How do I see myself as a Buddhist?

You don’t need to do anything in order to attain Buddhahood in the Pure Land of Amida. In Jodo Shinshu, Buddhahood is not to be gained or deserved. Unlike other paths outside or inside Buddhism, here the final liberation from birth and death is not to be acquired by you. 

You don’t go by yourself to Nirvana, but Amida Buddha takes you by the hand, like a child, and brings you there. He is the One who makes you see the ultimate nature of all things, who melts the many layers of illusions that cover your innate Buddha nature.

Once born through the gate of faith in the Pure Land of Amida or His sphere of influence, all these transformations occur instantly and naturally. Your journey in this life as a prisoner in samsara is over once you receive faith, and your journey as a Buddha begins when you are born in the Pure Land of Amida[1] at the moment of death.

Faith (shinjin) and the saying of the Name (which is the expression of faith) means that you simply let Amida Buddha bring you to Buddhahood. You trust that He can do this for you and that you can’t do it by yourself.

There is no other path like this one. No matter how much you study all the religions of the world and even all other Buddhist methods, you will never find such a teaching that truly requires nothing from you. 

This teaching of Shakyamuni about Amida Buddha’s salvation is the best expression of the infinite Love and Compassion a Buddha can have for sentient beings. It is the medicine to be applied when all other medicines (methods) have proven ineffective. 

Once I was asked:

“How do you see yourself as a Buddhist?”

I answered:

I am loved and accepted.

I feel as though I am surrounded by warm and huge gentle hands.

I am secure. Nothing can harm me spiritually, not even my own blind passions and evil karma.

I see the smiling face of Amida Buddha everywhere.

I know Amida never judges me, nor abandons me.

I know that the essence of the entire universe is great love and great Compassion.

I know I walk in the Light although I am impure.

No matter how I live or die my destination is certain. All problems have been solved for me.

This is how I see myself as a Buddhist.

---

[1] In the moment one receives faith, he immediately enters the stage of non-retrogression or assured of Nirvana and is born in the Pure Land of Amida at the end of his life.

 

 

On doubts and fears

Question: “How does the person of Nembutsu, who has received shinjin, deal with the ‘demon’ of doubt that resurfaces after the believer has received and experienced the blessings of true entrusting from Amida Buddha? 

As foolish beings, our Saha world minds are prone to delusion and ‘doubt’. That is part of our hopeless condition as bonbu. Perhaps those who have doubt after receiving shinjin are loved all the more by Amida Nyorai, because Amida recognizes the great need to embrace these hopeless, helpless beings in their delusional state of doubt. A Chinese Pure Land Master once said, “You may not ever doubt Buddha Amitabha (Amida), but, you will doubt yourself.” (I realize that those who have shinjin have Amida’s own faith through His merit transference to us, and that Amida Buddha cannot doubt himself).

At some level, most Westerners, who are converts from some form of Christianity, know they are ‘risking their very eternal lives’ (souls?) to receive, and possibly transmit, the Dharma of our school of Buddhism.

Question: What should I do about my bad thoughts that don’t stop even after entrusting myself to Amida Buddha?

-last revised October 16, 2021 -

Don’t busy yourself with them as Amida doesn’t take them into consideration. Your salvation has nothing to do with them. This is why Master Rennyo said that for the person of shinjin our negative karma is as if non-existent, in the sense that it will not become an obstacle to our attainment of Buddhahood in the Pure Land. This is also the meaning of “we attain Buddhahood without destroying blind passions”.

If bad thoughts arise in your mind, let them pass. It is not in your power to stop them and is not even recommended that you stop your thoughts, as this can bring mental problems. Just notice them and let them pass. They are your karma, your karmic tendencies, conscious or unconscious. I say they are “yours” because you are attached to them, identify yourself with them and you try to fulfill them, but in reality they are like clouds in the sky, impermanent and transitory.

Thoughts belong to nobody, so just leave them alone: you don’t need to insist on acting on them or modifying them. Just rely on Amida Buddha and say the Nembutsu. The object of your attention should be Amida’s promise from His Primal Vow, not the various thoughts that wander in your mind.

If you experience good moments, say the Nembutsu. If you experience bad moments, say the Nembutsu. There will always be something to happen to you or appear into your mind. Don’t expect not to experience bad thoughts after receiving shinjin (faith).

Take refuge in Amida Buddha and say His Name no matter the state of mind you are in. Amida doesn’t take into consideration if you are in a good, special, or bad state of mind. He knows who you are and that you need Him, so don’t worry. He is your best friend, asking nothing from you.

Here is a wonderful poem by Senmyo Wajo:

“When you are alone and hurt, recite Namo Amida Butsu.

When you feel the loneliest man in the world and you are depressed, again recite Namo Amida Butsu.

Namo Amida Butsu is for this ignorant person full of blind passions.

When things are as they should, not good or bad, Namo Amida Butsu.

Namo Amida Butsu is not recited for other people’s ears,

but it’s a Call between parent and child.

I hear Namo Amida Butsu with my ears,

Namo Amida Butsu I answer with my voice and my heart,

Namo Amida Butsu, recite even for ten times and sleep in peace!

If you suddenly die, whenever and wherever you are,

you are home[1] in the Pure Land of Enlightenment[2].”

 

---

[1] You will go to your true home – the Pure Land of Enlightenment.

[2] The meaning is that you will enter the Pure Land no matter where you are when you die, so any place of death is a door to the Pure Land.

Members of Amidaji: Keshin Maria Zita D'Abreu (Australia)

 Click here to return to Amidaji biographies

My Dharma name is Shaku Keshin 釋 華信 ("Flower of Faith"). I was born 5th September 1944 in Monte, Madeira Island in Portugal.

I was for a long time disappointed with the Catholic Church and I lost my belief. Then I started thinking where will I go if I die, for a few nights. Then I remembered that my son Kengo Jim E. said that people who believe in Amida Buddha go to the Pure Land. I was already sympathetic to this type of Buddhism. I saw my son's way of life since he met Rev. Josho online and the words my son shared with me about Amida was a great influence over the years. Then in November 2020 I made a decision to embrace the teachings of Amida Buddha and the Pure Land and on 24th November I told my son I believe in Amida. Since then I recite Nembutsu and believe the teaching on Amida Buddha.

In early May 2021, maybe just after midday, I was seated alone on a lounge in my home without any lights on and no direct sunlight was coming through any windows. I was leaning forward reciting Nembutsu silently, relaxed and my hands were not in gassho when I turned my head slightly to the right and saw close next to me to my surprise a half a metre square wide area of light with curved top corners. I looked at this light and because I was reciting when it appeared I felt this is Amida Buddha. I then turned my eyes to the left a bit and when I looked back the vision was gone. I remembered then that my son Kengo told me that he read in Rev. Josho's Spiritual Autobiography that he had a vision of Amida Buddha at his altar while he was saying Nembutsu.

I like my life now with Amida and it has purpose. I talk with Amida.

Keshin Maria Zita D'Abreu

 Western Australia