Nembutsu, Juzu and Zen

[Kokuu]

It helps understand that it is not only a practice towards a Jesus Christ like figure. It is about recognizing the Amidha Buddha that we all already are

There is a nice koan in The Hidden Lamp about this:

In China and Japan many millions of Buddhists have been - and in Japan still are- devotees of the Pure Land doctrine. According to this doctrine a bodhisattva made a great vow, which in time fulfilled itself as the manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha (infinite light), who created a Pure Land paradise in the West for those who would take his name with faith. From this Pure Land it was easy to attain final nirvana.

An old lady of this faith was walking along the road when she met a Zen master, who said to her, "On your way to the Pure Land, eh, Granny?"

She nodded.

"Holu Amitabha's there, waiting for you, I expect."

She shook her head.

"Not there? The Buddha's not in his Pure Land? Where is he then?"

She tapped twice over her heart and went on her way.

The Zen master opened his eyes wide in appreciation and said, "You are a real Pure Lander."

I use a mala and mantras myself at times when I am in pain or my mind is filled with negative thoughts as I find it can make the situation easier. Nothing magical, just a distraction I guess. And when my youngest daughter was in hospital earlier in the year, I said many many Jizo mantras, and made offerings to my Jizo statue. Do I believe that these things make a difference? Well, no, but when your child is sick I notice that I am happy to clutch at any straw that might help.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Nengei]

I said many many Jizo mantras, and made offerings to my Jizo statue. Do I believe that these things make a difference? Well, no, but when your child is sick I notice that I am happy to clutch at any straw that might help.

Gassho,
遜道念芸 Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Kokuu. Lovely story, lovely practice.
gassho
Mateus
Sat LAH

[Shonin Risa Bear]

I sometimes feel a need to ring 108 bells; for example, in memory of my daughter. I find the juzu a handy tool for keeping track during these events (so it's really a bit like an abacus or quipu for me). Also there have been times when I seemed jumpy or distracted by my lower back during zazen and resorted to holding the juzu lightly, advancing one bead per breath until the need fades -- it really does seem to be helpful at such moments; crotchedy crutchy.

gassho
ds reclined and lah today

[Shonin Risa Bear]

Oh, now I see Kokuu's response. Exactly so, and thank you. _()_ _()_ _()_

gassho
ds easy-chair 3 bows, stlah

[Tokan]

Gassho,
遜道念芸 Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

Thank you all

I am quite taken with the movie Thirteen Lives at the moment, and the corresponding documentary, The Rescue (trailers on 'the antidote' thread). For me, I do not see any magical powers lifting the mountain off of the boys so they can get out, and yet, the mountain lifted off the boys so they could get out.

One thing with prayers I have often reflected, is that we assume the benefit is solely for the person that is the target of the prayer as in, "may Jizo (God, etc) take the cancer out of your body." But, much like metta or tonglen practice, the prayer tends to change the heart of the person reciting it.

Gassho, Tokan (satlah)

[Tai Do]

I sometimes feel a need to ring 108 bells; for example, in memory of my daughter. I find the juzu a handy tool for keeping track during these events (so it's really a bit like an abacus or quipu for me). Also there have been times when I seemed jumpy or distracted by my lower back during zazen and resorted to holding the juzu lightly, advancing one bead per breath until the need fades -- it really does seem to be helpful at such moments; crotchedy crutchy.

gassho
ds reclined and lah today

Thank you, Shonin. A lovely practice.

Mateus
Sat LAH

[Tai Do]

Thank you all

I am quite taken with the movie Thirteen Lives at the moment, and the corresponding documentary, The Rescue (trailers on 'the antidote' thread). For me, I do not see any magical powers lifting the mountain off of the boys so they can get out, and yet, the mountain lifted off the boys so they could get out.

One thing with prayers I have often reflected, is that we assume the benefit is solely for the person that is the target of the prayer as in, "may Jizo (God, etc) take the cancer out of your body." But, much like metta or tonglen practice, the prayer tends to change the heart of the person reciting it.

