The Disease of Wanting to Acquire Birth/Shinjin

What mind is this? It is full of afflictions and how then can I acquire birth in the Pure Land?

Do not listen (pay attention) to the Buddha Dharma but keep thinking of acquiring birth quickly, don't you suffer from "the disease of wanting to acquire birth?" Or else, you must be infected with the "disease of wanting to acquire shinjin." Please be prepared to fail. Please try to fall to a stage where you cannot fall anymore. 

'When its energy is spent,

the frog is fished out,

croaking aloud!'

Look up to the Power of the Tathagata

Do I have shinjin? Is my shinjin real? Is that fine? 

Stop pretending! Why are you complaining about shinjin being real or fake? Are there real and fake ones? Speaking of "save you" it means "save you" certainly! Why are you beating about the bush and entertaining (the idea of) "real" and "fake" shinjin? Please, look up to the Power of the Tathagata. 


Zuiken

The hand-held nenju does not fall owing to the power of the hand

A member of the Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara holds a nenju
(Photo credited to the owner of the blog at http://tedmills.com//) 

All of you are holding nenju, right? If this nenju is let go of, it falls, right? 

“The hand-held nenju does not fall owing to the power of the hand.” 

Because the nenju is “held (in the hand)”, the same way we are grasped or held by Amida Buddha － “embraced and not forsaken” －stopping me from falling, this falling good-for-nothing can only be safe from falling. That’s how it happens! However, this nenju (bombu) insists on “having to acquire shinjin for birth!” Nenju (bombu) apparently do not have limbs but think of holding on to Amida firmly for birth. As these good-for-nothing (nenju) take out their limbs, they head to hell! 

“The hand-held nenju does not fall owing to the power of the hand!” 

Therefore, we can “attain birth in the Pure Land” whether or not we hear the Dharma, do good work (charity), say the Nembutsu, as the nenju’s nature (weight) of falling does not change! “This me who is falling,” “cannot fall because I am relying on Amida’s Primal Vow-power that holds me firmly!” “Try to fall and see if you will. You won’t, will you?” “I can’t fall!” when “I have been defeated by your power." You have just mounted the Primal Vow-power; this means that shinjin is determined. 

If it is just the nenju alone, it will fall! Even though it will fall, it’s firmly held by Amida Buddha － “embraced and not forsaken”－ and when asked to “try to fall and see if you will,” however, you are unable to fall anymore. Unable to fall, no matter if you like it or not, you have no way to get away from being born there. Because Amida Buddha's power is so immense, you have been defeated by Him at last; isn’t this shinjin? During the struggling period, you have no shinjin.  When being held by Amida, you won’t be worrying unnecessarily “Would I not fall? Would I not fall?” Similarly, when being held by Amida, you won’t be saying “have to acquire shinjin for birth.” This is not acceptable.

Zuiken 

At any time we are completely naked before the Parent of compassion

“Apart from the Buddha saving me, ask no shinjin of your own.” Therefore, you don’t have to forcefully boast, “I have entrusted myself.” Hence, “I have heard it,” ”I have entrusted myself,” such minds of “entrusting” and “hearing” should leave no residual trace. This is what is meant by “at any time we are completely naked before the Parent of compassion.”

“The mind that hears,

Remembers

Are both carried away by Amida Buddha.

Completely naked, completely naked we are,

At any time

Before the Parent of compassion.”

In this way, we are able to be born in the Pure Land, aren’t we?

“For the Buddha-dharma, no matter how much that we hear 

Always we are babes before hearing.”

Don't bring out human wisdom!

Without having Buddha's wisdom, you won't be going to the realm of wisdom of Buddha. What do you use to enter the realm of wisdom of Buddha? The Pure Land is the realm of wisdom of Amida Buddha! Also, it is the realm of compassion of Amida Buddha! You may think of going to the realm of wisdom of Buddha, but you won't without humbly accepting the Buddha's wisdom. This must be pondered well, otherwise self-power will emerge imperceptibly.

Speaking of shinjin, it's accepting humbly the Buddha's wisdom! Human wisdom does not work. Human wisdom is in any case termed "calculation"! It puts you in self-power and doubt! Don't bring out* human wisdom!

"I hear that..," "I assume that..," "I think that...," "because I say the Nembutsu I can be born there," "because I feel joyful I can be born there," these are human wisdom and human thinking! Such thoughts are useless, and you mustn't do without discarding all of them.

Zuiken (An extract from "Talk on the Hymns of the Pure Land Masters."

Note: *Don't bring out means not to exert, not to make a show of. 

Not trusting in people while thinking of humbly accepting shinjin is a mistake!

 “I trust in Shinran Shonin, and therefore trust in the Infinite Life Sutra” 

  --- Hirokku Eishun sensei (岗英俊师) 

The Name of the Primal Vow propounded by the Infinite Life Sutra is not something that bombu can possibly trust in. Touching the Infinite Life Sutra, it is simply the Name of the Primal Vow! “Relying on the Name of the Primal Vow, just by this single honorable power we are taken to be born in the Pure Land,” while discarding everything else! Eishun Sensei said bombu would not be able to trust in the Infinite Life Sutra, which he referred to as the Name of the Primal Vow, but “(he) trusts in Shinran Shonin, and therefore trusts in the Infinite Life Sutra.” Please keep these words in mind. 

Not trusting in people while thinking of humbly accepting shinjin is a mistake! It does not matter how much great Dharma teaching you have listened to, books you have read, difficult words you have remembered -- these have nothing to do with shinjin! Without trusting in people, it is impossible to humbly accept shinjin.

Zuiken
(An extract from Talk on Hymns of the Pure Land Masters)

Shinran Shonin

Seeking shinjin within while turning your back on Amida Buddha

Seeking shinjin within while turning your back on Amida Buddha, and not beholding the Buddha; such shinjin is not acceptable! 

