Diamondlike Shinjin: The Extremely Sick Man at the Time of Death

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, August 9, 2016

The Extremely Sick Man at the Time of Death

Shin Buddhism is the true teaching for the extremely sick person who is filled with heavy evil karma at the time of death. Even if you are young and robust at the moment, if you don't regard yourself as an extremely sick person at the time of death while hearing the Dharma, the compassion of Amida Tathagata cannot permeate you. This is because you forget about death and the path of karma, and just ask for shinjin. Therefore, it is of no avail.

For the wise and virtuous, there are 84,000 dharma-doors including Kegon, Tendai, Shingon, Zen, etc. Please go and do what you like! When we -- an ocean of beings in the ten directions -- realize the fact that we are the most inferior and defiled, we naturally discover that we are cats and care nothing for gold coins. For the objects which are most inferior and defiled there is the most superior and virtuous Dharma, which is Namo Amida Butsu.