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!

Friday, August 5, 2016

Amida's Self-benefit and Benefit of Others

Amida Buddha is “the Unhindered Light Shining throughout the Ten Directions”; this is the perfect enlightenment of Amida Tathagata. We may think that it is just the enlightenment of the honourable Amida Tathagata Himself (self-benefit), but it is not. “The unhindered light” is the posture (of Amida) embracing all sentient beings throughout the ten quarters (benefit of others) standing before us now. Therefore, Amida Tathagata is addressed as the Great Perfect Enlightenment—the perfect fulfilment of self-benefit and benefit of others. Jodo wasan is quoted as saying:
Amida's self-benefit and benefit of others have been perfectly fulfilled as the Pure Land,
The compassionate means skilfully adorned to lead us to take refuge.
It cannot be grasped by the mind or by words,
So take refuge in the Honoured-one beyond conceptual understanding.
Amida Tathagata is the Honoured One, the inconceivable that cannot be grasped by the mind or by words. How inconceivable is He? He is addressed as “the Honoured One, the Inconceivable” because the Great Perfect Enlightenment that He has attained is the oneness of “self-benefit” (the Perfect Enlightenment of Amida Tathagata) and “benefit of others” (shinjin of bombu and birth [in the Pure Land]).
The [Chapter on] True Buddha and Land is quoted as saying, “The Buddha is the Tathagata of Inconceivable Light (nine-character kujimyōgō)."
“Kimyo Jinjippo Mugeko Nyorai (I take refuge in the Tathagata of Unhindered Light Shining throughout the Ten Directions)” is the ten-character jūjimyōgō, “Namo Fukashigiko Nyorai (I take refuge in the Buddha of Inconceivable Light!)” is the nine-character kujimyōgō and “Namo Amida Butsu” is the six-character rokujimyōgō. These three objects of worship (gohonzon) are one body, the honourable manifestation of self-benefit and benefit of others.

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