More on bhakti

August 9, 2000

I would like to join in the spirit begun by Harsha-ji and Frank-ji on the

larger subject of devotion. Thanks to both of you for recently and in the

past expressing these sentiments about Ramana Maharshi.

Please, if I may, this may come from a slightly different angle -- but

along the same general lines as Harsha-ji and Frank-ji's offerings. For

me, my devotion is towards Amitabha Buddha, and I pay respects to Him

every day with chanting, incense, circumambulation and other offerings, etc.

Amitabha's main story is told in two Mahayana sutras from the Pure Land

School of Buddhism -- the Shorter and Longer Sukhavati-vyuha Sutras (the

sutras on the Display of the World of Bliss).

Briefly, these sutras are narrated by Shakyamuni Buddha and tell of the

grace and saving power of Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha of Infinite Light and

Infinite Life). Eons ago, before Amitabha was a buddha, he was Bodhisattva

Dharmakara. With the help of a buddha of the distant past (Buddha

Lokeshvararaja), Dharmakara was inspired to practice for the salvation not

only of himself, but of all beings. He practiced for eons and created a

"Buddha-field" called the Western Pure Land, where all beings can practice

to perfection, and will not retrogress into samsara unless they choose to

do so from a Bodhisattva vow to save all beings. Dharmakara made a series

of 47 vows on his path to Buddhahood. These vows amount to Dharmakara's

refusal of Buddhahood for himself until all those who desire unsurpassable

awakening and remember his name are reborn in his Pure Land.

To me, this is a magnificent set of vows and wonderful movement of Grace.

The vows' fulfillment is also magnificent. Because of Amitabha's effort

and the grace of previous buddhas, Dharmakara is now Buddha Amitabha.

Therefore, according to the sutras, all his if-then statements have been

fulfilled. So it is NOW the case that all who have faith in these vows and

sincerely desire unsurpassed awakening are able to achieve it, without

fail! That is, through Amitabha's grace, our awakening is guaranteed,

actually already the case. The Pure Land, according to one's

interpretation of the sutras and commentaries, can be interpreted either as

noumenon, or a land of phenomenal bliss of all kinds.

Thanks for opening this thread!

Om!

--Greg

August 9, 2000

Dear Greg,

Thank you for sharing this beautiful example of bhakti. The stories of Budddhas

and

Bodhisattvas are very inspirational whether one happens to consider oneself part

of

that religion or any religion. On the retreat, you gave us a beautiful

experience of

this walking and singing chant, and it reminded me of how the sense of worship

and

awe is missed when we lack a fellowship that supports this activity, however it

may

be expressed. As a child, my heart became devoted to Jesus mostly thru singing,

and

no matter whatever has changed my thinking and views of religion, that devotion

remains unchanged. To me, Jesus was calling for this Pure Land when he asked

that

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." There are so many ways and thru

so

many forms that Grace does touch us, indeed this very company of the sages here

is

one of them. Another way bhakti may be described is simply, "Whatever you love,

you

become."

Peace and Grace,

Gloria

August 9, 2000

Dear Gloria,

Thank you for sharing on the beauty of this devotional way. I agree, the

coming together in love and shared activity is a beautiful, powerful thing.

"Together-action!," like the Rev. Seung Sahn used to say (he, the abbot of

our retreat Center).

When future retreats happen, I look forward in partaking of yours and

others' sharing!

Love,

--Greg

At 08:54 PM 8/9/00 -0400, Gloria Lee wrote:

>>>>

Dear Greg,

Thank you for sharing this beautiful example of bhakti. The stories of

Budddhas and

Bodhisattvas are very inspirational whether one happens to consider oneself

part of

that religion or any religion. On the retreat, you gave us a beautiful

experience of

this walking and singing chant, and it reminded me of how the sense of

worship and

awe is missed when we lack a fellowship that supports this activity,

however it may

be expressed. As a child, my heart became devoted to Jesus mostly thru

singing, and

no matter whatever has changed my thinking and views of religion, that

devotion

remains unchanged. To me, Jesus was calling for this Pure Land when he

asked that

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." There are so many ways and

thru so

many forms that Grace does touch us, indeed this very company of the sages

here is

one of them. Another way bhakti may be described is simply, "Whatever you

love, you

become."

Peace and Grace,

Gloria

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August 10, 2000

Greg-ji, l'm impressed by your devotion to Amitabha Buddha! And thanx

also for the illuminating exposition. l tend to get the different Buddhas

confused, so this came in handy. jerrysan

August 10, 2000

Hi Jerry-ji,

Thanks for your note. Yes, the buddhas can get mind-boggling!

There's another thing that I like about about Amitabha Buddha. He is said

to have an infinite number of all the infinitely important attributes.

Like wisdom and compassion. For example, in many pictures and

representations, he is flanked by two Bodhisattvas - Kwan Yin (a.k.a.

Avalokitesvara), who represents Mercy and Compassion. And Mahasthamaprapta

(a.k.a. Manjushri), who represents Wisdom.

These two additional figures are sometimes appreciated on their own, though

they are also aspects of Amitabha himself. So for those cultivating

wisdom, there's Manjushri to appeal to, and for devotees of compassion,

there's Kwan Yin.

Kwan Yin is very popular devotional figure, as she is the Hearer of the

World's Cries. There are several Buddhist temples devoted to Kwan Yin here

in New York's Chinatown, and also at a large monastery upstate New York.

The various statues and pictures of Kwan Yin can range from severe and

matronly to downright gorgeous! My girlfriend, who is also gorgeous, went

to a Buddhist temple one time, and was told that she was an incarnation of

Kwan Yin....

Love,

--Greg

At 05:35 PM 8/10/00 EDT, GCWein1111 wrote:

>>>>

Greg-ji, l'm impressed by your devotion to Amitabha Buddha! And thanx

also for the illuminating exposition. l tend to get the different Buddhas

confused, so this came in handy. jerrysan

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