Homage to all
Dharma gates taught by Shakyamuni
and to all authentic lineages of transmission.
Homage to Amida Buddha
whose Name is praised by all Buddhas.
and to all authentic lineages of transmission.
Homage to Amida Buddha
whose Name is praised by all Buddhas.
It all started with a short conversation with myself.
Buddhism has accustomed me to make quick decisions, so in about three minutes I
contemplated in my mind: "I want to visit the stupa at Tranișu, but will I
get along with the people there? What kind of Buddhists are they? How do they
view the Dharma? Will I like them or will they like me?" Then I answered
to myself: "None of these matters. A stupa is a stupa and it's very good
that it exists. I have to get there. Those who worked on that stupa did
something extraordinary and deserve my respect.” As I completed this reasoning,
I spontaneously visualized the stupa enveloped in light, which gave me
confidence that my decision to visit it was correct and that the place was auspicious.
Then I said to myself: "I will go there on foot"[1].
And I went….. I went with faith and with the decision
embedded deep in my mind and body that I had no other choice but go to the
stupa. I walked chanting the Name of Amida Buddha (Namo Amida Bu), often making
the eight kinds of offerings on behalf of all human and non-human beings in the
places I passed through, including those who had died on that road, praying for
them in various ways, including having all obstacles disappear from them, to have faith in Amida Buddha, say His Name, and be born in His Pure Land. The
road was dotted with many memorial crosses, reminding me that death can come at
any time, regardless of age. The overwhelming feeling of death and being lost
in a wasteland of noise made me pray to Amida Buddha for every dead person on
that road, both those who perished in accidents and the animals whose corpses emanated
bad smell from the ditches.
The national road E60, full of heavy-duty trucks and
constant noise, seemed to me a restless bardo[2], having nothing of the
pleasant descriptions of some nature trips. No lyrical nuance, but raw and wild
samsara, unforgiving to the careless that was always reminded by the narrow
space I had to walk, a meter away from speeding heavy-duty trucks and other big
cars. One wrong step, one slight carelessness on my part and I could be hooked
or hit at any time with no chance of survival. Sometimes, when the space got
even narrower, I had to walk through the ditch near the road, and other times I
held on to the outside of the metal railing and walked carefully along the
one-step-wide section next to it. Sometimes this railing reached my chest, as
can be seen in one of the photos.
I certainly couldn't have done this trip in such
conditions except by myself, because that was the only way I could be focused
and careful where I placed my foot. My mind and body functioned in complete
unity, making simple and quick decisions when faced with a difficult passage or
a dangerous situation, observing but letting any natural fear of injury and
death pass through me. I accepted that anything could happen at any time,
especially when I was caught between the concrete wall of a high hill and the heavy-duty
trucks or cars coming around the bend a meter away from me. I pressed myself as
close to the wall as I could, taking one step before the other, a Nembutsu,
then more steps, more Nembutsu…. My mind was working on survival mode, based on
the decision that I had no other option but to keep going, that somewhere, on
the left or right side of the road, or through the ditch, there must be another
little inch that I could use. I never had the impulse to go back, but only to push
forward, no matter what. I had no other choice but to continue. This idea of
having no other choice became an important topic of my contemplations. The
pilgrimage, with all its dangers and hardships, was not an effort of will. The
fact that I follow the Buddha's Way is not an effort of will. It's all due to
the deep awareness that I have no other choice. When the doctor tells you
"if you don't quit smoking, you'll die", you'll end up quitting not
out of an effort of will, but because you've realized that you have no other
choice. It is the same with the Nembutsu Path or whatever Buddhist method
(Dharma Gate) you choose to follow. You have to follow the Buddha's Way because
you have no other choice. Because if you don't follow it, you will fall again
and again into the lower realms[3] and lose the rare chance
of being born in a human body.
“I take refuge in Amida Buddha, my unfailing and constant protector!
This precious human birth is difficult to obtain.
My body and my so called "spiritual achievements" are impermanent and cannot be trusted.
Virtuous and non-virtuous actions bring their inevitable results,
and the influence of past habitual karma makes it impossible to attain Buddhahood in this life.
