A short Dharma dialogue on meditation in relation with Jodo Shinshu

Question by Zakaj:

You say meditation is useless. But what if someone were to tell you: "Yes, I know meditation is useless for attainment of Enlightenment in Mappo era. But I don't do it for that reason. I do it for the neurological benefits that are proven by science" - what would you reply then? Thanks.

Some elements of Buddhist cosmology

the wheel of samsara with various realms
of existence

Recent discussions with various readers convinced me that it would be very useful to have a single paper in which to gather my most important articles on Buddhist cosmology. So, I made this pdf format for free distribution -  Some Elements of Buddhist Cosmology.

Most of the articles in this presentation are from the first part of my book, The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land, but some, like number 5 and 6 were published only on this website. 

The presentation contains the following chapters:

Library of Amidaji affected by a powerful storm

The roof of the library is on the fence

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

- scroll down in the article to read the last update! -

Dear friends,

I was preparing to post some new photos with what I have done in the last days at Amidaji, like planting some new trees, improvements to the stoves,  when disaster stroke.

A very powerful storm blew for 24 hours in the South of Romania (many houses were affected in my village and electricity was interrupted all day) and destroyed the library. Normally, the house should have resisted, but there was a mistake made by the company who produced the wooden frames for the southern wall, and the instalation team who helped me built the house promised that they will come and repair it.  Unfortunatelly, they did not come although I called them repeatedly, and this powerful wind enlarged the crack in the wall until it blew the roof entirely.

Five conditions for birth in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha

- updated with a video discussion posted at the end of the article, on Nov 11th 2023 - 

Master Rennyo

According to Master Rennyo , there are five conditions that someone must meet in order to be born in the Pure Land:

1) stored good from the past
2) a good spiritual teacher
3) Amida’s light
4) the entrusting heart (shinjin)
5)  the saying of Amida Buddha's Name (nembutsu)

1) The stored good from the past

The "stored good from the past" represents our good karma from past lives and this life which manifests itself as an opening or receptive state of mind towards the message of the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha.

A lot of people hear the teaching about the Primal Vow but few are opened to it. This openness is very important in our tradition and is the manifestation of the good stored from the past. Also, if you listen again and again to the teaching in this life, thus becoming immersed with all your being in the Dharma, this listening will become a “stored good” which will make you open to the call of the Primal Vow.

Some elements of listening deeply to Amida Dharma

Question:

What should I do in order to listen deeply to Amida Dharma? Please, give me some examples of listening deeply.

Answer:

- Think that solving the matter of repeated births and deaths is the most important thing in your life.

- Put aside all other Buddhist or non-Buddhist teachings, philosophies, and opinions and listen (reading is also listening) only to Amida Dharma.

- Put aside what you think you know and listen to what Amida Dharma has to say. Empty your cup (mind) of your so called, personal "wisdom", and stay open to receive the nectar of Dharma. Consider that you know nothing and that Amida Dharma knows everything.

Amidaji construction news 2016 - Two new stoves arrived at Amidaji!

the stove on gas was placed in the Hondo (left to the altar)

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

Dear Dharma friends,

Thanks to your kind help, I successfully bought two stoves for Amidaji, and placed them as follows:

1) one stove on gas was placed in the Hondo (Dharma Hall). It will be used only when I held services and Dharma talks. Also, when when I have visitors who stay for a few days, I sleep in the Hondo and they sleep in the library.

2) one stove on wood was placed in the library. It will be used more often as I also sleep and write here when I come to the temple. Also if I have visitors who stay for a few days, they receive accomodation in the library. In a week or so, a specialist will come to make an isolated hole in a wall of the library and install the funnels to the stove.