There are many who get stuck at the idea
of shinjin (faith) coming from Amida, or being Amida's gift. However, this is a
very simple thing, and you should understand it in a simple way, so that it may
not become an obstacle.
First of all, shinjin or simple faith in Amida is like when you do not know how
to fix your car and you trust John who is a mechanic to fix it for you. In our
case, you cannot attain Buddhahood by yourself and you trust Amida Buddha to
help you attain it by taking you to His Pure Land.Your trust in John
arises because you heard he is a very skilled mechanic and you saw him doing
other repairs. So, in truth, John is the one who makes you trust him.
Also, let’s say you have a best friend. To have faith in your best friend is,
in fact, answering to his love and to the fact that he is constantly there for
you, so in fact, your trust in him is his gift. You trust him because of him.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Again on the idea that faith in Amida comes from Amida - very simple explanations
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Visit of two friends from Brasil at Amidaji temple
Fernando Campos, Josho and Thais Campos |
These days at Amidaji I received the visit of Thais Campos and Fernando Campos (81
years old) from Brasil. We had a meaningful retreat filled with Nembutsu
services and Dharma talks. As you know, Amidaji temple is always happy to
receive visitors who are in a learning mood for hearing the Amida Dharma.
Conditions for visitation are explained here (click here).
Friday, May 17, 2019
LOS CUATRO PENSAMIENTOS PROFUNDOS QUE ORIENTAN LA MENTE HACIA EL DHARMA DE AMIDA (edición gratuita)
Portada de la versión inglesa |
Los Cuatro Pensamientos Profundos son enseñanzas
básicas, algo como una etapa preliminar a cualquier camino o práctica budista.
Tienen el efecto de orientar la mente hacia el Dharma del Buda y deben ser un
compañero constante no importa si uno es un principiante o un seguidor veterano.
A veces se denominan como las Cuatro
contemplaciones, los cuatro Entendimientos o los cuatro Recordatorios. Dado que
en este libro los explico en el contexto de la Puerta del Dharma de la Tierra Pura
de la escuela Jodo Shinshu (El Dharma de Amida), decidí llamarlos los Cuatro Pensamientos
profundos que orientan la mente hacia el Dharma de Amida. Estos pensamientos
profundos son:
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
No alcohol and no worldly amusements in the temple
As
you may probably know, in many Buddhist temples around the world, Jodo Shinshu
or not, members organize parties with music, alcohol, and dancing. Some say it
relaxes people and brings them together. I say it is a smart trick of internal
maras (one's own blind passions and ignorance) and/or external maras to make
people forget the Dharma in the exact place where they have the chance to
deepen its meaning, a subtle way of distracting them from Dharma and keeping
them focused on their worldly passions and preoccupations.
Don't
get me wrong, I do not forbid members to go to parties, drink, socialize or
dance. They have all the time for entertainment, but the temple is not a social
club, not a bar, and not a disco. It is also not karate, yoga, taichi or
ikebana club, not a bazaar and not a platform for various worldly ideologies,
as some use it from time to time. The temple is and must remain a place for
Dharma. Here we come for a different purpose - to listen to the Amida Dharma,
become aware of the delusional nature of samsara, of death and impermanence,
and of the need to aspire for the liberation in the Pure Land of Amida
Buddha.
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Favorable conditions for accepting the Larger Sutra in faith - commentary on verses 21 - 30 from section 27 of the Larger Sutra
After the episode with the visit of Bodhisattvas and prediction for their attainment of Buddhahood, Shakyamuni continues with explaining the
conditions of meeting with the teaching of the Larger Sutra and how precious and inconceivable this Dharma is.
“Without a store of good from
former lives,
One cannot hear this sutra;
But those who have strictly
observed the precepts
Can hear the Right Dharma.
One who
has met a World-honoured One in the past
Can
accept this teaching.
Such a person respectfully
worships, hears,
And upholds it, and rejoices so
greatly as to dance.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Visit of Bodhisattvas from other worlds to Sukhavati and prediction for attaining Buddhahood for them and all beings – commentary on section 26 – 27 of the Larger Sutra
“The Buddha said to Ananda, ‘The
majestic virtue of Amitayus is boundless. All the innumerable, countless, and
inconceivable Buddha Tathagatas in the worlds of the ten directions praise
Him.’”[2]
Whenever
we read about such praise by all Buddhas we should know it also means praising Amida’s
method of salvation which, among the methods invented by all Buddhas, it is the
easiest to bring ALL beings, no matter their spiritual evolution, to the
attainment of Nirvana. By praising Amida and His merits, they automatically praise
His Name as all His merits are manifested into His Name which is easy to
pronounce by anybody. All such praising are related with the 17th
Vow where Dharmakara promised that when He becomes Amida, all Buddhas will
praise His Name.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Invitation to become a patron (constant supporter) of Amidaji by little monthly donations
As you well know, all my Dharma activities, my books, and
articles are available for FREE to all who wish to learn about the orthodox
Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching. Also, at Amidaji temple there are NO taxes or
fees for accommodation, religious services or teaching activities.
Yes, I do have the printed editions of my books on sale on
Amidaji website, but I also provide, (according to my religious vow), free
online editions for those who can't afford or simply don't want to buy. Also, printed editions are sometimes given as
gifts at various occasions and to people who cannot read online or in pdf, and
also cannot afford to buy.
I am glad to say that, for example, at every two printed
copies sold per month, I have at least 50 copies downloaded for free. This is good
news and a sign that what I teach and write is useful to many.
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