The six planes of existence are an ocean of suffering and escape is impossible by relying on self power.
Recognizing this, may my mind always turn towards Amida Dharma.”[4]
During the very rare and brief time of a few seconds when
no cars would pass and everything would suddenly become quiet, I would think
about the illusory nature of the samsaric turmoil that so easily engulfs us and
makes us believe that there is nothing else except it. Although I only
perceived it for a few seconds, it seemed that stillness had always been there,
unaffected by the noise, the commotion, our projections, thoughts and plans,
beyond the pain of the blisters on my feet. I was resting amazed in that
original silence and the Name of Buddha Amida appeared spontaneously on my
lips. I reached a point where I did not identify with the noise, did not fight
it, but let it come and go, pass through me and melt of its own accord into
that natural stillness, and I focused on the Nembutsu and walking, careful not
to do a wrong step. It seemed to me that
natural calmness and quietude, perceived in those few seconds of grace,
was the only reality, and that the cars and heavy-duty trucks represented
thoughts, sensations, problems of all kinds which, like ephemeral appearances,
could be allowed to come and pass by themselves.
Among other things I let go were the tendency to react to
insults and the fear for dangerous people I might encounter. I talked to anyone
who talked to me, I shook hands with anyone who shook my hand, from stray dogs
and cats to drunkards and criminals. I was told that a drunkard referred to me
as "an angel walking down the street" and even said he saw an angel
on the road. Of course there is nothing angelic about me, so the man either
perceived an enlightened protector accompanying me on the way, or the
sacredness of the shaved head and Buddhist robes which themselves have a
beneficial effect on the viewer, which is one of the reasons I choose to wear
them. Referring to the monks of the Last Dharma Age, Shakyamuni Buddha said in
the Great Collection Sutra[5]:
“If, because of the Dharma that I teach,
sentient beings shave their hair and beard and don monk’s robes, though they
may not observe the precepts, they all bear the seal of Nirvana already. These
people indicate the way to Nirvana to various people and heavenly beings. These
people are already within the Three Treasures, have given rise to faith and
respect in their minds, and surpass the ninety-five kinds of non-Buddhist path.
These people will invariably enter Nirvana quickly. They excel all laymen and
secular people, with the exception of the householders who have attained
endurance[6].
For this reason, heavenly beings and humans should venerate them, even if they
break the precepts."[7]
At one point, someone introduced me to a gentleman
dressed in old-fashioned clothes: "look, this man is the boss of all the
mafias in the area" (a neighborhood in a city on the route). I answered
amused, "he is Don Padrino". They both laughed and said "yes,
Don Padrino". Then I added: "I don't care who the people I meet on
this pilgrimage are because I don't judge anybody, but pray for everyone."
They received these words with respect and asked me if I needed anything for
the journey. I refused as I already had my monk’s bowl full of food.
Speaking of food, I must mention the lady owner of the
Kalotaszeg Vendégház guesthouse in Izvoru Crișului where I slept one night
after the first 35 km of the trip. On leaving the next day she offered me some
sweets, nuts, bread and a very good homemade vegetable stew. I recited Nembutsu
and prayed for her. I am adding to this article some photos of her and her
guesthouse, asking all of you who pass through Izvoru Crișului to choose to
stay at her place. Here you have the link to the Kalotaszeg Vendégház guest
house,
https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/kalotaszeg-vendeghaz-korosfo-izvoru-crisului.ro.html
I have not for a moment considered that I am making this
pilgrimage for myself personally, as I have nothing to prove and no merit to
gain, my birth in the Pure Land having already been assured by Amida Buddha from the first moment I said His Name in faith. As we say in our tradition
whenever we finish a religious service - may the infinite merits of Amida
Buddha be received by all beings! Due to the merits of Amida Buddha and His
Power, due to His protection and the protection of all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas
and various Dharmapalas, I was able to complete this pilgrimage. Before
starting the trip, a yellow rain code had been announced in the very area where
I was going. I told myself then that nothing would stop me and .... what a
miracle! - it didn't rain at all! I’m sure this is due to the protection of the
Buddhas and the benevolence of the local deities.
“I take refuge in Amida Buddha, my unfailing and constant protector!
