Essay 155

Amida Tathāgata places His two palms together:

NamoAmidaButsu—the mind-power that does not allow you to fall,

Wherein the Tathāgata and the bonbu uncalculatedly become one.

This is the Original Vow-power of the Tathāgata,

The radiance of compassion and wisdom of the Tathāgata of the Unhindered Light,

The inconceivability of the Great Perfect Enlightenment—the fulfillment of the two-fold benefit of self and others—that is spread and heard throughout the ten quarters!

Born in the Pure Land through the Vow-power—

How rare and estimable this is!

‘Amida Tathāgata places his palms together; NamuAmidaButsu is the mind-power that does not allow you to fall.’ How admirable this reality is! We are truly speechless when we ponder the fact that we are revered by the Tathāgata; the only feelings contained are ‘shameful’ and ‘grateful’. We have been troubled with the matter on how to be born in the Pure Land to this day, and how we are to acquire the Other-power Faith (shinjin). The Tathāgata requests, ‘Just come as you are, please! I am waiting for you!’ Doubtful mind, self-power mind, and so on have all disappeared without a trace. What is left behind is the mind full of repentance: ‘How compassionate the Tathāgata is! Up to this day, this point, I am still heading in the wrong direction. I am so sorry for the Tathāgata!’

Again, the Original Vow-power—the Original Vow-power of NamuAmidaButsu—is something we are familiar with. Nevertheless, we start out from our side and use our own power, thinking of acquiring ‘Faith’. Hence we do not feel its praiseworthiness. But once we eventually come to know the fact that ‘the Tathāgata is beseeching me, that’s the Original Vow-power, that’s NamoAmidaButsu’—only then are we able to entrust to the Original Vow-power of NamoAmidaButsu that’s working animatedly! Ah, so repentant! I am speechless; I surrender.

Prince Shôtoku 聖德太子at Age Two