“The completion of the
karma necessary for birth into the Pure Land may be at any ordinary time, or at
the time of death. There is no distinction made between the two in the language
of the Primal Vow.”[1]
In the very first moment one entrusts to Amida Buddha he enters the stage of non-retrogression for birth in the Pure Land where he will attain supreme Enlightenment. The karma necessary for birth into the Pure Land appears in the very first moment of faith when the believer receives the pure karmic merits of Amida which make him capable of going there.
This passage contradicts those who think that the moment of death is of paramount importance for birth into the Pure Land. I always insist that we are the school of the Primal Vow and that whatever we need to know is to be found in the Primal Vow. Honen Shonin thought the same when he made reference to “the language of the Primal Vow” in which Amida urged us to entrust to Him, say His Name and wish to be born in His land. Some do this when they are strong and healthy, young or old, while others when they are about to die. Amida did not mention a specific moment in life when one should entrust to Him, say His Name and wish to be born in His land, so we should not worry about this. Anytime is a good time to say the Nembutsu of faith.
The following passage proves even more that Honen Shonin did not add a special significance to the Nembutsu at the time of death:
"Question:
Which is more profound: Nembutsu at the time of death or Nembutsu in our daily
life?
Answer: They
are the same. Our daily Nembutsu and Nembutsu at the time of death are no
different at all. When we are visited by death, our daily Nembutsu becomes Nembutsu
at death; if our life is prolonged, Nembutsu
at death becomes Nembutsu of daily life."[2]
[1] Honen the Buddhist Saint - His Life and Teachings, volume III, compiled by imperial order, translation by Rev Ryugaku Ishizuka and Rev Harper Havelock Coates, The Society for the Publication of Sacred Books of the World, Kyoto, 1949, p. 398
[2] The Promise of Amida Buddha - Honen's Path to Bliss; English translation of the Genko edition of the works of Honen Shonin - Collected Teachings of Kurodani Shonin: The Japanese Anthology (Wago Toroku), translated by Joji Atone and Yoko Hayashi, Wisdom Publications, Boston, 2011, p.125
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