This precious human birth is difficult to obtain.
My body and my so called "spiritual achievements" are impermanent and cannot be trusted.
Virtuous and non-virtuous actions bring their inevitable results,
and the influence of past habitual karma makes it impossible to attain Buddhahood in this life.
The six planes of existence are an ocean of suffering and escape is impossible by relying on self power.
Recognizing this, may my mind always turn towards Amida Dharma.”[4]
https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/kalotaszeg-vendeghaz-korosfo-izvoru-crisului.ro.html
It was very good that it did not rain because if it rained, the chances of slipping and accident increased even more. Speaking of risks, I don't recommend anyone to do what I did. Never again will I walk like that on a national road, a meter away from the heavy-duty trucks, but this time I was in a hurry and I didn't know any other route. I took risks that I normally wouldn't have taken, but I had no choice. To reach the stupa in this short time, not knowing any other route, the national road was the only option. Another time, if I come to Tranișu on foot, I will choose a different route even if it will be longer.
Drolkar informed me that a Buddhist monk in Bhutan did a protection practice for me related to Mahakala. She told me this a short time before I had spontaneously thought of Mahakala who is also one of the Enlightened Protectors of Amidaji temple and greeted Him with Nembutsu. Shinran's writings are full of references to the protection of all Buddhas, and in the 17th Vow, Amida himself speaks of all Buddhas praising His Name, thus encouraging us to say it in faith. This is why at Amidaji we have representations of various Buddhas beside the main shrine dedicated to Amida. White Mahakala and Black Mahakala are also present there and I like to greet them with Nembutsu from time to time. Likewise, on the road, while thinking to the protection offered by Amida and all Buddhas, the image of Mahakala came spontaneously to my mind, only to learn from Drolkar that one actually does a Mahakala practice for my protection.
The very center that takes care of this stupa is called White Mahakala and even the big dog you see me with when I approach the stupa was named Mahakala by a Buddhist nun who visited those places.
None of them surpasses birth in the Western Land
through the Nembutsu."[14]
This is why I encourage those who follow other Dharma Gates and even non-Buddhists to visit a stupa and bow before it or before the various images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas - because any homage to a sacred Buddhist object associated with various Buddhas and their mantras (a stupa contains many mantras) will inevitably lead, in this life or in a future life, to faith in Amida Buddha, because any Buddha will guide us in a visible or subtle way to Amida:
Are truly our compassionate father and mother.
With various compassionate means they lead us to awaken
Supreme shinjin (faith in Amida) that is true and real."[15]
„Shinjin (faith in Amida) is bestowed through the compassionate means of Sakyamuni, Amida, and all the Buddhas in the ten quarters.”[16]
We take refuge in all the Buddhas.
To praise the one Buddha, Amida, with the mind that is single
Is to praise all the Unhindered Ones (all Buddhas)".[20]
More photos from the trip:
With Kalden Marius, representative of White Mahakala Buddhist center |
at the White Mahakala Tibetan Buddhist Center before the pilgrimage |
at the White Mahakala Tibetan Buddhist Center before the pilgrimage |
In Huedin city - people asked me if I need food |
In Huedin city with Romulus and his nephew |
With Romulus from Huedin city |
at Kalotaszeg Vendégház guesthouse from Izvoru Crișului |
at Kalotaszeg Vendégház guesthouse from Izvoru Crișului |
with the lady owner at Kalotaszeg Vendégház guesthouse from Izvoru Crișului |
two police officers who were very protective with me, giving me a phone number where I could call anytime if I had any problems |
resting on the road |
eating on the road - falafel and turkish baklava offered by Drolkhar Veronica |
between Bologa village and Tranisu village. From Bologa I escaped the National Road and the trip became more pleasant |
very close to Tranisu village Kalden Marius welcomed me and interviewed me |
with Marius Kalden at an evening fire with Buddhist stories after I finished the pilgrimage |
the retreat center associated with the stupa and the White Mahakala Buddhist center |
Those who wish to support my Nembutsu travels, as well as my Dharma work and Amidaji temple, can do so with a little donation or by becoming a Patron (constant donnor)
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