ENSEÑANZAS SENCILLAS SOBRE VACUIDAD Y NATURALEZA BÚDICA (libro)

Click here for the English edition 

La vacuidad y la naturaleza Búdica son temas muy difíciles y nosotros, los seguidores del sendero Jodo Shinshu, quienes tenemos una fe simple en Amida, no poseemos las altas capacidades espirituales de los practicantes avanzados del Vajrayana, por lo que sería imposible e inútil tratar de adentrarnos demasiado en este tema. No es la práctica de nuestra escuela tratar de reconocer y morar en la realidad última en la vida presente, con este mismo cuerpo, por lo que no necesitamos saber todo sobre la vacuidad y la naturaleza Búdica. Sin embargo, es bueno saber algunas cosas al respecto para que no nos confundan los falsos amigos espirituales que juegan inteligentemente con tales términos y los usan de manera distorsionada para justificar o imponer sus propias opiniones a los demás. Es por eso que del inmenso océano de auténtica literatura del Dharma sobre la vacuidad y la naturaleza de Buda tomé solo una pequeña parte, que es suficiente para tener una pequeña pista sobre este tema, tan poco como los soñadores samsáricos como nosotros podemos tener.

The main difference between Esoteric Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

Question:

Please tell me in a few words the main difference between esoteric Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

My answer:

Both Dharma Gates are true and both aim at attaining Buddhahood for oneself and all beings. However, they differ in the means of attaining it. For example, Esoteric Buddhism thinks they can attain it in the present body, while Jodo Shinshu says it will be attained in the Pure Land.

If you want to attain Buddhahood in this body, then you can try the advice of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon (esoteric) Buddhism:

"Form mudras with your hands,
recite mantras with your mouths,
and dwell in meditation with your minds."

(Attaining Buddhahood in This Body, Kobo Daishi)

However, if you know you cannot attain Buddhahood in this body and you wish to attain it in the Pure Land after death, follow this modified advice:

Put your hands in gassho,

say Namo Amida Bu with your mouth

and entrust to Amida Buddha with your mind.

This is similar with following the instructions of Amida in His Primal Vow:

“entrust yourself to me, say my Name and wish to be born in my Land”.

Amidaji is open to international membership

Do you want a Sangha which focuses on solving “the greatest matter of afterlife” through simple faith in Amida Buddha?

Do you want a Sangha which is not ashamed to be religious, devotional and faith oriented?

Do you want a Sangha which is not affiliated to the ideological agenda of political groups?

Do you want a healthy Dharmic environment focused on listening deeply to the Jodo Shinshu teaching as it was taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, Shinran Shonin and Rennyo Shonin?

Do you want a place without modernists and false teachers who are not capable to accept the existence of Amida Buddha and His Pure Land?

If your answer to the above is YES, then Amidaji International Temple might be the right place for you! We accept members from any country and we intend to develop a genuine Sangha of orthodox Jodo Shinshu Buddhists all over the world.

Click here to read Amida Dharma –the essential doctrine of Amidaji.

Click here to download our Constitution, find everything you need to know about the purpose of Amidaji, activities, membership, priesthood, organization, etc.

Click here to read the conditions to be accepted as a member of Amidaji

Please read carefully the information from the above links and think deeply before joining us.  Do not hurry. Life and death is serious business and we are looking for dedicated people.

Namo Amida Bu 

Amidaji members: Gansen Catalin Suru (Romania)

Josho and Gansen Catalin Suru

at Amidaji

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My name is Gansen Catalin Suru. I became a Jodo Shinshu follower   because  of the simplicity of the teachings and the orthodox/authentic     style  of  Amidaji. I feel at home here, in this sangha, and I enjoy the true   spirit of camaraderie among the members. I could not be in another place   for two simple reasons: I can’t attain Enlightenment through my own   power and Amida’s Primal Vow was made especially for me, so I can’t   refuse Him, like you cannot refuse somebody who is saving your life.   Amida Buddha is not only saving my life from this body, but from all the   deaths of samsaric dream, so it’s impossible for me to refuse His Call.  

Gansen repairing the
electricity of Amidaji

Before coming to Jodo Shinshu I was not so much   interested in religion, so I can't say I have a spiritual past. However, my eyes were opened by the Buddha Dharma to the hidden reality beyond the ordinary appearances and made me ask questions that I had never asked before. After understanding the teachings on karma, rebirth and Nirvana, aspiration for the permanent true Reality of Buddhahood was awakened in me and I realized that the only Path to reach it is through the Compassionate Vow of Amida. 

Namo Amida Bu,

Gansen Catalin Suru

Gansen Catalin Suru always comes on his bike to Amidaji

Gansen Catalin Suru is the electrician of Amidaji. Whenever there is any problem with the electrical system or the computer, he comes and fixes it. I always call him "Boss" ("Sefu" in Romanian, "Jefe" in Spanish) Its a nickname I gave him out of respect and gratitude. 

Members of Amidaji: Shingyo Yuri (Russia).

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UPDATE: Since August 23, 2022 Shingyo has been appointed as lay teacher of Amidaji sangha

My Dharma name is Shaku Shingyo. I am from Russia. I am a member of Amida-ji International Temple since I received kieshiki from my sensei Rev. Josho,  back in June 2020.

My spiritual quest, which lasted almost 30 years, began in early childhood, when my inner world literally exploded when I accidentally got immersed in a kind of meditation, during which I realized that I am not a body. Since then, I started my search.

Amidaji members: Jinshin Catalina (Romania)

Jinshin Catalina

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Spiritual biographies of Amidaji members

My name is Jinshin Catalina. I started my spiritual search early in life and six years ago, I joined Amidaji sangha. Buddhism offers me the most logical explanations of why there is suffering in the world, why I am who I am, why I was born, why I die, and it also shows me a way out of the cycle of repeated births and deaths through Amida’s Primal Vow.  It is a Path through which I no longer need to blame others for what is happening to me, and where I feel accepted as I am.

I am grateful to walk with you in the Light of Amida Buddha.

Namo Amida Bu

Members of Amidaji: Gansen John Welch Sensei (Australia)

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My Path to True Shin Buddhism 

Gansen John Welch Sensei

By Gansen John Welch

I am writing this at the request of my teacher, Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and in the hope that others may be encouraged, inspired and motivated to listen to and read Amida Dharma, find a good teacher of True Shin Buddhism and “entrust your karmic destiny entirely, utterly and completely to Amida Buddha.” This too was my motivation for narrating Josho’s excellent books and writing verses inspired by Amida Dharma.

I was born in 1958 and thus, if I live an average lifespan, I have only about 20 years left in this body. But, of course, no one (except a fully enlightened Buddha) knows exactly when or how they will die and more importantly what negative karmic seeds will ripen at the time of death causing us to be reborn in realms lower than the human realm resulting in perhaps many millions of years before again having the opportunity to benefit from Buddha Dharma. According to Shakyamuni, it is only human beings who have the best opportunity to learn and benefit from Buddha Dharma.