Give the Victory to Others

When winning is more important than peace,
I let go of winning, and embrace peace.

Under the Bodhi Tree

By rejecting asceticism and rigorous meditation, Siddhartha rejected self-power. By relying on the other-power of Amida and the Universe (sunjata) by touching the Earth (jinen), Enlightenment arose.

Meaning of the Nembutsu

Namu                        Amida Butsu

    |                                       |

myself                      true entrusting

foolishness   =>       compassion

Ripples

In this vast, infinite universe,
   I am but an insignificant speck.
But like a small stone
   dropped into water,
A single act of kindness
   can ripple out,
To touch an infinite number
   of people.
Yet; it is not a cause
   of my insignificant self;
But due to the nature of water
   to ripple.

Tariki (Other Power)

Other-Power means not just relying on the compassion of
   Amida Buddha,
But on the compassion and life offered by
   All Living Things.

Two Hands

Gratefulness and Joy
One is the cause of the other.
Gratefulness is the Lamp,
Joy is the Light.

Humility and Gratefulness
One enables the other.
Humility is the Handle,
That opens the door of Gratefulness.

Mindfulness and Gratefulness
One precedes the other.
Being Mindful provides room for Gratefulness.
Notice how miraculous life is! 

True Wisdom

We strive to follow the precepts,
Yet inevitably fall into foolishness.
But it is wiser to be a fool who knows he is a fool,
Then to be a fool who things he is wise.

Upaya (skillful means)

Upaya, skillful means, is giving a teaching that is perfectly suited to the needs of the listener. Sometimes, this requires tolerance of ignorant views, superstitions, or partial truths such as: relative understanding apart from absolute understanding, dualistic thinking apart from non-dualism, self-power apart from other-power. The story of the dying father and the mother who anointed her breast support this. Buddhism is not a dogma (when pointing to the moon, don't mistake the finger for the moon). Belief comes not from an outside view but from within, a personal confirmation must be developed.

Snow

Just existing
I exist....
Snow drifting down.

-Issa

Gift

Amida Buddha is the gift.
The Nembutsu is the hand that receives the gift.

(Nembutsu: "Namo Amida Butsu")

Amida

Amida is not a person, or a thing, spirit, god, or Buddha.

Amida is Light and Life.
Amida is Thusness and Emptiness.

The nembutsu is not a pledge, a mantra, symbol, or name.

The nembutsu is a promise.
It is potential, shinjin, Buddha-Nature, satori.

Sincerity

"It is impossible to know one's own sincerity, because on reflection, we see our hidden agendas and ulterior motives that complicate our feelings. Sincerity is a value that becomes visible to others through consistent action. It is not something we can claim as a virtue."

-Alfred Bloom

Nembutsu

The first time I uttered the words
Na-Man-Da-Bu
I said them out of trust
In Amida's Vow.

There can be no other cause.
Therefore,
Amida has already planted
shinjin within me
And my rebirth in the
Pure Land
Is assured.

Don't let my habit energy speak for me

I argue with logic
That's my trap
Blessed with a strong intellect
Cursed with an arrogant mind.

Even without words
My eyes give me away
Listen to the moment
And let life circle me.

Calm confidence can
be mistaken for aloofness.
Nothing bothers me!
That upsets people.

Act, don't re-act
And they will learn
That nothing they do
Can upset the balance.

Fully Entrusting

If salvation by Amida Buddha is ensured,
Why follow the precepts?
Why meditate?
Why study the Dharma?
Why be concerned with suffering?

Because shinjin (deep trusting) comes from Amida,
But resides in my Mind.
It is unnecessary to convince Amida
My shinjin is True,
But it is necessary to convince myself.

I follow the precepts to exhaust self-power.
I meditate to exhaust self-power.
I study to exhaust self-power.
I suffer to exhaust self-power.

Having exhausted self-power,
I realize there is no other way for a foolish, defiled man
To experience nirvana
But to be born in the Pure Land
By the Power of Amida's Vow.

Fully entrusting Amida
Shedding the skin of self-power
Naked, my True Self is born
My Buddha Nature
Who's affinity for Amida is natural (jinen)

This boy is not my body, it is Amida's.
This mind is not my mind, it is Amida's.
This shinjin is not my shinjin, it is Amida's.

The Second Arrow

If one arrow strikes you, you will suffer.
But if a second arrow hits you in the same spot, you'll suffer one hundred times more.
An Enlightened person simply feels the original pain and lets it end there.

-Samyutta Nikaya V

Heart like a river

kshanti paramita (inclusiveness)
Paraphrased from "The Heart of Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hanh

A handful of salt makes a small bowl of water undrinkable. But pour the same amount of salt into a river, and the water is still drinkable. Due to its size, the river can receive and transform. If your heart is too small, one unjust word or act will have the power to make you suffer. But if your heart is large, if you have understanding and compassion, you can receive and transform suffering.

The Bodhisattva Never-Despising

Paraphrased from "The Heart of Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Bodhisattva Never-Despising saw the potential Buddha in everyone, and would bow to every child and adult and would say, "I do not dare to underestimate you, you are a future Buddha."

When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That is the message of suffering. Receive it and return what he needs- relief.

The Six Paramitas

1. dana paramita - giving
2. chila paramita - precepts
3. kshanti paramita - inclusiveness
4. virya paramita - dilligence
5. dhyana paramita - meditation
6. prjna paramita - wisdom

From "The Teaching of Buddha", BDK

Three Bodies of the Buddha

1. Dharamkaya, the Dharma Body (teachings)

2. Sambhogakaya, the Body of Bliss (compassion and wisdom)

3. Nirmanakaya, the Living Body (physical form)