The magick of
Nembutsu is that it is
easy practice!
How extraordinary!
Being easy practice, it is
called the non-magic of Nembutsu,
How ordinary!
Yet the Nembutsu practice
helps one to transcend
the ordinary as extraordinary,
and see as sacred
both non-magic and magick.
How mundane!
Commentary:
"Magick" and "non-magic" refers to the sense of awe arising when ordinary and mundane activity is revered as spiritual practice.
Within this context, "magick" refers to the ability of the devotee to experience the mundane life as deeply spiritually inspiring. He is to transcend the paradox of "magick as non-magic".
Indeed, everything in the world has a spiritual essence, especially the ordinary.
Furthermore, "non-magic" refers to the ordinary and mundane aspects of life whose spiritual essence felt not seen.
Indeed, Buddha Remembrance is revered as spiritual practice yet it consists of the ordinary and mundane activity of Nembutsu.
"Nembutsu" refers to all Buddhist practice related with Amida Buddha.
While the mundane world is mystified by the Nembutsu, the diligent practitioner remains in awe of it throughout his lifelong practice.
"Easy practice" refers specifically to the Nembutsu, be it meditation or chanting.
As the sublime spiritual activity, Nembutsu is mainly practiced in two different ways: chanting Amida's name and sitting meditation. It can vary from sincere recital of the Buddha's name to Nembutsu meditation to Vajrayana empowerment.
"Extraordinary" is related to mystery, to which most religious practices are to the untrained mind.
"Ordinary" is the complement of extraordinary. It refers to the commonly found qualities of life which are not exceptional in any way especially in ability, degree, quality or size. However, it can be pure and simple.
Like "mundane", it refers to this world. Indeed, in the context of this commentary, mundane itself describes the ordinary, while it tends to be found only in ordinary everyday life.
Thus, extraordinary refers to the unknown qualities of this world which are out of the ordinary and definitely far from mundane.
To the person inspired by Nembutsu practice who respects the ordinary and mundane as sacred, observing the sunset is as inspiring as seeing the Dalai Lama.
This sacredness is considered extraordinary in these modern times because it is very rare. Hence the term, "magick".
Yet ordinary everyday acts in that person's life may be seen as extraordinary when it has a positive influence on the mind.
In seeing the non-magic of Nembutsu as magick, the true devotee transcends its mystery.
For seeing the ordinary as extraordinary is to see the magick of Nembutsu.
No comments:
Post a Comment