The body of Amida is in color like a mountain of gold

The radiance of his features and marks illumines the ten quarters

Only people of the nembutsu are grasped by the light

Know that the Primal Vow is the decisive cause.

Kyogyoshinsho 3.95

The phrase above is from Shinran Shonin’s third chapter of the KyoGyoShinSho on Shinjin. When I think of this passage I reflect on the journey of our life and how the teachings change us through introspection of our actions.

Let me share a personal experience. Recently, I met a person who has been deemed untrustworthy. My first reaction was to think to myself, “This person should not be allowed at the temple.” I spent a day thinking about this person.

The next day as I was watering the trees in front of our temple, I thought to myself, “Why do I do this?” The answer to this has always been to physically spark the seeds of Enlightenment within others. This, of course, is not through my efforts, but to share the light of Amida Buddha. The passage is to help us on our personal journey. Amida’s gold light of purity is constantly connected to us wherever we may go. Amida’s Primal Vow or promise is for everyone. Only those that realize the value of the Vow or understand that this is the Buddha’s Light are grasped. Being grasped sparks a grateful life with Nembutsu in their hearts. I can only say you have to figure this out for yourself.

Again, while watering the trees I realized something. My initial reaction to the untrustworthy person was wrong. In the eyes of a Buddha, human beings are all flawed. How would we react to a child who makes mistakes? We would not shut our doors to them, but think of strategies for them to discover the value of Amida Buddha’s great compassion. I hope we would be honest and set up a system for the children to participate while supervised. For adults, limited time and supervision seems wise. This is not an easy answer.

It is complicated and would require a lot of patience, but I do have the hope that through the temple life and teachings of the Buddha we would lay the groundwork for a process of change for everyone that comes through the door. More importantly, it would help us to change. Everyone is a future Buddha and all it takes is for us to take a step in another direction.

This is a reflection in progress. It was sparked by my own flawed reaction to meeting someone new and the thought of how I would handle it if they were to visit the temple. Buddhism teaches us that people can release their past and change in an instant. There are no easy answers and each situation is different. I ask for your help and support. We have to be rooted in the teachings, seeing people for who they are and what they can be. In fostering and sharing the heart of Nembustu, I have to remind myself that it is Amida’s light and effort that accepts us. We are all hindered to different degrees. When we look at our decisions and actions how do they align with our basic teaching? The Buddha’s efforts and gold light embraces all sentient beings.

GASSHO, NAMU AMIDA BUTSU
Rev. Kory Quon