Rely on the Nembutsu

So often my mind can get muddled. Some days not so much, but often it gets muddled and tells me things that I find annoying or worrisome. So I say the Nembutsu and I feel much better. I say the Nembutsu and know that my thoughts are not me.

My mind likes to run away with things and go in directions that I don't want to go. A mind is something that always wants to be moving. So when I say the Nembutsu it helps me focus on Amida's compassionate vow to save us unenlightened folks and send us to the Pureland where we will become Buddhas and our minds will be brought under control.

Now I just shrug off my mind and accept it for what it is. A mind. Just like I try to accept others for who they are because I don't know their karma and I shouldn't judge another's path. Just as Amida shows an unenlightened being like myself compassion, so I am compelled to do the same to others if I can. So I try, and even if I fail I just say the Nembutsu anyways, as Amida understands us and will take us to his Pureland.

Namo Amitabhaya

Shinjin growing

Lately I find my shinjin or faith in Amida's vow is getting strong. I say the Nembutsu often. It is very helpful to do so. It reminds me of the vow Amida made and how it will lead me to the Pureland where I will become a Buddha. It also helps tame my annoying monkey mind that won't stop chattering. Although my monkey mind makes me realize how unenlightened I truly am and how important it is to rely on and have faith in Amida's vow.

Namo Amida Bu

No guilt thank you

Guilt is a bad emotion/feeling I find. I used to feel a lot of guilt when I was a Christian if I didn't live what I saw as a Christian life. Christianity pays no attention to karma and often assumes everyone should be and act the same, without understanding how diverse people are when it comes to emotions, understandings, etc.

The Amida Buddha had great understanding and knew very well that everyone was different based on the karma one gathered through uncountable lives. All he asks is one say the Nembutsu a few times and trust in his vow. No need for piety or 'clean livin'. You can be yourself and not feel guilty about not changing based on the demands of some words in an old book.

As I always mention this doesn't mean one should live a life of hedonism and debauchery. It is good to try and be healthy and in control. But one should not feel excess pressure to change. Amida knows your karma and will take care of it in the Pureland. If you struggle with eating too much or sleeping around too much then please make efforts to try and be healthy if you can, but don't guilt yourself into it. Be a unhealthy eater who says the Nembutsu or a oversexed Nembutsu practitioner. There is karma in those actions that will effect you in this life, know that. One cannot eat fried food everyday or sleep with many parteners and not suffer someway down the line, but this karma will not follow you into the afterlife.

Amida knows how we are unable to fix ourselves fully in this existance. Amida knows your karma. Trust in his vow and say the Nembutsu.

Namo Amitabhaya

Monkey Mind be quiet!

Oh how the monkey mind likes to chatter in your ear. Endless ravings and rantings or perhaps just a little nugget it plants in your thoughts and sends you into a tizzy. My monkey mind was after me this morning. Every thing I did my mind was there to tell me something about it. So I said the Nembutsu. Namo Amitabhaya and my mind shut up.

Is the purpose of the Nembutsu to make your mind quiet? No, not really. But it is a good side effect I think. It is meditative in its very essence, but most importantly it's there to tell you there is nothing you can do to enlighten or save yourself. All you need to do is say the Nembutsu and Amida will do the rest.

So when you monkey mind acts up, shut it up with the Nembutsu. And if the chatter still gets through, don't sweat it, because they are just thoughts and mean nothing at all. No different then drunken babble. Say the Nembutsu and relax in the vow of Amida.

Nembutsu anywhere

One of the best parts of the Nembutsu is its mobility. You can do it anywhere. While out for a walk, while driving, while at work, while using the toilet. It doesn't matter. I recently have been doing zazen as a regular practice and while it has been beneficial, it requires a 'time and place' to do properly. That is something in short supply for me lately. Mainly because I can be quite lazy and not want to 'work', especially 'spiritual' work. But that's ok, it's just the way it is! The Nembutsu has me covered there.

An example would be the other day I had just finished my zazen and came downstairs and found my mind was in a dreadful state of disorder. Odd I thought. My zazen seems less effective lately. Or my monkey mind is fighting back. Feeling a bit 'annoyed' at this, I automatically started saying the Nembutsu. Instantly my mind went back to normal and all was well. I chanted the Nembutsu all night while I went about my business of watering the grass, smoking a pipe and drinking a scotch. Now this wasn't 'magic' or some esoteric stuff. It's just simply the relaxing feeling of knowing that nothing is expected of me and my mind doesn't matter. As Alan Watts stated on the Nembutsu....

"saying Nembutsu is simply a symbolical way of pointing out that you don't have to become this, because you are it...
The Middle Way, right down the center, is where you don't have to do a thing to justify yourself, and you don't have to justify not justifying yourself. So, there is something quite fascinating and tricky in this doctrine of the great bodhisattva Amitabha, who saves you just as you are, who delivers you from bondage just as you are. You only have to say "Namu Amida butsu."

Well said Mr. Watts....Namo Amida Butsu

Don't pressure yourself

Many works based religions like Christianity and Islam want you to change. They want you to become more 'holy' or 'righteous'. You have to give up things that can be difficult to give up. You are forced to pressure yourself to be a certain way. And when you fail at this there is some compassion but you must repent first then try again to be this 'certain way'.

This is all very hard on a person and shows a lack of understanding of karma and a person's karmic debt. That is the beauty of the vow of Amida Buddha. His compassion shows he understands karma and how karmic debt can prevent people from achieving their most 'holy' and 'righteous' selves to the point that constantly trying to achieve it is pointless.

Now, once again, I won't say a person should not try and overcome their problems. They can and should try, but this is so they can live a more peaceful and happy life, not because their is a deity watching over them wanting them to not  'sin'. And if the difficult struggle against one's problems is causing too much issues and leading a person to depression and guilt then a person should accept their karma and who they are.

If a person just can't give up booze, then let them be a drunk who rests in the compassionate vow of the Amida Buddha. Sure it would be better for their health if they didn't drink so much, but perhaps their karma is just more then they can handle. There should be no pressure. Amida understands and expects nothing from you.

Namo Amida Bu

Lazy with the Nembutsu

I have been lazy lately and not saying the Nembutsu much. Then I feel bad about it, but before I worry to much about it I say the Nembutsu once maybe twice before my monkey mind starts thinking of video games and pizza pops. And that's ok. Amida is compassionate and knows how unenlightened we are and will welcome us into his Pureland regardless of where we are at.

Namo Amida Bu