It is a flawed theology to fear a non-Christian would go to Hell practising their own faith, be it Buddhist, Islam, Judaism or any religion other than Christianity that promote moral conduct.
In assuming that if I don't believe in Jesus, then I'll go to Hell, the conservative Christian is endorsing a religious opinion that is based on flawed logic.
In my opinion, this is the devilish nature of that assumption: condemnation of non-believers and fear of non-Christian faiths.
Whether or not I go to Hell is not determined by what I believe, but by how I conduct myself. This too is true in Buddhism. Indeed, both faiths require their members to repent from immoral conduct.
Therefore, the religiously faithful of any religion who follow the tenets of their religion will not go to Hell by practising their faith.
Thus I question the condemnation of unbelievers by any religion. Though, Buddhism endorses us to not to blindly accept what the Buddha said but to test everything that is Buddhist.
Perhaps this is why I like Mormonism. While the history of the Mormon is complex, the willingness of Mormons to be open to limited religious pluralism is a good sign. It shows the ability to adapt to the influence of post-modern eucheminism on Mormon thought.
Because I know that unconditional love is the root of Buddhism and Mormonism, I am sure that it will be possible for me to moderate my Buddhist ideals with Mormon ideals. Yet it is unlikely that the mixing of the different flavors of both faiths will lead to strengthening of my core belief about unconditional love.
For that Love empowers both Mormons and Buddhists to improve their lives for the better.
As I grow in my experience as a neophyte Buddhist Mormon, I hope to disprove the assumption by naïve conservative Christians that the syncretism of Buddhism and Mormonism will condemn me to Hell.
In Mormonism, a member eventually will be reborn in one of three kingdoms, the Celestial, the terrestrial and the telestial. Yet the afterlife is not of this world. Even so, the metaphor of the Mormon afterlife can be applied to this life.
If you follow the moral code of Mormonism, then it is possible to achieve the glory of the Celestial kingdom. If you follow the moral code of a non-Mormon religion, then you may achieve the glory of the terrestrial kingdom. If you follow your own moral code, then the telestial kingdom is for you.
In contrast, if you slip up but stay faithful to the Buddhist precepts of moral conduct, then you may achieve Nirvana, which is freedom from the cycle of birth and death in the Six Realms of Desire. If you just follow your own moral code, then you will live your own life.
Whatever my destiny is as a Buddhist Mormon, my depth of faith in unconditional love determines the strength of my moral code which determines my moral conduct. Through meditation and prayer, it is possible to live by my moral code and improve my moral conduct.
Although I am not perfect, I hope to improve my life by abstaining from caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and dangerous drugs. By doing so I plan on improving my health so that I may live long enough to be of service to other people, which is a core Buddhist tenet.
Since Mormonism is dedicated to service to other people, I find that it is amenable to my core Buddhist beliefs.
In Jodo Shinshu, the Japanese Buddhism that is the faith that I was born in, it is said that its founder Shinran Shonin once said, "I gladly will follow my master Honen to hell."
If conservative Christians might condemn me to Hell for "serving two masters", then that is based cherry picking Biblical quotes to support their religious opinion.
So, I certainly do not believe I am going to Hell. Although I have once stated that the Buddha is my Christ in jest, in all seriousness it is the foundation of the spiritual aspects of my life.
By declaring that "the Buddha is my Christ", I am only confirming the influence of the Buddha and the Christ on inspiring my life as a Buddhist Mormon.
Showing posts with label six realms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label six realms. Show all posts
20140713
Happiness is Peace of Mind (satire)
It is said in Buddhism that seeking happiness, which comes and goes with a person's mood, is desire which may distract the devout from Nirvana and thus lead to rebirth in the Six Realms of Desire.
In order to escape suffering in the Six Realms, I would need to extinguish the desire to be happy so that true happiness arises.
True happiness is found in the freedom from desire itself. This implies mastering my passions by behaving more compassionately towards other people who have grown to care for.
Buddhism does not advocate the neglect of family life. Rather, Buddhists are urged to act mindfully while keeping the Five Precepts (no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no false speech and no intoxicants such as coffee, tea, alcohol, dangerous drugs, and tobacco).
Even so, I like feeling happy once in a while, and associate that feeling with peace of mind. Deep down though, such fleeting happiness is due to the work of unconditional love.
However, the pursuit of happiness is indeed potentially the pursuit of suffering when a person desires to sustain it to the exclusion of the main goal in life, which is to fulfill your spiritual journey through life.
In escaping suffering, the Buddhist does so by reflecting on the Four Noble Truths (life is suffering, suffering is due to endless craving (desire), relieve desire, and embark on the Eightfold Path to aid in that relief).
It is through meditation that the spiritual journey begins by first relieving suffering by accepting the Four Noble Truths.
When my mind is calmed, I go on to meditate more deeply on the fleetingness of happiness. With my desire thus quenched, it is possible to develop peace of mind so that true happiness may arise.
Happiness is indeed peace of mind. Be ever watchful and strive for it!
In order to escape suffering in the Six Realms, I would need to extinguish the desire to be happy so that true happiness arises.
True happiness is found in the freedom from desire itself. This implies mastering my passions by behaving more compassionately towards other people who have grown to care for.
Buddhism does not advocate the neglect of family life. Rather, Buddhists are urged to act mindfully while keeping the Five Precepts (no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no false speech and no intoxicants such as coffee, tea, alcohol, dangerous drugs, and tobacco).
Even so, I like feeling happy once in a while, and associate that feeling with peace of mind. Deep down though, such fleeting happiness is due to the work of unconditional love.
However, the pursuit of happiness is indeed potentially the pursuit of suffering when a person desires to sustain it to the exclusion of the main goal in life, which is to fulfill your spiritual journey through life.
In escaping suffering, the Buddhist does so by reflecting on the Four Noble Truths (life is suffering, suffering is due to endless craving (desire), relieve desire, and embark on the Eightfold Path to aid in that relief).
It is through meditation that the spiritual journey begins by first relieving suffering by accepting the Four Noble Truths.
When my mind is calmed, I go on to meditate more deeply on the fleetingness of happiness. With my desire thus quenched, it is possible to develop peace of mind so that true happiness may arise.
Happiness is indeed peace of mind. Be ever watchful and strive for it!
20140625
Without a Soul to Save, Only the Good Life Awaits (satire)
I'm pretty sure the fact that The Book of Mormon is in the English of King James version makes it a difficult read for me.
What if, instead of the Celestial Kingdom, I'm fine with rebirth in the Terrestrial Kingdom?
I'm not sure if a Mormon can understand that. In Buddhism, the reason why there is no baptism is because the metaphors about water refer to how the multitude of Buddhists are a part of mighty ocean of wisdom and love.
However, the goal of an earnest Buddhist is not to be reborn in the Six Realms of Desire but to escape rebirth itself through meditation and related acts of mindfulness.
I suppose meditation is mysterious to a Mormon who equates baptism and giving up worldliness with achieving the Celestial Kingdom in the Afterlife.
Nobody in America can really fathom how sitting on your ass achieving calmness of mind is supposed to lead to nirvana, let alone Enlightenment, except perhaps a Buddhist.
Yet that calm mind leads to the clarity of mind to realize almost the same thing that a Christian knows to be true: seeking fame and glory does not lead to a truly good life and neither does seeking riches.
In this way is Buddhism almost on the same page as Christianity. For, even without baptism, I can avoid the delusions that chasing fame may lead to, and also avoid the pitfalls of financial success.
After all, the Buddhist principle of no-self implies that there is no soul to save. Instead, there is only a good life to make my own.
What if, instead of the Celestial Kingdom, I'm fine with rebirth in the Terrestrial Kingdom?
I'm not sure if a Mormon can understand that. In Buddhism, the reason why there is no baptism is because the metaphors about water refer to how the multitude of Buddhists are a part of mighty ocean of wisdom and love.
However, the goal of an earnest Buddhist is not to be reborn in the Six Realms of Desire but to escape rebirth itself through meditation and related acts of mindfulness.
I suppose meditation is mysterious to a Mormon who equates baptism and giving up worldliness with achieving the Celestial Kingdom in the Afterlife.
Nobody in America can really fathom how sitting on your ass achieving calmness of mind is supposed to lead to nirvana, let alone Enlightenment, except perhaps a Buddhist.
Yet that calm mind leads to the clarity of mind to realize almost the same thing that a Christian knows to be true: seeking fame and glory does not lead to a truly good life and neither does seeking riches.
In this way is Buddhism almost on the same page as Christianity. For, even without baptism, I can avoid the delusions that chasing fame may lead to, and also avoid the pitfalls of financial success.
