Amida Buddha, pictures from Jodo Shinshu Temple

Hi all,

Been busy lately, so my blog writing has fallen behind (then comes in fits and starts). Anyways, I took some pictures of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple I go to, Seattle Betsuin. I took these last night, while attending a class about the Shōshinge hymn we chant, and part of this class we learned how to conduct a service together in the naijin (内陣), which is the inner sanctuary of our worship hall or hondō (本堂). The outer sanctuary, where the congregation sits by the way, is called the geijin (迎陣?).

Anyways, while we conducted the service, I sat on the far side (away from the lead chair), right next to the central statue of Amida Buddha. Later I took a picture (with permission from one of the ministers) of the statue:

This is the perspective I saw as I sat in my chair. Usually, I am used to sitting in the outer sanctuary for services, so I can see the Amida statue, but not very close. It was a real treat to see it up close, and as I sat there, looking up that statue, I felt a real warm and peaceful feeling. I love the image of Amida holding one hand up (wisdom) and the other hand extended out (compassion for all), and almost felt the statue calling me to the Pure Land.

Here is the same statue from the front:

The golden light too (imagery based on the Pure Land sutras), reminded me of the Pure Land itself. The 3rd Vow of Amida Buddha in the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life stated:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not all be the color of pure gold, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.

Gold is a very common analogy used to describe the Pure Land, but it’s not used just in the material sense. As I described in another post, the imagery used in the Buddhist sutras to describe the Pure Land has meanings on several levels. On the literal level, the Pure Land is described as a magnificent refuge where one is free from troubles, and can pursue the Buddhist path more easily, ultimately to return and help others.

On another level, gold here means purity (pure gold is very radiant for example), so the imagery of the Pure Land and its inhabitants as being of gold color probably also refers to their minds being pure as well as their conduct. The same sutras often speak of the birds and the breezes that sing the teachings of the Dharma, so the Pure Land is more than just a paradise, but radiates the Buddhist teachings in every sense of the word. Amida Buddha’s light, likewise, symbolizes both wisdom and compassion, not literal golden light.

But no matter how I interpret it, there’s no denying when I looked up close at the Amida Buddha statue that I could feel something just holy.

Namuamidabu

P.S. Second picture is kind of flaky and not showing up much. I think WordPress may be having technical issues.