The Completed Altar Naijin at Myoko-in Temple

Three years ago, I posted the news about the construction of an altar for Myoko-in Temple in Deer Island, Oregon.

The Naijin was completed in 2015. Yesterday, we celebrated O-Higan.

Namu Amida Butsu

Myoko-in Temple Website

Poems to Share

Elfjes (little poems of eleven words)

Is

it possible

to jump for

joy while holding Amida’s

hand?

The

infinite embrace

of Amida brightens

every morning, afternoon and

evening.

I

have no

reason to complain

when I have so

much.

Diane

only hears

one tune in

her head which Amida

sings.

Seventeers (poems of seventeen syllables)

Amida walks with a

stride that allows my

heavy heart to keep up.

Will the spring flowers

bloom soon or must I

coax them from the ground

with song?

If Amida looked my way

would I see that his words

were meant for me?

A Few Words from a Stranger

Hello dear Dharma Friends far and wide. I find it hard to believe that so many years have gone by since my last posting. I should say Happy New Year 2016, 2017, 2018!  I feel like a stranger to my own blog. So, here I am again humbly submitting some thoughts and poems that pop into the head of this bumbling priest.

A Few Words

If it were not for Amida’s

call, I would feel lost

and abandoned.

The Nembutsu carries me

towards the land of bliss.

No doubt, I am happy!

I am sure that Marcus

and his poems will

reach the hearts of many.

Too bad I wasted so much

Time worrying.

Amida never worries

I jump for joy today because

the Nembutsu

will carry me home.

No effort to hear Amida’s call

is enough to

save you from hell.

To be a wanderer with

heavy karma is

my lot in this life.

Tell me Amida,

what do you think

about me?

I wake up

to another day

to say, Namo Amida Butsu!

It’s incredible that I

found my way to

the Nembutsu this time.

Samsara is the wheel on

which I spin. Amida shouts,

“jump off now!”

My time spent in the darkness

made the light of Amida

shine brighter.

Picking up the pieces

is an easier task with

a settled heart.

If Marcus were here he

would say, “stop your fuss

and say the Nembutsu!”

I see Kwan Yin in the face

of a stranger. Please help

be more kind.

Back on my feet again!

I shake off the dust and

hear Amida’s call.