As I was packing books and notebooks into a box for the move, I re-discovered a notebook filled with 6 volumes of Mandarava Blossoms. Mandarava Blossoms was a publication created by the Seattle Buddhist Church Research Department. I would like to share an excerpt from Volume 12. No 12. written August 1982.
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"The ocean of Amida's Wisdom and Compassion is called "THE PURE LAND". The Pure Land unconditionally receives every kind of sentient being:
Bodhisattvas, Sravakas, Pratyeka-Buddhas, and ordinary people who are filled with sufferings, anger, greed, ignorance, selfishness, etc., without any choice or judgment. Amida's Pure Land welcomes them, then changes them into Amida Buddha.
Therefore, The Pure Land has two rare functions: the absolute ability of RECEPTIVITY, and the perfect power of PURIFICATION. The Pure Land is working for us. Amida Buddha is working for us.
We, the followers of Jodo Shinshu, empty into the ocean of Amida Buddha, while reciting the name: NAMO-AMIDA_BUTSU.
Gassho,
Reverend Eijiro Fujii
Seattle Betsuin
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I sat on the floor among the boxes and re-read this several times. I found great comfort in the words.
I especially love the last line...
We, the followers of Jodo Shinshu, empty into the ocean of Amida Buddha, while reciting the name: NAMO-AMIDA_BUTSU.
What a wonderful way of thinking on Amida...you and I pouring ourselves into the Ocean of Wisdom and Compassion....emptying ourselves into Amida Buddha...giving ourselves over...just as we are, knowing that we are received without judgement, we are embraced....we are welcomed into the Pure Land with Namu Amida Butsu....
Namu Amida Butsu....
Empty yourself into the ocean of Amida Buddha....
Beautiful....beautiful....
Thank you,
Jishin
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