The Four Noble Truths from the Jodo Shinshu perspective

 After manifesting the attainment of perfect Enlightenment, Shakyamuni Buddha spoke about the Four Noble Truths: 

1.     The Noble Truth of Suffering:
“Birth is suffering, decay is suffering, disease is suffering, death is suffering, to be separated from the pleasant is suffering, not to get what one desires is suffering. In brief all the experiences made with the body and mind, which have craving as their base, are suffering.”
 
2.     The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering:
“It is this craving which produces rebirth, accompanied by passionate clinging, welcoming this and that. It is the craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence and craving for non-existence.”

The six paramitas (perfections) in the Jodo Shinshu context

Shaku Shingan: “You may have heard of how at O-higan in North America, it is often taught that we "must" attain the six perfections (paramitas).” 

My answer: I know that some link Ohigan with the six paramitas (perfections). This is not good because we are not a self-power school.
 
The word “Ohigan” means “the other shore”. We also celebrate Ohigan at Amidaji but the meaning we attach to it is to remember the importance of birth in the Pure Land. This is what “going to the other shore” means.
 
The six paramitas were taught in the context of self-power practices so we can simply ignore this term. However, if we wish to use it then we must reinterpret it in the context of Other Power faith.

On the Golden Chain document

 

source of the photo

Shingan asked me to comment on the Golden Chain document which is sometimes recited like a creed at the start of religious services in many of the temples in US: 

“I am a link in Amida Buddha’s Golden Chain of Love that stretches around the world. I must keep my link bright and strong.
I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than myself.
I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, to say pure and beautiful words, and to do pure and beautiful deeds, knowing that on what I do now depends not only my happiness or unhappiness, but also that of others.
May every link in Amida’s Golden Chain of Love be bright and strong, and may we all attain Perfect Peace.”
 
The “Golden Chain of Love” was written by Dorothy Hunt in Hawaii about 90 years ago and it became a traditional recitation in the temples belonging to the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) as well as in the youth services for Dharma School, Young Buddhist groups, scouting and basketball programs. 

ПУТЬ ПРИНЯТИЯ КОММЕНТАРИЙ К «ТАННИСЁ»

 

Эта книга представляет собой адаптацию моих бесед о Дхарме на тему «Таннисё — Заметки скорбящего об отступничестве», которые я читал в Тарики Додзё города Крайовы в обычные дни практики.

Юйэн-бо, автор «Таннисё», предупреждал, что этот текст может быть неправильно понят теми, кто ещё не готов принять послание Изначального Обета Будды Амиды:

«Не следует показывать его посторонним».

Об этом же говорил и Мастер Рэннё, который добавил следующие слова в окончании «Таннисё»:

«Эти строки, толкующие священное писание, очень важны для нашего Учения. Не следует без нужды показывать их тем, кто не обладает кармой добродетели с прошлых жизней».

My books are available for sale on Amazon Japan

 日本の友人や読者の皆さん、私の印刷された本を日本円で直接Amazon Japanに注文することもできます！ 各書籍のリンクは次のとおりです。 

Dear Japanese friends and readers, you can also order my printed books directly from Amazon Japan in Japanese yen!
Here are the links for each books: 

AMIDA DHARMA - the essential doctrine of Amidaji International Temple 

The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

The Four Profound Thoughts which Turn the Mind Towards Amida Dharma 

 Simple Teachings on Emptiness and Buddha nature
 
Commentary on the Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life
 
TheTrue Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land
 
The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho
 
WorshippingAmida Buddha - Liturgies and ceremonies of Amidaji Temple 

The salvation of queen Vaidehi

Shakyamuni and Queen Vaidehi
(source of the photo)

 Fragment from my Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra. It is a work in progress and under constant revision. Click here to read the other chapters.

last revised June 6, 2024

 Commentary on sections 1 - 8

The Contemplation Sutra[1] was taught in the context of a tragedy in the royal family of Magadha[2]. Master Shan-tao[3] who also wrote a commentary on this sutra, gave a detailed account of what happened. As I don’t have access to a good/useful English translation of his commentary, I quote Rev Hisao Inagaki’s summary of Shan-tao’s explanation: 

“Shakyamuni had a cousin, Devadatta, who was greedy for fame and wealth. Seeing the Buddha receive many offerings from King Bimbisara, he wanted to take over the leadership of the sangha. He first learned supernatural power from Ananda, which he displayed to Prince  Ajatasatru; thus he won the respect of the prince and also received sumptuous offerings from him. Devadatta then approached Shakyamuni and suggested that the Buddha retire but was rebuked for his stupidity. Angered by this, he next incited Ajatasatru to usurp the throne.

Seeing that Ajatasatru hesitated, Devadatta pointed at the prince’s broken little finger and told him the following story. 

Members of Amidaji: Chikai Ana Galo (Uruguay)

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      of Amidaji members

EN/ESP
Hello my Dharma name is Chikai, which means "The Ocean of Wisdom". (of Amida's Primal Vow)
My name is Ana Galo Suárez, I am 47 years old and I live in my native country Uruguay.
When I was about 8 years old my mother bought me a children's Bible, I think that channeled the sense of faith in something bigger than me. I vividly recall some personal religious experiences related to the perception I had of a supreme reality. These thoughts were so deep that they moved me to tears.
When I was 10 years old I reflected a lot upon religious matters. I  eagerly sought high and low for the Truth, the connection with a Supreme reality that I had only an intuition about but I couldn't  name or comprehend.
I had some supernatural and wonderful experiences that I relate to spiritual dimensions as these profound experiences caused a mysterious feeling of compassion inside me.
Everything related to Chinese culture attracted me and when I was about 23 years old I began to practice Self Defense, part of the martial arts tradition of  Kung Fu.