Question: What did Shinran mean by "mindfulness is Nembutsu"?
mindfulness is Nembutsu;
Nembutsu is Namo Amida Butsu”.
Orthodox Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Teachings. Official website of Amidaji organization.
The crest of Amidaji. The eight petal lotus represents the eight elements of faith (shinjin) and the eight precepts of faith. |
Amida's Light sent to His devotee shown in the lower part |
Both heart and
practice must be a single discipline, not only to achieve birth in the Pure
Land, but also to realize Enlightenment in the Holy Gate. This is referred to
as ‘observing the practice by awakening the heart to Enlightenment’.
In Jodo Shu (Pure Land
school), Master Shan-tao called this ‘the steadfast heart and practice’.”[1]
“Heart” refers to the
“entrusting heart” (shinjin) or faith in Amida Buddha. This is also linked with
“aspiration”, which is aspiration or
desire to be born in the Pure Land. “Practice”
is to say the Name of Amida Buddha.
All these three: faith (shinjin), the saying of the Name and the wish (aspiration) to be born in the Pure Land are the three requirements of Amida in His Primal Vow, where He asked beings to entrust to Him, say His Name and wish to be born in His Pure Land: “sincerely entrust themselves to me (faith/shinjin), desire to be born in my land (aspiration), and say my Name (Nembutsu) perhaps even ten times”.
A few hours ago a friend showed me
the message of Richard St Clair (Shaku Egen) posted on True Shin Buddhism Group
from which I quote the most important sentence:
“My
spiritual path has taken a very different direction, away from True Shin
Buddhism and away from Buddhism in general”.
Here
is my comment:
When you hear about a teacher leaving Jodo Shinshu and Buddhism after many years of writing, teaching and judging what is right and wrong, you should realize that person has never had shinjin (faith) but only knowledge and enthusiasm for the Dharma. As any enthusiasm is impermanent, it is inevitable that one day he will get tired and search for something else.
Check my new book on the topic of modern divergences |
There is no need to create something
special into your mind.
By saying Namo Amida Bu in faith
you accept that everything necesary
to your salvation depends entirely
on Amida Buddha. |
Emyo Frits Bot |
A friend asked me what is false or unsettled shinjin? Then he gave me a quote from Kyogyoshinsho:
“1. One’s faith is not sincere; at one time it exists and at another it does not;
2. One’s faith is not single-hearted, because it is not firm;
3. One’s faith is not constant, because it is mingled with other thoughts.”
My mind can never be at peace.
Since the Buddha and me both know this simple truth,
Namo Amida Butsu comes naturally on my lips.
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The editorial policy of this website is to present only the orthodox teachings of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Before I link to any other website, I investigate that website to make sure that they share the same attitude. I reject any website that presents false or divergent teachings, or that links to other websites that present false or divergent teachings.
(Rev Josho)