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Nyorai-in
in Settsu
Just reciting
through Amida
brings emancipation
from deed, word and thought.
by Honen Shonin
It is taught that we are ordinary,
deluded beings (bonpu) who create bad karma through our
deeds, words, and thoughts and feelings which surely leads to
hell . However, Amida Buddha's guidance is not concerned with
the weight of these sins. Rather, Amida's guidance is the hand
of emancipation when we rely on the voice of the nembutsu, Namu
Amida Butsu. On his way to exile in Shikoku, a group of prostitutes
in the region of Kanzaki in present day Hyogo asked Honen Shonin
for such guidance. Honen explained about Amida Buddha's compassion,
and the women were persuaded to do the simple act of reciting
the nembutsu. The women who became convinced of this teaching
cut off their black hair with joy and relief. Soon, reciting the
nembutsu together in one voice, they cut off the bonds of their
fate. Today, their black hair is still preserved in this temple.
Explanation of Verse: Amida Buddha's compassion is happy to
emancipate us regardless of our sinful deeds, words and thoughts.
This emancipation relies on the simple recitation of the nembutsu
- Namu Amida Butsu, Namu Amida Butsu. We should call on the complete
power of Amida's Original Vow and recite the nembutsu earnestly
and truly with faith in this emancipation.
Painting:
A prostitute
from Muro awakens from Honen's words and attains Birth in the
Pure Land (Muro-no-yujo, Honen-ni yori hosshin-shite ojo-o togeru) from the Honen Shonin gyojoezu,
scroll 34, section 24-25.
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