After all, the Buddhist principle of no-self implies that there is no soul to save. Instead, there is only a good life to make my own.
20140114
Meditation on Solitude: an Evolution from Living Alone to Oneness in Pure Mind (poem)
I live alone
dwelling in mindfulness,
remembering Buddha,
my heart rubbed raw
by great compassion,
untroubled by human suffering,
swimming in the ocean
of humanity, swept away by desire, lust, passion...
(written December 27, 2003)
Alone but devoid
of all loneliness, my love
is made pure again
by romantic notions unknown
to the common masses.
(written January 20, 2004)
it is Pure Spirit
that inspires such love,
laying the groundwork
for the Divine Realm.
Thus is it aiki of Ōmoto.
(written January 24, 2004)
Pure Mind only exists.
All other things exist
because Pure Mind cannot stand
to be the only One,
even this humble author
who now may never
realize such a mind,
due to the vanity
existing between the lines.
For humility deepens
awareness of Pure Mind.
(written February 3, 2004)
Aware of Pure Mind,
abandoning pure lust for the world,
the sage can overcome
what the sentient beings
enjoy while frolicking
in this world of Samsara.
(written January 14, 2014)
Last posted: March 12, 2004 1232h PDT
dwelling in mindfulness,
remembering Buddha,
my heart rubbed raw
by great compassion,
untroubled by human suffering,
swimming in the ocean
of humanity, swept away by desire, lust, passion...
(written December 27, 2003)
Alone but devoid
of all loneliness, my love
is made pure again
by romantic notions unknown
to the common masses.
(written January 20, 2004)
it is Pure Spirit
that inspires such love,
laying the groundwork
for the Divine Realm.
Thus is it aiki of Ōmoto.
(written January 24, 2004)
Pure Mind only exists.
All other things exist
because Pure Mind cannot stand
to be the only One,
even this humble author
who now may never
realize such a mind,
due to the vanity
existing between the lines.
For humility deepens
awareness of Pure Mind.
(written February 3, 2004)
Aware of Pure Mind,
abandoning pure lust for the world,
the sage can overcome
what the sentient beings
enjoy while frolicking
in this world of Samsara.
(written January 14, 2014)
Last posted: March 12, 2004 1232h PDT
20140111
Transcending the Imagination
Technically, a certain Amida Buddha might not have existed long ago as he only exists in the Buddha world Sukhavativyuha, hence called the Pure Land of Bliss.
All of the possible Pure Lands do not exist in material space-time as they are of a Buddhist metaphysical nature.
Indeed, it may become necessary to believe in the Pure Land and in Amida Buddha in order to implement Nembutsu practice faithfully, as belief in the Pure Land is based on what is called the Primal Vow, which might place them next to God and unicorns.
This is similar to the stigma of mental illness where "it's all in your head." If God and unicorns are made up and due to the wildness of one's imagination, then the same thing might be said of Amida Buddha.
However, this is like comparing apples to imaginary oranges. The apple of this world may exist, but imaginary oranges only exist in the mind. Even though you cannot taste the oranges, you can still have a mind's view of them.
Likewise, the mind's view of Amida Buddha and the Pure Land is but a metaphysical reality.
Belief in the Pure Land is based on faith in the Primal Vow and especially rebirth in the Pure Land.
While there has never been any proof that the Pure Land exists except as metaphysical reality, a Buddhist would have to suspend disbelief, believe in what the three Pure Land Sutras say about Amida, and — as a result of his studies — have faith in the Primal Vow.
Indeed, I sometimes try to transcend my imagination when chanting Nembutsu quietly. For I believe in what the three Pure Land Sutras says about Amida Buddha and the Pure Land of Bliss.
That is what metaphysics is about: transcending the physics of this reality for the higher goal of happiness and peace for all sentient being in the Six Realms of Desire!
For information on the Primal Vow and other Buddhist terms in this article, check the tags below.
Original post: June 24, 2013 1242H PDT
All of the possible Pure Lands do not exist in material space-time as they are of a Buddhist metaphysical nature.
Indeed, it may become necessary to believe in the Pure Land and in Amida Buddha in order to implement Nembutsu practice faithfully, as belief in the Pure Land is based on what is called the Primal Vow, which might place them next to God and unicorns.
This is similar to the stigma of mental illness where "it's all in your head." If God and unicorns are made up and due to the wildness of one's imagination, then the same thing might be said of Amida Buddha.
