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Jurin-ji in
Takasago, Harima
When I am born in the
Pure Land
I will recall the deep sincerity
among loved friends
from my home town.
by Honen Shonin
While Honen Shonin was travelling
in exile to Shikoku, he gave a sermon at a gathering of fisherfolk
at the bay of Takasago in present day Hyogo, now a sacred site
of Jodo Shu. Although his stopover was short, the villagers were
awakened to the joy of certain emancipation by reciting the nembutsu
and attaining a true faith in Amida Buddha's Original Vow (hongan).
If this is done, whatever bad karma exists is immediately extinguished.
Explanation of Verse: If we recite the nembutsu, we can board
the raft of Amida's Original Vow and certainly be born in the
Pure Land. If we are born in the Pure Land before others (die
before them), we will certainly recall the deep faith by which
we vowed to all former companions to experience the joy of the
nembutsu in this world and to be born together in the Pure Land.
How do others also become diligent in the nembutsu? By reflecting
on the joy we will share when we meet in the Pure Land.
Painting:
Sermoning to
old fisherfolk couple at Takasago Bay in Harima (Harima-kuni Takasago-no-ura-nite
gyomin-no-rofufura o kyokasuru) from
the Honen Shonin gyojoezu, Scroll 34, section 20.
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