Speaking of shinjin, just seeking it within is not acceptable! 

Speaking of shinjin, it concerns us accepting it humbly; and speaking of accepting it, you seek it within, keep looking inwardly: Do I have shinjin? Have I not accepted it? To investigate like that is the proof of your not having accepted shinjin.

Zuiken 

(an extract from Talk on Hymns of the Pure Land Masters)

It is truly the power of the Primal Vow

Birth is not achieved after we have studied the Buddha-dharma, heard the Buddha-dharma, and humbly received shinjin; it does not happen after we have first accomplished ourselves. It is in our current, altogether or completely unaccomplished state, that birth is achieved. Therefore, it is truly the power of the Primal Vow. 

Zuiken

Birth through saying the nembutsu

“Birth through saying the nembutsu” refers to “birth through shinjin (faith-mind).” 

Zuiken

We have been saying the nembutsu deliberately ...

We have been saying the nembutsu deliberately in order to acquire shinjin, until today.
We wish to attain birth with the power of saying the nembutsu.
To this day, to this moment,
We have been saying the nembutsu assiduously. 
Isn't it shallow?
Our father of compassion is right here and
that's my honourable shinjin.
Both words and thoughts perish. 
Together with Namo Amida Butsu 
We walk side by side.

Zuiken

Unmistaken Salvation and Birth

The salvation of the Primal Vow-power is unmistaken, hence my birth is unmistaken. Bombu's doings are purely mistakes. 

The Posture of Amida and Sentient beings Becoming Buddha in Unison is Namo Amida Butsu

The photo of a hanging rokuji myogo scroll  is credited  to Rev Sinkin Fujihara.

Amida Tathagata established the Primal Vow to become Buddha in unison with sentient beings. As the Primal Vow implies, the posture of Amida and sentient beings becoming Buddha in unison is Namo Amida Butsu. The Buddha-wisdom and Great Compassion that we "ashamedly" accept with reverence is shinjin.

All the hindrances become free of hindrances

“Taking refuge (kimyo)” means to give up our design (self) and pursue and adore the “kimyo” of the Tathagata.
The Tathagata is free of hindrances; virtuous and unvirtuous people are equally saved. From the perspective of bonbu, the virtuous people are saved while the unvirtuous are not; so they discriminate based on their frame of mind from ages ago. This is known as “hindrances.” Bonbu discriminates over every single thing, and this is termed “hindrances.” The “Unhindered Light” of the Tathagata is the Primal Vow that saves bonbu who is good at nothing but discrimination. Thus, it’s said that “all the hindrances become free of hindrances.”

Zuiken

The Tathagata in Hell

Zuiken Sensei preaches,
'You think you are hearing the Buddha Dharma in this Saha world, at the main hall (of the Buddhist temple). Therefore, you get nowhere.
In hell, to behold Amida Tathagata even once, “Ah, what a joy!” is the only fit expression.
The Tathagata in hell is the Buddha Dharma!
No Buddha Dharma and shinjin outside the state of mind of encountering the Buddha Dharma in hell. 
You may think of acquiring shinjin by listening to the Buddha Dharma, but there is no shinjin when you forget about the Tathagata in hell.'

Yes, it’s true! Because you forget about the hot flames that begin to burn right under your feet, you are taking no heed and turning a deaf ear to the call of the Oyasama (Honored Parent)…

What’s more lamentable than this?
What’s more sorrowful than this?
Namo Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butsu

Rev Zuikaku

Oyasama's mind

The mind of the Oyasama surpasses the mind that think of the Oyasama. 
~ Zuiken

Note:

The "Oyasama's mind" signifies our Honored Parent's Sincere Mind that pleads (begs) you to be saved as you are by Him. And, why are you hesitant?

Do you think your mind (defiled/delusional) is worthy of trust than the Oyasama's (true and real)?

Would die with a peaceful mind help?

A story told by Zuiken:

In the past, there was a pious Shinshu follower who was desperate for peace of mind (anjin/shinjin). He could not help dying without a peaceful mind. Therefore he looked for all Shin teachers of his time to hear the teaching earnestly but to no avails.

Then he heard there was a great Shin teacher came to his town. He hastened to meet him. When he met the teacher, he explained to him that he could not afford to die like that without a peaceful mind.

"Would die with a peaceful mind help (workable)?" The great teacher replied. The man was shocked at the reply and realized anjin.

Note: 

"To die with a peaceful mind" remains bonbu's calculation, there should not be any calculation from our sides. 

“Such a matter of great importance as birth in the Pure Land should not be meddled with by bonbu. You should leave it wholly to the Tathagata.” (Tract on Steadily Holding to the Faith [Shujisho])

Birth through "the True and Real Shinjin"

Birth through "the true and real shinjin" means birth through "the Primal-vow power."

The 'One Vehicle' of the Primal Vow

The 'One Vehicle' of the Primal Vow of  is "the path free of hindrance." It is the path free of hindrance, so bonbu are saved "just as they are." The thought of "seeking shinjin or saying the nembutsu for birth" is the self-power calculation for not realizing "the path free of hindrance."

Adapted from Zuiken's work

I'll take you there!

"'I'll take you there!"
Did you hear it? 

"Yes, I have heard it!"
No, it's not what's heard, 

But "I'll take you there!"

(Adapted from Zuiken's work)

The "Ticket*" from Our Saha World

The "ticket*" from our Saha World is NOT valid and is completely inaccessible (to the Land of Bliss). So, how? The Tathagata says, "I take you there!" It's the Great Compassion of the Tathagata's "unfailing attainment of our birth."

Don't issue yourself the certificate of Shinjin, that's useless.

* A claim to have acquired shinjin

Adapted from Zuiken's work.