My Joy!

How beyond thought!

Self and Amida and the Namu-Amida-Butsu.

 

How fine!

The whole world and vastness of space is Buddha!

And I am in it ---

"Namu-Amida-Butsu!"

 

My heart and the Great Parent ---

We have just one heart

of Namu-Amida-Butsu.

 

                                      --Written by Saichi,

                                     19th Japanese Shin poet.

 

 

Below is my personal reflection and appreciation of this poem by the Saichi.

 

 

As I am compelled by life itself to embrace my true and real self, it is my true and real self that awakens and embraces me. The universe is within me and is me, and I am within it and am it. The gap between myself and Myself becomes progressively closed. In order words, by means of the ten thousands things, my practice manifests the Buddha’s life and accomplished practice, and the Buddha’s life and accomplished practice manifests in my life and practice. Buddha’s practice is realization. Realization is the Buddha’s practice. Buddha’s practice manifests itself through the Nembutsu. The Nembutsu is the expression of Buddha’s fulfilled practice and oneness. This is the essence of the working of Other Power. What a joy! What an indescribable liberation!