Hi Kyoushin: No offense taken whatsoever. I’ve known for a long time I write both for my own self as well as others, so you’re preaching to the choir. But you’re right, in that Jodo Shinshu or any aspect of Buddhism doesn’t necessary need explaning or apologizing. My wife knows well that I like to explain things in a very convoluted manner, or over-explain, so I suppose it’s par for the course. Thanks for the advice.

Dear GF, I’ve been in your shoes and tried to act as an apologist for the Jodo Shinshu and nembutsu teachings but it’s not what either the tradition or people need. If I may risk being frank within the fragile context of our nascent friendship, your post ‘reads’ like you are trying to convince someone of the merits of the teaching but it ‘sounds’ more like you are trying to convince yourself.

As for expressing the value of the nembutsu to others, the one thing that encourages other people is seeing the light of the Dharma manifested in the lives of others:

“When the practicer sees that the hearts of others have been set free, he leaps forward, by way of aspiration, to the various fruits of a holy life …” – Questions of King Milinda

With friendship and respect, K

Yeah, I think some may have gotten that impression by my comment too. I think all are ways of helping with Buddhist practice, but the true practice is how is able to take what is learned through clarity of meditation or the compassion of Amida and applying it to make this world a better place.

I like the Eightfold Path too, but I find it a bit vague. It’s good framework in Buddhism, but not something you can live by day-to-day. Instead, it feels to me more like a reality check in the long term. Am I following the Buddhist Path right? Check yourself based on the Eightfold Path.

Just my $.02.

I also like Jeannie’s plan of trying to follow the Eightfold Path.

Exactly. I was hoping to get across that there is no minimum standard one has to meet to be a Buddhist, but through being in Buddhism long enough one starts to spontaneously adopt practcies. A lot of new people ask if they have to be vegetarian or meditate, and the answer is technically ‘no’. They don’t have to, but over time, they’ll just naturally want to. I intended the nembutsu to be something that would encourage people who were put off by other features, and give them something to rely on. That’s why I quoted the Yin-Shun quote for example.

Yueheng: Good points all. You’re right in that I am speaking more of Jodo Shinshu, which I should probably clarify in the post. I’ll fix that.

Jeannie: You’re right in that you should do what works. My point here was just to encourage people who may be discouraged by other practices to try the nembutsu. If medtiation works, please do it by all means. I’ll try to clarify that too.

I’ve never understood the “Just Do It” attitude (which I’ve been told is very un-Zen of me) , such as, “Just recite the nembutsu”, or “Just meditate”. I can just do a lot of things! What I’d like to know is why do such-and-such, but I answered that question a long time ago. I follow Buddhism because I believe with my whole heart the Buddha’s Teachings on suffering and how to end suffering for all beings. The tools are there to help me with that.