Oyasama is Calling (poem)

When I am calling the Nembutsu
it is actually Amida Nyorai calling to me.
When we are calling the Nembutsu
it is actually Amida Nyorai calling to us all.
In this way, my calling benefits others,
and their calling benefits me.
How so? Only Oyasama knows.
Who is Oyasama? Namu Amida Butsu.

Yuzu is Amida Buddha calling
through me to help bring peace to
all of us, and us
calling to Amida to help bring peace
to me but especially all of you.

When I am calling, Amida
calls through me to the whole world.
When we are calling, Amida
actually is calling to us all.
In this way, Nembutsu truly is
the Name-that-calls, for Yuzu is
but the meritorious of Nembutsu
simple because it is the call
heard around the whole world.
When we call to Amida Buddha,
what is it but the whole world
calling out to everyone of us?
Original post: August 29, 2013 0855H PDT

Whenever / Itsudemo (poem)

私が言うときは
いつでも 念仏
教祖コール：
「ナム阿弥陀仏像」
__ Translation: Romaji __
Watashi ga iu toki
wa itsu demo Nenbutsu,
Kyōso kōru:
`Namu amida butsuzō'.

__ Translation: English __
Whenever I say
The Nenbutsu, Oyasama Calls:
"Namu Amida Butsu".

The Authentic Self: Changing the Script

Each of us shares in this drama called Life, living by the script we each learn from birth until the day we die.

"The script" is a metaphor for behavioral and psychological negativities including cognitive distortions which lead to neuroses and sometimes, psychoses.

Indeed, the script can be summed up by this definition of insanity: when I keep doing the same thing all the time, expecting different results.

Yet it doesn't have to be like that.

Indeed, whenever I act differently from the day before, the script is being rewritten by me with the help of others.

This is why we share our lives with friends and family: to help rewrite that script, based on our shared experiences, to regain our sanity, one day at a time.

While we cannot change our life experience, we can still gain wisdom from it.

For the script is what we can change, just for today.

We can change the things we can by the grace of God as we know him, be it the 12-Step group, a prayer group, or simply two or more people sharing their lives with each other; within Japanese New Religion, Oyasama — which means "Greatly Honoured Parent" — also refers to the Higher Power, be it the Buddha or another spiritual entity.

This change is vital to, and a result of, spiritual growth which brings us closer to the authentic self.

Thus, living authentically is to live in the present moment, letting what each day offer each of us the chance to act to the best of our ability.

Provided that we play our part in Life, and be willing to change the script, it is possible to regains ties to the authentic self.

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For more notes on the authentic self, click on the link at the head of this article: http://gandhara.blogspot.com/2010/12/notes-on-being-mentally-captive-and.html

Never Alone (poem)

Just sitting serenely,
with Oya-sama nearby,
never alone is this heart-mind.

すぐ近くおやさまと、
穏やかに座って、
この心心であることだけ。

Sugu chikaku oya-sama to,
odayaka ni suwatte,
kono kokorogokorodearu koto dake.

The Japanese Religious Mind is Natural and Holistic, Being Both Spiritual and Material

In my mind, the material and spiritual are as one. I can no more separate them than I could keep a cup of water poured into my cupped hands.

Because the material and spiritual are as one, then God and man are not separated by sin, for sin has been cleaned away by the mercy of Oyasama (Amida Buddha). Yet Oyasama, though savior, is not God's intercessor, for he was originally a king who vowed to become Amida Buddha.

Yes, it is true that I utter Oyasama's Name, out of gratitude, not to ask for a boon or an answer to my prayers.

For prayers have a way of being answered when one least expects it. At least when I say the Name out of gratitude, I have but my gratefulness to offer to Oyasama. This is known as uttering the Nembutsu.

As for ethics, it all depends on the situation. Were I to adhere to a code of ethics that ignored the specific situation, then it's just part of a rulebook and could easily be codified into law.

For what kind of freedom is offered by rules? And how free are we when some of those rules become law?

Though limitations on our freedom may liberate us eventually, those limitations should be natural, not man-made.

That the spiritual and material are as one is the realization of what truly liberates us, because both the spiritual and material are natural, originally untouched by man.

This is why cleanliness is important to us, though it is up to each of us to determine how to keep clean, not one man's rules nor one society's laws.

I hope this explains the Japanese culture from the religious aspect to the gentle reader.

Oyasama The Ultimate Relief from Psychic Pain

With sincere uttering
of His Name, His call to me,
Oyasama removes all pain of guilt
until no shame remains.
For it is not I
saying His Name sincerely -
He alone calls through me:
"Namu Amida Butsu!"

Faith in the Primal Vow

Reality is false in that it distracts sentient beings from the truth:
when the spiritually awakened seeker is able to deal with reality.

The rest of us have to rely on faith alone in the Primal Vow of Oyasama.

Thus I put my faith in Amida.

All Oyasama Has: Haiku

All Oyasama
has is this old fool --
it is quite enough.
Namu Amida Butsu!
Namu Amida Butsu!


Reference:

Oyasama: http://www.buddhistinformation.com/pureland/amidas_work.htm

Nembutsu ... as a form of gratitude: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinran