- updated on January 21st 2017 -
Amida Buddha |
In chapter II of his Kyogyoshinsho, Shinran
defines the great practice:
"When I humbly
contemplate the 'going forth' aspect of Amida’s merit transference, I realize
that there are great practice and great faith. The great practice is to call the Name of the Tathagata of Unhindered
Light (Amida Buddha). This practice contains all good and roots of virtue,
and is perfectly accomplished and most eficacious in bringing about liberation.
It is the treasure-sea of merits of true suchness, ultimate reality. For this
reason, it is called great practice.
This practice comes
from the vow of great compassion, the Seventeenth Vow, which is called the Vow
that the Name shall be glorified by all the Buddhas. It is also called the Vow
that the Name shall be praised by all the Buddhas, and the Vow that the Name shall be lauded by all the Buddhas. Further, it can be called the Vow
accomplishing the going-forth aspect of merit transference, and also the Vow of
the Nembutsu chosen from among many practices.'
Concerning the vow
that the Name shall be praised by all the Buddhas, the Larger Sutra states:
'If, when I attain
Buddhahood, innumerable Buddhas in the lands of the ten directions should not all
praise and glorify my Name, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.'