However, this is like comparing apples to imaginary oranges. The apple of this world may exist, but imaginary oranges only exist in the mind. Even though you cannot taste the oranges, you can still have a mind's view of them.
Likewise, the mind's view of Amida Buddha and the Pure Land is but a metaphysical reality.
Belief in the Pure Land is based on faith in the Primal Vow and especially rebirth in the Pure Land.
While there has never been any proof that the Pure Land exists except as metaphysical reality, a Buddhist would have to suspend disbelief, believe in what the three Pure Land Sutras say about Amida, and — as a result of his studies — have faith in the Primal Vow.
Indeed, I sometimes try to transcend my imagination when chanting Nembutsu quietly. For I believe in what the three Pure Land Sutras says about Amida Buddha and the Pure Land of Bliss.
That is what metaphysics is about: transcending the physics of this reality for the higher goal of happiness and peace for all sentient being in the Six Realms of Desire!
For information on the Primal Vow and other Buddhist terms in this article, check the tags below.
Original post: June 24, 2013 1242H PDT
20131029
Addiction and the Realm of Hungry Ghosts as Metaphor
In Buddhist cosmology, the realm of hungry ghosts is one of the Six Realms of Desire, being the second after the Hells.
These realms are metaphorical destinations where people are reborn due to the "evil" passions of strong emotions (anger, hate, fear, lust, jealousy, happiness, attachment, desire, etc).
What is so evil about strong emotions? That one may err and harm self or others or worse, both self and others. We have heard of crimes of passion where a murder is justified due to strong emotions clouding the judgment of the murderer who killed her lover due to jealousy.
Could even a child of two who hits his one-year old brother on the head with a hoe be due to evil passions? Yes, especially when the young lad runs like hell to the neighbor's property to escape justice at the hands of his mother!
Addiction is akin to being in the realm of hungry ghosts. In this way, reincarnation may be used as a metaphor to explain daily living.
Ever wonder why some practicing Buddhists could be so stoic? They have practiced meditation to calm the mind and maintain control over the biggest addiction of all: the passions.
For a Buddhist, passions (strong emotions) are evil in the sense that they almost lead one to the Hells when regularly experienced.
Such an addiction to emotions is an evil because a person could lose sight of the goal of Buddhism: to cease rebirth by putting out the flames of evil passion, and thus enter Nirvana.
How might one enter Nirvana? In this lifetime? Or, the next? Before answering the first question, the answer to the second and the third is, it depends on your past actions, your present actions and your future action. As well, the karma of your past may prevent Nirvana in this life. It might even prevent Nirvana in the next.
Below I give a rough guide to Samatha-vipassana meditation. Samatha is the meditation of stillness, while Vipassana may combine both sitting and walking meditation. If I have erred here, please correct me and I'll credit you and correct the text.
By sitting on his ass in contemplation of bliss, the Buddha practiced the meditation of stillness.
If this isn't your style, then the second method is useful as a guide
By walking while in silent meditation on a koan the Buddhist may find it possible to go beyond peace of mind.
Even though the strict Zen practitioners decry reading a sutra or even writing down one's thoughts, due to the risk of stirring up evil passion, the first meditation in stillness shows that even passions will dissipate when carefully observed.
What good then is the walking meditation?
It makes it possible to realize the meaning of this koan:
"What is your face before you were born?"
Answer: The face before I was born is not the face I was born with. For karma dictates that a practitioner may never know the face before being born. Yet he can be assured that it is not the face he was born with.
Nor will it be the face of my next birth, which brings us to a koan of my own: "What is your face after you die?" The answer is, "It's not the face I was born with nor the face before I was born."
Yet this is not reincarnation, but the transmigration of karma.
However, meditation when practiced with a true Buddha buddy beats sitting still alone.
Hungry Ghosts: http://taiyu.hubpages.com/hub/Hungry-Ghosts
These realms are metaphorical destinations where people are reborn due to the "evil" passions of strong emotions (anger, hate, fear, lust, jealousy, happiness, attachment, desire, etc).
What is so evil about strong emotions? That one may err and harm self or others or worse, both self and others. We have heard of crimes of passion where a murder is justified due to strong emotions clouding the judgment of the murderer who killed her lover due to jealousy.
Could even a child of two who hits his one-year old brother on the head with a hoe be due to evil passions? Yes, especially when the young lad runs like hell to the neighbor's property to escape justice at the hands of his mother!
