The Way of Jodo Shinshu

Jodo Wasan 89

Even if, during the lapse of a hundred thousand kotis of kalpas,
With a hundred-thousand kotis of tongues,
Each producing immeasurable voices,
Should Amida be praised, He could not be praised exhaustively.

When the Heart is Full

The twentienth century Anglican mystic Charles Williams was author of several captivating novels on spritual themes, some poetry centred around Byzantium and a wonderful history of the spiritual life of Europe. He was a member of the discussion group 'The Inklings' to which C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein belonged. The latter, of course, wrote the famous novel celebrating Anglo-Saxon virtue - The Lord of the Rings - which was acclaimed as the 'Novel of the Century' (meaning the twentieth century) a couple of years ago. As a non-Christian, there is much of Charles Williams' writing which I find difficult but one thing I do understand are his descriptions of peoples' sense of awe, wonder and liberation - a 'full heart'. It seems to be a common human experience.

In its most anguished form a 'full heart' is associated with erotic love - especially the longing for the beloved in his or her absence and the joy and delight in their presence. One's life is filled with the beloved and there is no room for anything else. But from the Buddhist perspective this kind of fullness of heart is a trap, an attachment which cements us to samsara like a limpet on a rock. Should it fall away, as often it does, then perhaps we should let it go; but for foolish beings like us, who need our families and our loved ones, this is difficult to do.

Many people, myself included, experience a profound sense of magic and wonder in the context of natural phenomena. A few weeks ago the city in which I live had a light-show from a spring thunderstorm which lasted nearly all night and continued uninterrupted. These storms are usually rainless and occur with the transition from the wet to the dry season. And as I have already said, the moon has always captivated me in all his phases and moods. One incredibly wonderful phenomenon in this part of Australia - where eucalypts predominate is a - 'weeping' woodland. Eucalypt leaves hang perpendicularly and in heavy mists the moisture condenses on them and runs off like rain. It usually happens towards the beginning of the rainy season in mid-Autumn when the ground is completely bare. It is breathtakingly wonderful and fills the heart with the wonder of the natural world in all of its caprices.

Then there are the places and moments of traquillity. After an often exacting and demanding day I cycle through the 'parklands' which surround the town of Adelaide. The waters of the river and the surrounding trees afford wonderful vignettes and 'pools of silence' from which one may drink in one's heart, finding relief and renewed strength.

But, then, there are the ever more urgent eternal questions and deep things which need to find resolution. I am not talking about those things which can be alleviated by talking them through but about that nagging doubt or nameless dark brooding inner oppression which is always there; always just behind everything we think and everything we do. It gives us a sense of unease, especially because it hints all the time that life may actually be completely meaningless and futile. It is there, there always, like a dark room in a house. The room seems to be haunted and we are terrified to open the door, fearful beyond endurance of what we might find inside. Our heart is full but full of darkness. The thunderstorm, the weeping trees - they are within our hearts, now and all the universe of living things is crying out in pain.

It is impossible to open this door alone, for the contents of our inner recesses portend annihilation. They are the rapacious, reptilian things which we keep hidden because of the damage they would do in a social context; and to ourselves. Yes, we hear of them breaking out en masse in events like those recently in the Balkans or eastern Africa. But there is a hand that we can hold and walk through the door, into the heart of darkness - a Light that will show these terrors as the vacuous things they are, and set our hearts free.

Too often we are fond of describing Amida Buddha in abstruse terms and some people even venture to describe Him as a mere symbol; or just hypothetical - a myth. Even more surprising is the fact that some people holding these ideas are proponents of the Pure Land Way. But why not let go of this kind of complicated and pinched sophistry, break down the walls of our fear and open our hearts - accept Amida Buddha, as He is? How hard it is for many of us to go beyond the parameters of our intellect? True, Amida's Light is Inconceivable but, let's remember the wonderful words of the Shoshinge:-

The embracing spiritual Light eternally shines upon us protectively;
Although the darkness of ignorance has already been rent,
The cloudy mists of greediness, desire, anger, and hate
Always blanket the heaven of True Faith.
It is as though the sun is obscured by misty clouds,
But below them it is light and there is no darkness.

Amida Buddha, the Buddha existing from the eternal past, is as real and as tangible as was Shakyamuni Buddha. We always arm ourselves with doubt - it helps us to feel self-important and sophisticated - because by means of it we can protect ourselves from the irruption of deep realities; and, subsequently of the deep fullness of heart that comes from joy. But in reality there are those dark lurking things which cry out for our attention, for we know that as long as they remain lurking we will not be free; and we know that they are not symbols or myths! Everytime I am in a plane coming in to land (and that is often) and hear the flight deck voice-over to the cabin crew say 'Disarm doors and cross-check' I remember how as people we coop and lock everything up inside, without ventillation and out of the Light. We are afraid to be disarmed and unsophisticated and open to the only One Light that can endure our inner darkness.

We should let go of our self-defeating prejudices and in a moment of total disarmament take hold of Amida Buddha's hand.

Listen to these wonderful words of Rennyo Shonin, translated by Elson B. Snow:

For those who understand thoroughly the meaning of 'Anjin-Faith' of our Jodo Shinshu School, there is no necessity to possess intelligence or learning. Just become aware that at best you are deeply evil-prone, shameful beings, and believe that the Buddha who delivers such beings regardless is Amida Buddha only. If they cling tightly to the sleeve of this Amida Tathagata's Benevolence with feelings of complete trust without any doubt and place Faith in Him for the life to come, this Amida Tathagata will be deeply joyed and will emit 84 000 rays of Light from His person and envelop them forever in this Light.

... Oh, how wonderful is this unobstructable Primal Vow and how welcome is this Great Light of Amida Tathagata! Without the blessing of this Light, there is not even a remote hope that we shall be cured of this fearful sickness of ignorance and delusion that has transcended to us from time immemorial.

Ah! And then the heart is full!

- 18 November, 2002.

Alders; Adelaide 18 November 2002.