Gassho, Tokan (satlah)

Thank you, Tokan.

Mateus
Sat LAH

[Stewart]

From a friend's Facebook page on the similarity of Zen and Pureland (but, as Jundo points out, this is a sophisticated outlook that wouldn't be shared by most practitioners)

"Although they can seem at odds, both schools within the Mahayana Sect are closely related in most countries (primarily in Northeast Asia) where they are majority religions. It’s important to remember that both schools are fundamentally non-dualistic in their outlook on reality. Essentially, Zen Buddhism considers non-duality from the perspective of “all is self” (and there is no self), and Pureland schools consider the same reality from the perspective of “all is other”. As the reality is the same (non-dual “thusness”) the perspective is essentially arbitrary. A Zen scholar might observe the Buddhist truth of emptiness and conclude “there is no independent origination of anything - all things are fundamentally connected and one. Therefore “I am” (which is also emptiness) is that one. I am the universe. There is no separation and no distinction”. A Pureland practitioner might consider the same reality but conclude that as the self is empty; “there is no separation or distinction between things, so all is other”. It could therefore be said that Zen practitioners look to themselves for ‘salvation’ and Pureland practitioners look to others for ‘salvation’. Looking into oneself requires regular meditation, and developing that practice to a high degree (which is called Ch'an or Zen), as there is nothing outside of self. Looking to others requires abandonment, or faith in something external, or Shin or Bhakti, as there is nothing but other."

Stewart
Sat

[Tai Do]

From a friend's Facebook page on the similarity of Zen and Pureland (but, as Jundo points out, this is a sophisticated outlook that wouldn't be shared by most practitioners)

"Although they can seem at odds, both schools within the Mahayana Sect are closely related in most countries (primarily in Northeast Asia) where they are majority religions. It’s important to remember that both schools are fundamentally non-dualistic in their outlook on reality. Essentially, Zen Buddhism considers non-duality from the perspective of “all is self” (and there is no self), and Pureland schools consider the same reality from the perspective of “all is other”. As the reality is the same (non-dual “thusness”) the perspective is essentially arbitrary. A Zen scholar might observe the Buddhist truth of emptiness and conclude “there is no independent origination of anything - all things are fundamentally connected and one. Therefore “I am” (which is also emptiness) is that one. I am the universe. There is no separation and no distinction”. A Pureland practitioner might consider the same reality but conclude that as the self is empty; “there is no separation or distinction between things, so all is other”. It could therefore be said that Zen practitioners look to themselves for ‘salvation’ and Pureland practitioners look to others for ‘salvation’. Looking into oneself requires regular meditation, and developing that practice to a high degree (which is called Ch'an or Zen), as there is nothing outside of self. Looking to others requires abandonment, or faith in something external, or Shin or Bhakti, as there is nothing but other."

Stewart
Sat

Two sides of the same sideless coin!

Mateus
Sat LAH

[Tai Shi]

From my daughter who is becoming a PhD, now completed her Fulbright and is becoming known I the US, having also just completed study try at Wasada, so completed gender studies in women Japanese women authors, gave me a small set of Male or Jusu beads and a dear friend in this Sangha who gave me a set made in Tenetan women for imprisoned Women by the Chinese, and a good person in this Shanghai telling he used them himself. I had used them before ever coming here and becoming lay member and consider them a dear possion and gifts from one person I care about, another I love with my heart!
Oh

[Tai Do]

From my daughter who is becoming a PhD, now completed her Fulbright and is becoming known I the US, having also just completed study try at Wasada, so completed gender studies in women Japanese women authors, gave me a small set of Male or Jusu beads and a dear friend in this Sangha who gave me a set made in Tenetan women for imprisoned Women by the Chinese, and a good person in this Shanghai telling he used them himself. I had used them before ever coming here and becoming lay member and consider them a dear possion and gifts from one person I care about, another I love with my heart!
Oh

Lovely, Tai Shi.
Gassho
Mateus
Sat