Short advice for a person with doubts and attachments to Christianity

 

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A Dharma friend told me that  although he finds the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching very appealing  he still has feelings of attachments to Christianity and Jesus. He said that if it wasn’t for my writings against monotheism he might have been swayed by them. He also asked me:

“How can I safeguard myself against these things as I still have lingering doubts and do not want to be led astray? I can’t help but think it may be the tug of Maras (celestial demons) because I’m so close to being out of their grip…”

This is my letter to him:

The answer is simple. Thoughts and feelings come and go if you do not focus on them. They appear and disappear like clouds. They might even look like powerful storm clouds but they also disappear. However, if you focus on them you give them power and they will dominate you. So, be a decisive man and decide once and for all that Buddhism has the best explanations and that it is the right Path. Then, let all other nonbuddhist thoughts, visions or feelings come and go and you focus on Amida Buddha. Do not fall back from your decision no matter what!

Also, say Nembutsu as much as you can during the day[1] and pray to Amida Buddha for guidance and protection. Make offerings to Amida and aspire that you be stable on the Nembutsu Path and that all your doubts be cleared. 

Install an altar of Amida Buddha (with a big image of Him) in your room or a place where you can see it and where you can spend some time in front of it.

Have another image of Amida constantly with you as a portable altar and use it when you travel for work and you are alone in a hotel room.

Have a nenju with you all the time in your pocket and use it when you say Nembutsu or simply touch it from time to time. It may help to remember Amida.

When you say Nembutsu let all other nonbuddhist thoughts and feelings come and go. Do not try to create anything in your mind, just say Nembutsu and look to Amida when saying it if you have an image of Him with you.

Say the following words daily, when you wake up and when you go to sleep or whenever you feel the need. They will help you focus on the essential of the Jodo Shinshu Path:

Amida Buddha, I take refuge in you and say your Name in faith.

Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu

May all beings join me in taking refuge in you and saying your Name in faith.

Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu

Amida Buddha, I wish to be born in your Land of Peace and Bliss.

Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu

May all beings join me and wish to be born in your Land of Peace and Bliss.

Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu.

Amida Buddha, thank you for saving us as we are.

Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amida Bu

Do not read anything from Christianity or other nonbuddhist religions.

Do not go to churches and avoid contact with churches and Christians, except your family.

If you can, do some sport, work in the garden and if not, say Nembutsu and relax at a favorite TV series, etc. Do the things you like so that your mind be at ease. 

Remember the Buddhist teaching and especially the Buddhist explanations of the universe, as well as Amida's Compassion. Always carry one or a few of my books with you when you travel and read passages from them as a method for hearing the teaching. Sometimes reading aloud as well as saying Nembutsu aloud helps you focus and may help you let go to nonbuddhist thoughts and feelings.

Remember the Buddhist teaching that all is like a dream and that only Nembutsu is true and real. Remember that the rational explanations of the Buddhist teaching about why we suffer, rebirth, karma, what is a Buddha, etc, are normal and decent while nonbuddhist explanations are illogical and not satisfactory. You do not really want to receive in your heart a spirit or the son of a spirit who said in his first commandment that he is a jealous god and will punish the disobedience of people for four generations... Do not let yourself be driven in confusion by lies and fake feelings. Rather embrace the normal and decent explanations of the Buddhist teaching and accept the helping hand and true warmth of Amida Buddha who never judges beings, never threats them but accepts them unconditionally. That is true love and true compassion and this is what you really need.

 

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[1] For people who are established in faith the number of Nembutsu recitations do not count. However, here I was giving advice to a person who needed more focus on Amida Buddha in his personal life and who was still not a person of faith.