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!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Prologue 93



This body has no one to rely on,
Like a boat adrift in a boundless ocean.
The radiance of compassion emanates from kalpas in the distant past;
The Vow-Power takes in and accepts people without discrimination.


To forget about one’s own problem of birth-and-death while talking bombastically and volubly about the Dharma doors is an attitude abhorred by Rennyo Shonin. In the face of a dying person at death’s door, to tell him or her all about shinjin and saying the nembutsu, is simply too late.

The dying person whose eyes no longer see can only be saved by the Primal Vow-Power.

‘Other-power is none other than the power of Tathagata's Primal Vow’ (Chapter on Practice from Kyogyoshinsho). The Primal Vow-Power is not intended to save people who like a great deal of speculation. Who is the very sick and dying person? Stunned and ashamed, what remains is

Namu-amida-butsu!     Namu-amida-butsu!

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