Essay 102

Upon hearing the origin of the Name—

The Primal Vow-power.

Upon hearing the origin of the Primal Vow—

The mind of Great Compassion, the never-forsaking mind of Oya-sama, the Buddha-wisdom of Great Compassion, Namo Amida Butsu, the calling sound.

In the Larger Sutra, it is said that the Primal Vow reveals the fulfilment of the twofold benefit of self and others to its utmost, for ‘birth (in the Pure Land) is realized in an instantaneous thought-moment of faith in Namo Amida Butsu upon hearing of it!’ We shall open the eye of the Larger Sutra and bow down to the explication of the Body of the Dharma-realm in the Contemplation Sutra, which unveils, ‘The person who sees the appearance of the Tathagata, directly perceives the mind of Great Compassion and is born there (in the Pure Land)!’ It is thought in the Larger Sutra that ‘the appearance of the Tathagata is Namo Amida Butsu!’ The Tathagata has perfect compassion and wisdom and His virtue is boundless. Look up endlessly to the unbounded virtue, and settle your mind (establish your anjin); this is Jodo Shinshu. As the Larger Sutra says, ‘having heard his Name, rejoice in faith.’