A student asked me, 'What is true practice?"

I respond, "This is simply summed up as Namu-Amida-Butsu!"

 

My practice isn't my practice but is all due to Amida's accomplished Great Practice on behalf of needy, lazy, thick headed and inherently self-centered beings like me. Due to my karmic disposition, at a certain time and place in my life's journey, I was made to deeply engage with and reflect on my imperfect self,  the Primal Vow, its origins, living reality and implications and, of course, the Nembutsu. This wasn't my doing; I had nothing to do with this spiritual engagement. I was impelled, driven and incited by a little voice from within my heart and mind. This voice I interpret as the light of Great Compassion from within and without. From without, a Shin book was available at a local bookstore (River of Fire, River of Water) and from within, I was driven to buy this book. As I was reading it, from within, I was driven to reflect upon its contents and my deficient self. From within, I was driven to meditate and comprehend my foolish monkey mind, and truly realized that I could never become awakened by my self power alone. Moreover, I was provoked to engage and deeply notice a great compassion working within the ordinary facets of my daily life. For example, when I hiked in the forest, from without, Amida spoke to me though the air, trees, birds and squirrels. Furthermore, when I deeply contemplated peoples words or actions, I naturally attended to the little voice stirring within me. This is now what I learned is called deep hearing practice. As a result, over time, I felt a little thump in my heart and mind. This is akin to a little chick encapsulated within an egg, just starting to peck his way out. The egg symbolizes the hard shell of my self-centered ego. Thump, thump. Each thump is the result of deeply hearing the dharma and is Amida's call to return home, the mansion of peace and joy. Each thump is the call for a new life of oneness. Each thump naturally results in voicing the Name-that-calls, Namu-Amida-Butsu, which is the beckoning of Immeasurable Life and Light itself, saying yes, I'm here. Amida calls unto me but it is my own voice that heralds this good news. I am made to awaken to the gentle embrace of a great compassion that sustains my life and the lives of all beings. How grateful I am.