ever heard of Pureland Buddhism?

fire on the wind · regular contributor Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 33

It's got to be one of the worlds best religions.

It's based on the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha who vowed not to enter nirvana until all sentient beings obtained enlightenmen, and since Amida obtained Nirvana that means that anyone who says the phrase NAMU AMIDA BUTSU("i take refuge in Amida buddha or "hail Amida Buddha) will be "reborn" into the Pure Land in which one obtains supreme enlightenment after one incarnation.

This religion started in India but came to its highest development in Japan through the person known as Shinran(upon whom be peace). Before Shinran people said you had to recite the name so many times, and with absolute faith. But Shinran said that since the whole basis of Pure Land Buddhism is that on relies not on one's own effort but on the infinite grace of Amida(buddha of infinite light), this means that one is required to say the name because that is all one can do. He's saying that Amida has compassion on ALL so even if one says his name only once with little faith that is good enough.

By far one of the best books on this subject is "The buddha of infinite light"
by D. T. Suzukin the reknowned Zen Scholar. He does a brilliant job of interpreting the psychological release or freedom this religion can bring. Take Shinran for instance, from what i recall he had spent some time trying to attain awakening through Zen, but no matter how much effort he put into it he was always frustrated. i don't recall the exact details but one day upon pronouncing NAMU AMIDA BUTSU he was released and right then and ther reborn into the Pure Land. This is what happens to anyone who calls upon Amida with Namu Amida Butsu, you are released and realize that the burden of the entire universe is not on your shoulders. Now the next step for the Shin Buddhist(Shin being Shinran's sect of Pure land) is to simply be and let the light of Amida shine through them thereby spreading his infinite light and compassion.

Some Pure Land Buddhists believe that it is literally millions of miles to the west of hear as i guess this is what some of the first sutras say. D. T. Suzuki's interpretation(and imo the most useful one) is that this very defiled earth becomes the pureland to one who experiences death and rebirth upon pronouncing NAMU AMIDA BUTSU, i love this.

Namu Amida Butsu

i love
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Love to will, will to love.
The secret was told to Mose through the bush which the lord who is like unto fire did burn but not consume, Moses came nigh unto the bush and the Lord spake: I Am, upon which Moses pondered and replied I am too, thus was the initiation given through the bush which in its blazing was not consumed but revealed.

**Fyrefly1** · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:39 pm Post subject:

Pretty cool....

I hadn't heard or read about him. When did he live?
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"All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident."
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fire on the wind · regular contributor Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 33

projectpeace · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:36 pm Post subject:

I must have mispronounced it...
I wound up in New Jersey.

Laughing

All seriousness aside,

PvH

PS. Really, Fire On the Wind, I appreciate your posting this. I find it truly fascinating and will look into the literary references you provided...namasté
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fire on the wind · regular contributor Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 33

i've found what looks to be a very informative site http://www.shindharmanet.com/index.htm

Namaste
_________________
Vexation of the soul is vanity -Peter Tosh

Love to will, will to love.
The secret was told to Mose through the bush which the lord who is like unto fire did burn but not consume, Moses came nigh unto the bush and the Lord spake: I Am, upon which Moses pondered and replied I am too, thus was the initiation given through the bush which in its blazing was not consumed but revealed.

**Ferre** · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks.

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fire on the wind · regular contributor Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 33

You're welcome

here's a poem from that site by Greg Heathcote

Void avoiding

No suffering and no end to suffering
Joy arisen and empty
Living out this inbred life in the Land of Bliss
'My' 'Amida' daily dying by inches

Non-dual is the great kindness and shame
A tear overflowing happiness and grief
Crying Namo Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butsu

Namaste
_________________
Vexation of the soul is vanity -Peter Tosh

Love to will, will to love.
The secret was told to Mose through the bush which the lord who is like unto fire did burn but not consume, Moses came nigh unto the bush and the Lord spake: I Am, upon which Moses pondered and replied I am too, thus was the initiation given through the bush which in its blazing was not consumed but revealed.

projectpeace · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:23 pm Post subject: The Burning Bush

Thanks for posting,

"The secret was told to Mose through the bush which the lord who is like unto fire did burn but not consume, Moses came nigh unto the bush and the Lord spake: I JAM, upon which Moses pondered and replied I jam too, thus was the initiation given through the bush which in its blazing was not consumed but revealed, and they verily began to jam together."

This inspired me to change my avatar to the burning bush I filmed in the WAMM garden last harvest, in Santa Cruz.

Blessings on the wind,

PvH
_________________
Project P.E.A.C.E.
Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics
invites you to replicate and submit this formal individual complaint to the U.S. government
http://formalcomplaint.blogspot.com/

Cannabis has never been truly illegal. The "laws" prohibiting the most useful agricultural resource on Earth are truly unlawful because Cannabis is unique and essential, beyond the rightful jurisdiction of any court.

**Fyrefly1** · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject:

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Fyrefly1
"All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century Philosopher

fire on the wind · regular contributor Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 33

projectpeace · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:28 am Post subject:

2

U

JAH

my

smiles for canni

_________________
Project P.E.A.C.E.
Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics
invites you to replicate and submit this formal individual complaint to the U.S. government
http://formalcomplaint.blogspot.com/

Cannabis has never been truly illegal. The "laws" prohibiting the most useful agricultural resource on Earth are truly unlawful because Cannabis is unique and essential, beyond the rightful jurisdiction of any court.