Addiction is akin to being in the realm of hungry ghosts. In this way, reincarnation may be used as a metaphor to explain daily living.
Ever wonder why some practicing Buddhists could be so stoic? They have practiced meditation to calm the mind and maintain control over the biggest addiction of all: the passions.
For a Buddhist, passions (strong emotions) are evil in the sense that they almost lead one to the Hells when regularly experienced.
Such an addiction to emotions is an evil because a person could lose sight of the goal of Buddhism: to cease rebirth by putting out the flames of evil passion, and thus enter Nirvana.
How might one enter Nirvana? In this lifetime? Or, the next? Before answering the first question, the answer to the second and the third is, it depends on your past actions, your present actions and your future action. As well, the karma of your past may prevent Nirvana in this life. It might even prevent Nirvana in the next.
Below I give a rough guide to Samatha-vipassana meditation. Samatha is the meditation of stillness, while Vipassana may combine both sitting and walking meditation. If I have erred here, please correct me and I'll credit you and correct the text.
By sitting on his ass in contemplation of bliss, the Buddha practiced the meditation of stillness.
If this isn't your style, then the second method is useful as a guide
By walking while in silent meditation on a koan the Buddhist may find it possible to go beyond peace of mind.
Even though the strict Zen practitioners decry reading a sutra or even writing down one's thoughts, due to the risk of stirring up evil passion, the first meditation in stillness shows that even passions will dissipate when carefully observed.
What good then is the walking meditation?
It makes it possible to realize the meaning of this koan:
"What is your face before you were born?"
Answer: The face before I was born is not the face I was born with. For karma dictates that a practitioner may never know the face before being born. Yet he can be assured that it is not the face he was born with.
Nor will it be the face of my next birth, which brings us to a koan of my own: "What is your face after you die?" The answer is, "It's not the face I was born with nor the face before I was born."
Yet this is not reincarnation, but the transmigration of karma.
However, meditation when practiced with a true Buddha buddy beats sitting still alone.
Hungry Ghosts: http://taiyu.hubpages.com/hub/Hungry-Ghosts
20130605
Meditation on People Who Do Evil to Children
May all evil people that perpetuate evil upon children suffer as a result of the evil that they create, equal to the depth of their denials. The Hells has a special place for them.
Excluded are those people who have been caught and are sincerely filled with remorse, and readily admit to their wrong-doing. When they turn about and give up creating evil, dedicating themselves to perpetuating good on all people, their time in the Hells will be a brief reminder of what their afterlife might have been.
However, it is up to them to decide whether they wish to be reborn in the Realms of Desire or choose to be reborn in the Pure Land.
If the latter, then burning off evil karma is as simple as many utterings of the name of Amida Buddha.
Why would anyone choose to reincarnate in the Realms of Desire?
Excluded are those people who have been caught and are sincerely filled with remorse, and readily admit to their wrong-doing. When they turn about and give up creating evil, dedicating themselves to perpetuating good on all people, their time in the Hells will be a brief reminder of what their afterlife might have been.
However, it is up to them to decide whether they wish to be reborn in the Realms of Desire or choose to be reborn in the Pure Land.
If the latter, then burning off evil karma is as simple as many utterings of the name of Amida Buddha.
Why would anyone choose to reincarnate in the Realms of Desire?
20130522
Asuras are Demons
In Buddhist cosmology, the Asura realm supposedly is between the human realm and the godly realm.
Though, IMO asuras are demons. Here's why:
"Because of their passions, Rebirth as an Asura is considered to be one of the four unhappy births (together with Rebirth as an animal, a preta (hungry ghost), or a being in Naraka (the Hells)). The state of an Asura reflects the mental state of a human being obsessed with force and violence, always looking for an excuse to get into a fight, angry with everyone and unable to maintain calm or solve problems peacefully."
The obsession with violence and confronting life with it reminds me more of demons than gods.
Ergo asuras are so low a form of "god" that they could be compared to all the anti-heroes and enemies of Greek gods, including the many mythical creatures that the gods played a practical joke on i.e. centaurs are probably a joke Zeus played by taking the form of a pretty horse just to seduce a virgin.
Likewise, the Minotaur, a bull-headed man-beast is a joke played by Zeus when he took the form of a bull to seduce another virgin.
Getting back to asuras as demons, this is only a mental landscape, because the Six Realms is a mental construct designed to educate Buddhists about the evils of passions and other slipper slopes we really don't need to venture on but usually do because of our ignorance.
