Light of Amida

Let us learn together about Shin Buddhism!

[soundsofeloquence-blog]

"Words have no arrows nor swords, yet they tear men’s minds to pieces"

Tibetan Buddhist proverb (via soundsofeloquence)

[worldlynoblethoughts-blog]

THE BUDDHA DID NOT AND WOULD NOT SAY THIS (neither did C.S. Lewis)

The quote is generally not attributed to the Buddha, but I cannot believe that it would be in the same picture as a Buddha statue. The quote completely contradicts the Buddhist doctrine of “not-self”, and it is rooted in identity-view; the view of an eternal self (aka soul) and the view of no self at all. The first is eternalism, the second is nihilism, both of which the Buddha avoided with his teaching of the Eightfold Path aka the Middle Way. 

As I’ve once said before, be very weary of Buddha quotes. Always try to validate them and be especially careful when using quote database websites because they also contribute to this plague of misquotations.

[asyoulikeitnow]

Dharma practice is self-management. Karma is self-responsibility.

Tokden Amtin (Indian yogi)

[lightofamida]

解脱の光輪きはもなし 光触かぶるものはみな 有無をはなるとのべたまふ 平等覚に帰命せよ The liberating wheel of light is without bound; Each person it touches, it is taught, Is freed from attachments to being and nonbeing, So take refuge in Amida, the enlightenment of nondiscrimination.

Master Shinran (1173-1263) From Hymns on the Pure Land

[emptylotus-deactivated20140228]

Another part of taking responsibility is gentleness, which goes along with not judging, not calling things right or wrong.

Pema Chodron (via emptylotus)

[icbuddhists]

"Now, when a person is angry — overcome with anger, oppressed with anger — then regardless of the fact that he may be well-bathed, well-anointed, dressed in white clothes, his hair & beard neatly trimmed, he is ugly nevertheless, all because he is overcome with anger."

AN 7.60 (via icbuddhists)

[celebrationday2013]

[z-bra]

Your thoughts construct patterns like scaffolding in your mind. You are really etching chemical patterns. In most cases, people get stuck in those patterns, just like grooves in a record, and they never get out of them.

Steve Jobs (via z-bra)

[lightofamida]

願作仏の心はこれ 度衆生のこころなり 度衆生の心はこれ 利他真実の信心なり The mind that aspires to attain Buddhahood Is the mind to save all sentient beings; The mind to save all sentient beings Is true and real shinjin, which is Amida's benefiting of others.

Master Shinran (1173–1263) From Hymns on the Great Masters

[behavoir-deactivated20170719]

In fact, everything we encounter in this world with our six senses is an inkblot test. You see what you are thinking and feeling, seldom what you are looking at.

Shiqin (love this quote)

[samsaranmusing-deactivated20140]

The Parable of the Buddha and the Woman known as "Relying on Joy"

At the time of Buddha, there lived an old beggar woman called “Relying on Joy”. She used to watch the kings, princes, and people making offerings to Buddha and his disciples, and there was nothing she would have liked more than to be able to do the same. So she went out begging, but at the end of a whole day all she had was one small coin. She took it to the oil-merchant to try to buy some oil. He told her that she could not possibly buy anything with so little. But when he heard that she wanted it to make an offering to Buddha, he took pity on her and gave her the oil she wanted. She took it to the monastery, where she lit a lamp. She placed it before Buddha, and made this wish:”I have nothing to offer but this tiny lamp. But through this offering, in the future may I be blessed with the lamp of wisdom. May I free all beings from their darkness. May I purify all their obstructions, and lead them to enlightenment.”

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[theobstaclesarethepath]

Be patient with those who do not know the dharma. Like physicians without training, to them suffering is a problem without end.

(via theobstaclesarethepath)

[celestiallantern-deactivated201]

Compassion is an unstable emotion. It needs to be translated into action, or it withers. The question is what to do with the feelings that have been aroused, the knowledge that has been communicated. People don’t become inured to what they are shown — if that’s the right way to describe what happens — because of the quantity of images dumped on them. It is passivity that dulls feeling.

Susan Sontag Regarding the Pain of Others (2003)

[lightofamida]

On Resisting AvariceThe mentality that fawns on the rich and looks down upon the poor is a great enemy. Write a note of thanks to someone who sends you a case of fruit, but take even greater care to write to someone who gives you a single persimmon.

From Something You Forgot… Along the Way by Kentetsu Takamori

[icbuddhists]

"That’s the way it is! Those who engage in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct are not dear to themselves."

SN 3.4

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn03/sn03.004.than.html

(via icbuddhists)

[illuminology]

[lightofamida]

In a country known for rigid hierarchy, the sight of the school principal on hands and knees might seem strange. But in Japan, it’s just souji time-the period of about 15 minutes each day when students, teachers, and administrators all drop whatever they are doing, pull out the buckets and mops, and give everything a good scrub.

[tesw]

#buddhism #buddha #meditation #spirituality #perspective #inspiration