The meaning of mindfulness in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

 

Question: What did Shinran mean by "mindfulness is Nembutsu"?
 
 “Saying the Name is in itself mindfulness;
mindfulness is Nembutsu; 
Nembutsu is Namo Amida Butsu”.
 
Answer: We need to know that whenever we meet the word “mindfulness” it is in no way referring to the modern idea of meditation based on self-power. For Shinran “mindfulness” always referred to faith and to Amida Buddha. So, he said that mindfulness is Nembutsu and that Nembutsu is Namo Amida Butsu. What does Namo Amida Butsu mean? It means “I take refuge in Amida Buddha/Homage to Amida Buddha”. What does Nembutsu represent? What do we express by saying Namo Amida Butsu? We express faith, so Namo Amida Butsu or Nembutsu is the expression of faith. It is faith as there can be no faith separate from Nembutsu and no genuine Nembutsu separate from faith. Shinran Shonin said:

Honen’s one-page testament

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Selected passages from Honen Shonin 

with commentary

"The method of final salvation that I have propounded is neither a sort of meditation, such as has been practiced by many scholars in China and Japan, nor is it a repetition of the Buddha's name by those who have studied and understood the deep meaning of it. It is nothing but the mere repetition of the 'Namo Amida Butsu,' without a doubt of His mercy, whereby one may be born into the Land of Perfect Bliss. 
The mere repetition with firm faith includes all the practical details, such as the threefold preparation of mind and the four practical rules. If I as an individual had any doctrine more profound than this, I should miss the mercy of the Two Honorable Ones, Amida and Shakyamuni, and be left out of the Vow of the Amida Buddha. 
Those who believe this, though they clearly understand all the teachings Shakyamuni taught throughout His whole life, should behave themselves like simple-minded folks, who know not a single letter, or like ignorant nuns or monks whose faith is implicitly simple. 
Thus without pedantic airs, they should fervently practice the repetition of the Name of Amida, and that alone."[1]

Commentary:

Honen’s search for salvation

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Selected passages from Honen Shonin 

with commentary

Here is the story of Honen’s meeting with the Primal Vow in his own words[1]: 

“Having a deep desire to obtain salvation, and with faith in the teachings of the various scriptures, I practiced many forms of self-discipline. There are indeed many doctrines in Buddhism, but they may all be summed up in the three learnings, namely the precepts, meditation and wisdom[2], as practiced by the adherents of the Lesser (Hinayana) and Greater Vehicles (Mahayana), and the exoteric and esoteric sects. But the fact is that I do not keep even one of the precepts, not do I attain to any one of the many forms of meditation. A certain monk said that without the observance of the sila (precepts), there is no such thing as the realization of samadhi[3]. Moreover, the heart (mind) of the ordinary unenlightened man because of his surroundings, is always liable to change, just like monkeys jumping from one branch to another. It is indeed in a state of confusion, easily moved and with difficulty controlled. In what way does right and indefectible wisdom arise? Without the sword of indefectible wisdom, how can one get free from the chains of evil passion, whence comes evil conduct?  And unless one gets free from evil conduct and evil passions, how shall he obtain deliverance from the bondage of birth and death? Alas! What shall I do? What shall I do? The like of us are incompetent to practice the three disciplines of the precepts, meditation and wisdom. 
And so I enquired of a great many learned men and monks whether there is any other way of salvation than these three disciplines, that is better suited to our poor abilities, but I found none who could either teach me the way of even suggest it to me. At last I went into the library at Kurodani at Mount Hiei, where all the scriptures were, all by myself, and with a heavy heart, read them all through. While doing so, I hit upon a passage in Shantao’s Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, which runs as follows:

Three Dharma friends from Taiwan visited Amidaji (May and September 2022)

 

Recently, I was very pleased to welcome two of my Dharma friends and readers from Taiwan in May and September 2022.  

We chanted Nembutsu and had many meaningful Dharma talks. As you know, Amidaji is open to visitors who are in a learning mood for its conservative and orthodox teaching style. 

Do not hesitate to contact me if you plan for a visit!

I am always here if you need me.

Namo Amida Bu 

Visit from September 2022:

Dont try to fix your mind while entrusting yourself to Amida Buddha (video teaching)

 

Click here to watch more videos in the DHARMA TALK playlist. There are more than 130 videos there until now, so you'll certainly find one that is useful to you. 

1. Faith in Amida Buddha is not a feeling 2. On the joy of faith (video teaching)

 

Click here to watch more videos in the DHARMA TALK playlist. There are more than 130 videos there until now, so you'll certainly find one that is useful to you.