Essentially, the Asura Realm is where Buddhists who obey all the precepts but were not very nice in the human realm are reborn. If they mess up there, then it's the Hells for them.
Reference:
Asura: http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php?title=Asura
Though, IMO asuras are demons. Here's why:
"Because of their passions, Rebirth as an Asura is considered to be one of the four unhappy births (together with Rebirth as an animal, a preta (hungry ghost), or a being in Naraka (the Hells)). The state of an Asura reflects the mental state of a human being obsessed with force and violence, always looking for an excuse to get into a fight, angry with everyone and unable to maintain calm or solve problems peacefully."
The obsession with violence and confronting life with it reminds me more of demons than gods.
Ergo asuras are so low a form of "god" that they could be compared to all the anti-heroes and enemies of Greek gods, including the many mythical creatures that the gods played a practical joke on i.e. centaurs are probably a joke Zeus played by taking the form of a pretty horse just to seduce a virgin.
Likewise, the Minotaur, a bull-headed man-beast is a joke played by Zeus when he took the form of a bull to seduce another virgin.
Getting back to asuras as demons, this is only a mental landscape, because the Six Realms is a mental construct designed to educate Buddhists about the evils of passions and other slipper slopes we really don't need to venture on but usually do because of our ignorance.
Essentially, the Asura Realm is where Buddhists who obey all the precepts but were not very nice in the human realm are reborn. If they mess up there, then it's the Hells for them.
Reference:
Asura: http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php?title=Asura
20130413
Pure Land, Pure Mind, Pure Zen
My reasoning for blending Zen with Pure Land is the same reason the Pure Land has a Long Pure Land sutra and a Short Pure Land sutra as well as an Amida meditation sutra: I want to cover all my bases for the afterlife.
What if Zen does not end in Buddhahood in the next life? What if in the next life, I am randomly thrown into another realm, next time the hells, the time after that human, then animal, then god, then demon, then hungry ghost? If I am destined for samsara, then what good is Zen except to develop a calm mind and to carefully observe the mind, and nothing more??
For endless rebirth in samsara is worse than the Pure Land of Bliss which is OUTSIDE the Six Realms of existence.
Once I die, because I have recited the Nembutsu, my rebirth in the Pure Land is assured by Amida Buddha's Primal Vow, once I repent from the Ten Evils.
However, it is not Buddha Recitation that burns away evil karma; it is the practice of the Ten Virtues!
All Buddha Recitation does as far as karma is concerned is ensure rebirth in the Pure Land. There I shall listen to Amida preach his Dharma, practice to be a bodhisattva, return to any of the Six Realms of existence to aid hell beings, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, demons and even the gods themselves in attaining their own Buddhahood.
This is the path of the bodhisattva, and has always been the Buddhist way.
Denial of this is like disrepecting the Buddha, which is surely evil karma.
Want to erase that bad karma? Remember Buddha! How? It's simple calling the Name-that-calls!
Why? Because when I call, it is only Amida Buddha calling through me!
This is exactly why samsara is Nirvana, for Zen cure mental unrest by way of samatha-vipassana meditation.
FOr Buddha Recitation prepares us for future Nirvana in the Pure Land — not in this life — but in the afterlife of the Pure Land!
What if Zen does not end in Buddhahood in the next life? What if in the next life, I am randomly thrown into another realm, next time the hells, the time after that human, then animal, then god, then demon, then hungry ghost? If I am destined for samsara, then what good is Zen except to develop a calm mind and to carefully observe the mind, and nothing more??
For endless rebirth in samsara is worse than the Pure Land of Bliss which is OUTSIDE the Six Realms of existence.
Once I die, because I have recited the Nembutsu, my rebirth in the Pure Land is assured by Amida Buddha's Primal Vow, once I repent from the Ten Evils.
However, it is not Buddha Recitation that burns away evil karma; it is the practice of the Ten Virtues!
All Buddha Recitation does as far as karma is concerned is ensure rebirth in the Pure Land. There I shall listen to Amida preach his Dharma, practice to be a bodhisattva, return to any of the Six Realms of existence to aid hell beings, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, demons and even the gods themselves in attaining their own Buddhahood.
This is the path of the bodhisattva, and has always been the Buddhist way.
Denial of this is like disrepecting the Buddha, which is surely evil karma.
Want to erase that bad karma? Remember Buddha! How? It's simple calling the Name-that-calls!
