"Regardless of whether
it is of Mahayana Buddhism or Hinayana Buddhism, we cannot endure the training
in these sacred teachings of the four vehicles, as they are not appropriate
teachings for our present time……It is unnecessary to state here that in this
period of the decline of Dharma (the Last Dharma Age), pursuit of these
achievements is almost impossible, especially for those of us with minimal
capabilities…..It goes without saying that in the present day, while it is
still the period of the decline of the Dharma (the Last Dharma Age), let alone
during the periods of the true Dharma (the Right Dharma Age) and the semblance
of the Dharma (the Semblance Dharma Age), no being is excluded from birth in
the Pure Land.”[1]
Commentary: As I previously explained, the capacities of beings in the
Last Dharma Age are no longer in agreement with the self-power practices and
teachings taught in the Right Dharma Age. When the teachings and practices are
not in accord with the capacities of beings it means that they are as good as
non-existent. Those who still seem to achieve high spiritual states through
them or even Enlightenment, are actually high level or enlightened Bodhisattvas in disguise coming in this world in various Buddhist schools to keep on the
Buddhist Path, by their own example, those who cannot yet entrust to Amida’s
Primal Vow. Because they are already enlightened or on one of the ten stages (bhumis),
they did not actually start from zero or from the low level capacities of
people in our age. All their so-called achievements are just a display to help self-power
Buddhists, until a better age (the ages of future great Buddhas) will arrive
and beings will be able again to easily advance on any Buddhist Path. However,
until then, the only Dharma method that is suitable for any age and any spiritual
capacities is that offered by the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha. To say His Name
in faith is effective in the Right Dharma Age, the Semblance Dharma Age and the
Last Dharma Age in which we are living now. Even after this Dharma ending Age[2], when
there will be no other Buddhist teaching available, the Nembutsu of faith will
still be able to liberate beings. This is why although any Buddhist path is
wonderful and perfect in itself, only the Vehicle of the Primal Vow is universal and supreme in the sense that it can lead all beings to final
liberation without discriminating between their spiritual capacities.
Because to help all beings attain Buddhahood is the goal of
any Buddha, and Amida’s Primal Vow is the easiest Path towards this, all
Buddhas encourage us to entrust to Amida and say His Name in faith. No matter
that each Buddha has various teachings and practices associated with them that
they themselves teach for those who can’t yet entrust to Amida, they all
support and and praise Amida’s Primal Vow and Amida’s Name.
All the methods of the Hinayana and Mahayana, including the
Vajrayana, were especially made by the Buddhas for those who cannot yet entrust
to Amida. Some people attained liberation through them in the Right Dharma Age
and very few in the Semblance Dharma Age. However, in the Last Dharma Age and
the dark period after it, no ordinary person like me or you can achieve
liberation through them, so we should better admit our limitations and accept
Amida’s helping hand.
[1] 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.95-97
[2] The last Dharma Agen will last around ten thousand years according to some scriptural sources.
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