others whose sole interest is to change society according to their own depravity.  

Do you want to be a good son or daughter? Contemplate the teachings of Shakyamuni on filial piety, and shut your ears when you hear people denigrating their parents without any reason.

Do you want to be a good parent? Contemplate the teachings of Shakyamuni on the duties of parents and avoid people who abandon, abuse their children or resort to abortions.

Do you want to be a good friend? Contemplate on the teachings of Shakyamuni on friendship.

Do you want to know about racism? Contemplate the teachings of Shakyamuni on the illusory nature of all samsaric concepts and the fact that all beings have been your mother and father. If you do that you will realize there are no races and that it is harmful to divide, promote or discriminate people (positive or negative discrimination is still discrimination) according to the color of their skin. Chose the Dharma and shut your ears to the hateful ideology of KKK, White Power groups, Black Lives Matter, etc, as for them only their "own people" matter, not all living beings who are the concern of the Buddhas.

Do you want to conduct a business or to save money? Yes, Shakyamuni gave teachings on that, too! Better listen to Him than to the instructions of greedy directors!

And you can continue like that with any subjects that are of interest to you.

Anything you want to know, ask the Dharma of the Buddha and search in the instructions left by the Masters of our lineage! Rely yourself on the Dharma, not on the various worldly ideologies that are prevalent nowadays. 
For every question you must find a Dharma answer, so put Dharma first anytime.

I heard there are people nowadays, even in the Jodo Shinshu sangha, who pretend that they can find answers from “the Buddha within” (their own Buddha nature) or directly from Amida. That is very tricky, as unenlightened minds can always deceive themselves. This is why I doubt some really do that, especially if their answers are against Dharmic instructions in the sutras or the works of the Masters. This practice proposed by some “to ask the Buddha within” or Amida can be very dangerous no matter the question, if one has a dishonest intention of finding a justification for his own personal ideas.

The way of Amidaji is to ask Amida for guidance while in the same time search for Dharma answers in the sacred texts. It’s better and safer this way and we do not risk to have teachers who impose their will on the sangha by deceiving people and pretending they receive instructions directly from Amida or from "the Buddha witthin". Actually, Amida Buddha is guiding us to find answers in the Dharma itself and will never inspire us with an idea that is contrary to the Buddhist teachings.

In such a chaotic world like ours, the Dharma should be our guiding Light. Amida and all Buddhas always speak through the Dharma, and never through worldly ideologies.

Namo Amida Bu