Why? Because when I call, it is only Amida Buddha calling through me!
This is exactly why samsara is Nirvana, for Zen cure mental unrest by way of samatha-vipassana meditation.
FOr Buddha Recitation prepares us for future Nirvana in the Pure Land — not in this life — but in the afterlife of the Pure Land!
20130406
Dakini: the Wrathful Form of Tara
As a Buddhist, I do not view the opposite sex like my fellow sentient beings do.
Although I admit to objectifying women, I try not to make a habit of telling other men within earshot of women.
For those of you who remember the pictures of naked women, women showing cleavage, and the the picture of the shapely cosplay woman which I called "dakinis", a dakini is a celestial being, separate from Tara, who was originally an Indian goddess who vowed to be reborn as a bodhisattva in the Realm of Desire consisting of the six realms of the hells, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, demons/asuras/demigods, and gods.
Am I saying that Tara walks among the sentient beings who dwell in the human realm?
Yes, that was included in her vow to be reborn in the human realm out of compassion for all sentient beings. Her task is to Help human beings to realize their purpose in life, which is to be of service to others, and to be helpful to all sentient beings, regardless of whether they are animals or human beings.
For Tara represents both the teacher and the nurse, and even the people welcoming you at Walmart.
And what are dakinis? They are the wrathful form of Tara who are able to dance high up in the sky. For they are Skywalkers.
I am sure Star Wars fans will pick on that: Luke Skywalker's last name was borrowed from the term that describes a dakini.
As well, "sky" symbolizes the freedom of space. It also suggests another freedom that Westernized people might object to, depending on their culture and upbringing. I am referring to the freedom of being unclothed and dancing naked in the sky.
Please note that I have associated a dakini with Tara, with the latter being the closest thing to a Buddha, for she is a bodhisattva out to save all sentient beings.
However, I refered to the two young women as dakinis for wearing little or no attire, as it helps me to keep my distance from lust. By keeping my distance, I hope to avoid being reborn in the hells both literally as I would rather go to the Pure Land, and figuratively i.e. by making inappropriate comments about either lady.
For having an open mind is a dedicated skill involving controlling one's secret wish to kill a person for speaking inappropriately. I am sure this is why chat features on GooglePlus are useful to privately talk with another member who is in my circle, if I so desire.
However, I have had my fill of chat using Facebook, Microsoft Messenger and Yahoochat as well as chat services on other web forums.
If I wanted to chat one-to-one with a woman, then it'd be IRC on the #sex channel of dalnet. However, there are children who would kick me off chat on dalnet, thus proving "absolute power corrupts absolutely" and confirming that most of the time, children do not have open minds.
Returning to dakinis and Tara, it is quite possible that Tara "magically" created clones of herself, as there is a White Tara, a Blue Tara and a Green Tara. There may also be yellow Tara, but I have yet to hear of a Red Tara.
In this way, she could enlighten more people than as plain vanilla Tara.
I have read in a Chinese sutras about a multitude of buddhas in their Pure Lands. So it stands to reason that there are a multitude of bodhisattvas as well as dakinis.
If even one god or demigod were to have the Buddhadharma preached to him, then it would lead to rebirth in the human realm.
Sometimes a Buddha will do that so that all sentient beings bond to the Buddha, and protect that Buddha from non-believers — an avatar of a sentient being who was non-human would be reborn as human, and might remember his life in the realm of god. However, even when an avatar of a god cannot remember her past life, she will eventually become a Buddhist.
After making a commitment to Buddhism and following the precepts, she may attain the past life samadhi. Even so, that happens after decades of mindful practice, both meditation and the works of charity, including volunteering at the Buddhist temple of which she is a member.
For the siddhi of past life memories takes a long time to be acquired since everything that happens to a devoted Buddhist practitioner is supposed to prepare you for that. If it is done within a setting that has no cultural means of such preparation, then surely we live in the age of Mappo —the degenerate age when only the Pure Land practice of Buddha Recitation is the sole means to be assured of being reborn as a bodhisattva and much later, a Buddha.
However, it is said that worship of dakinis and of Tara in any of her forms, be it spiritually/supernaturally or worldly, earns merit for the Tibetan devotee. Though, I am NEVER going to worship a woman dressed up as one, face-to-face.
References
Tara as tantric deity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_%28Buddhism%29#T.C4.81r.C4.81_as_a_Tantric_deity
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