The right attitude of mind when working for Amidaji

            

Working to strenghten the walls and roof of  the  

Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji. 
You can see me in the right corner of the photo.

Once, when I was doing my daily work for Amidaji,  in the unbearable heat, I suddenly remembered a passage from Thus I Have Heard from Rennyo Shonin, in which there is a recorded saying of Zenshu, a close disciple of Rennyo Shonin:

"Zenshū said, 'When I make offerings to the Shōnin, I do this as if they were my own. How shameful!' When asked why, he said, 'They are the things given by the Buddha, but I offer them to the Shōnin as if they were my own gift. My role is only to pass the Buddha's gift over to the Shōnin. How shameful I am to make these offerings as if they were my own.'"

Unenlightened beings are not the same with Amida Buddha

Question:

Recently a F.B. friend of mine has starting posting statements that "I and Amida are one and the same." This person is an avid reader of Ippen Shonin, the Hijiri, and has come to share many of the Zen / Pure Land views that Ippen taught concerning interconnection of all things. Personally I cannot agree with this line of thought as I see it as presumptuous, arrogant and quite possibly slanderous.

Please give me your take on this line of thinking and tell me if you think it goes against the teachings of our Pure Land Masters.

Gassho _/l\_
Dave Kruemcke

P.S.
Please feel free to share this conversation with others if you feel it will be in any way beneficial to The Dharma.

Alguns elementos da fé verdadeira em Buda Amida

traduzido do Inglês por Shaku Shinkai

click here for the English version

Pergunta:

Obrigado por escrever sobre os elementos da escuta profundano Dharma de Amida. Você poderia fazer uma pequena lista dos elementos importantes da fé verdadeira?

Resposta:

- Aceitar a existência literal de Buda Amida e sua Terra Pura. Eu expliquei isso no meu texto Se o Voto Original é Verdadeiro. Por favor, leia com atenção. Sem que você aceite a existência literal de Buda Amida, não pode haver fé verdadeira, salvação ou nascimento na Terra Pura.

- Aceitar a história de Buda Amida como contada por BudaShakyamuni.

- Desejar atingir a Iluminação/ Estado de Buda.

- Desejar nascer na Terra Pura de Buda Amida para atingir a Iluminação/Estado de Buda.

Alguns elementos da escuta profunda do Dharma de Amida

traduzido do Inglês por Shaku Shinkai

click here for the English version

Pergunta:

O que eu devo fazer para ouvir profundamente o Dharma de Amida?  Por favor me dê alguns exemplos da escuta profunda.

Resposta:

- Pense que resolver a questão de nascer e morrer repetidamente é a coisa mais importante para você agora.

- Coloque de lado todos os outros ensinamentos budistas, não budistas, filosofias e opiniões e então ouça (ler também é ouvir) apenas o Dharma de Amida.

- Coloque de  lado o que você acha que sabe e escute o que o Dharma de Amida tem a dizer. Esvazie a sua xícara (mente) de sua chamada "sabedoria" pessoal e abra-se para receber o néctar do Dharma. Considere que não sabe de nada e que Amida sabe de tudo.

A visitor from Northern Ireland to Amidaji

Today, Mr Iain Lee from Northern Ireland visited Amidaji temple. We made a service (Nembutsu with Amidakyo), and discussed the essentials of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching. We'll keep in touch and see each other soon.

As I clearly stated many times, Amidaji is an international temple, opened to anybody who wishes to learn the authentic (orthodox) Jodo Shinshu Dharma and receive shinjin  – simple faith in Amida Buddha. 

Last year we received visitors from Brasil and Japan. This year more people announced their visit. Amidaji is glad to receive anybody who comes with a sincere intention to listen to the Dharma.

Namo Amida Butsu

Do not worry about the salvation of your loved ones

One of my dearest Nembutsu friends wrote to me recently and expressed his worries about some of his deceased or living relatives who haven't received faith in Amida yet, and who might now dwell (or will be born after death) in various painful states of existence, even in hell. He was concerned that there is too much time left until he reaches the Pure Land and will be able to save them.

The following was my answer to him:

Dear M:

We never really know what others may become after they die. Certainly, if they did not have settled faith in Amida during their present life, they will not be reborn in the Pure Land and immediately attain Buddhahood. But this does not mean they will absolutely go to hell. The truth is we can never know what karma may manifest during their bardo (intermediary state between death and the next rebirth).

Don't do many things, just focus on the recquirements of the Primal Vow

Recently, a reader wrote to me:

"We do many things at our temple, we meditate, do various practices, so we never become bored. Why don't you do the same to attract new members?"

In His Primal Vow Amida Buddha mentioned that we should do three things only and exclusively, "entrust yourself to me, say my Name, and wish to be born in my land". All these three are expressed in the Nembutsu of faith.

Its a pity you are bored with the Primal Vow, and that you and your temple sangha are not focused on what Amida asks you to do.  If in the Primal Vow meditation was mentioned, then I would teach and practice meditation. But as only faith, nembutsu and wish to be born in the Pure Land are to be found there, I obey and limit myself to them. Please do the same if you wish to be born in the true fulfilled land of the Pure Land[1]. Our school is the school of the Primal Vow, so if you consider yourself a member, then be a follower of the Primal Vow.