Namu Amida Butsu

This work is especially dedicated to Zuiken Saizo Inagaki, who sheds light on the pristine and original teachings of Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhism) for many people, including myself. I regard him as my soul teacher and I am very much influenced by his words and thoughts, which are deeply imbued with the Wisdom of Compassion of Amida Buddha. I read most of his writings available in Chinese language and I wish to share some of his golden words in this blog in English. Rev. George Gatenby and Mr. Gabriel Schlaefer have been kindly and untiringly assisting me to edit the translated essays so that they are readable and true to the intent of Sensei. May all partake of the wisdom of Shinshu teaching and be overpowered by the light of Amida Buddha.

Namu Amida Butsu!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Prologue 14


The Preface to the Kyogyoshinsho states: “The unhindered light is the sun of wisdom dispersing the darkness of our ignorance.”

The truth is exactly as pronounced in the above passage; no elaboration is needed to make further clarification. Never again hold on to thoughts and designs; never again cling obstinately to wrong beliefs. Apart from the shining of “the unhindered light”, there will be no destruction of darkness or fulfilment of aspiration. Because bombu wrongly regard the nembutsu as something belonging to them and take shinjin for their own possession, they become lost in the maze and cannot find their way home.

“The unhindered light” is precisely the radiant wisdom of Buddha. Thus, for bombu to attempt to exercise their own powers in dispersing the darkness of ignorance is simply an unattainable accomplishment, no matter what they might do. Although the radiant wisdom capable of “dispersing the darkness of our ignorance” illuminates us constantly like the sun, there are still people searching for the light in various places.

When “the unhindered light” penetrates our entire being, we are instantly grasped by the Tathagata’s light of compassion, never to be abandoned. I do not know how this happens; nobody knows. It is all due to the independent working of the realm of light.

Zuiken Sama


1 comment:

  1. 'The compassionate light of the Buddha of unhindered light always illumines and protects the person who has realized shinjin; hence the darkness of ignorance has already cleared, and the long night of birth-and-death is already dispelled and become dawn. Let this be known. This is the meaning of "and the darkness of our ignorance is already broken through." Know that when one realizes shinjin, it is as though dawn has broken.' ~ CWS, 519

    'The light of compassion that grasps us illumines and protects us always; The darkness of our ignorance is already broken through;' ~ CWS, 70

    "Never at variance with that land, one is drawn there by its spontaneous working." ~ KGSS III:77

    其国不逆违,自然之所牵。~《无量寿经》

    From the viewpoint of the Buddha, the salvation is based on the merits (power) of the Tathagata therefore it is said to be natural (spontaneous) and called ‘the naturalness of the Vow-Power’.

    http://diamondlikeshinjin.blogspot.com/2011/10/there-will-be-no-mahayana-without.html

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