hasunoha

Isn't the way of faith self-reliant

I've always believed in Amitabha and thought I'd be taken to the Pure Land. I don't understand the difficult teachings of the Jodo Shinshu sect.
I asked AI myself and listened to monk stories on YouTube.
I know Amitabha Buddha's original wish, the teachings of Shinran. I have simply believed it.
My daughter, who was younger last year, also had faith. Tell me about the Pure Land Shinshu and Amitabha Buddha in my own way. My daughter also did her own research and became convinced.
I want to stay with my mom forever. I was so happy.
After that, we decided to cherish each other by keeping our faith in our own way and at our own pace.
On the line, though.
Recently, I thought I'd have to tell my older daughter about the Jodo Shinshu soon.
If I chant Namu Amida Buddha even once, I knew that Amida Buddha would welcome me at the end, and I wanted my daughter to sing it, and when I talked about the darkness of going around the Kaidan at Zenko-ji Temple, I wanted to go there, so I went to Zenko-ji Temple and had them sing Nembutsu. My daughter feels like sightseeing, so before she went, she told me that Zenko-ji Temple is a temple where an old Buddha called Amida Buddha is enshrined, and they have been praying for a long time and chant Namu Amida Buddha. I sang Namu Amida Buddha at the main hall of Zenko-ji Temple. I wanted my daughter to pass away too. I wanted to stay in the Pure Land the whole time. I wish Amida Buddha would come last in nembutsu.
But I can't go to the Pure Land unless my daughter believes in it, and I'm relieved to know that I won't fall to the Three Evils due to the Buddhist relationship at Zenko-ji Temple. Even so, I was relieved to know that if I don't have my daughter's faith, I'm worried that I won't go to the Three Evils someday, and I was worried that my daughter would have a difficult life in the human world and wanted them to come to the Pure Land as soon as possible, and I was relieved to know that she would pass away by the 4th time due to the matrimony of Zendo Daishi and the others. I look at my daughter's face every day and I feel lonely when I think I have to believe in this life
But I was shocked that I wanted to know the time of my Pure Land like this because AI told me that it would be an act of self-help, and I wasn't able to build it on my own. I was scared to learn that the fact that I was worried about my daughter and I was lonely and tried to know that it was an act of self-help, even though I had tried not to help myself if I left it to Amitabha Buddha and left it to my younger daughter. I didn't even build on such a thing, probably because I've simply believed until now
Will I not be able to go to the Pure Land due to this self-help act
Also, if you took them to Zenkoji Temple, will they be able to help themselves
I don't understand difficult things
I would be most happy if I could feel the same way as my daughters in this life
What should I do
I can't sleep because I don't understand. I just want to go to the Pure Land with my daughters

4 Zen Responses

Rows are not point-based

Words and actions that people make with intention are called actions. It is often described as a point system because good lines lead to good results and bad lines lead to bad results, but strictly speaking, this is not the case.
It's not like passing away is confirmed because good lines have accumulated ○○ points, and passing away is impossible because bad lines have accumulated △△ points. There's no such thing as losing such a big goal that it's absolutely impossible anymore.
For example, it's like a ship sailing straight west. I know that if you trust a nautical chart or compass and proceed, you will arrive west. However, it may deviate from the route due to ocean currents, wind effects, or misunderstandings.
This kind of thing will happen often. However, this does not mean that this ship will never be able to reach the west as a result. All you have to do is correct the route according to the nautical chart and compass, and aim west again.
For Amida Buddha's salvation, there are no green seats, Gran Class, or limited express tickets like on bullet trains. It's just that a path has been paved that will definitely welcome you to the Pure Land. Obsessing over and over and over, “I wonder if I can get there quickly this way” and “which line should I get on in time” is like continuing to do some research on the station platform and not getting on the train yet. In order to proceed, you don't need to read the timetable carefully; all you have to do is get on the train.
Nonetheless, in the first place, ordinary people worry and worry about this and that. Of course, Amitabha greets you after understanding that, so isn't it important to leave momentary misunderstandings up to them without getting too bogged down?

Please thank “that you are already in salvation” and praise Nembutsu

It was very painful to hear that I was so worried that I couldn't sleep at night. Your deep love as parents who care about their daughters and wish to go to the Pure Land together is conveyed from every corner of your words. First of all, don't worry. Your worries and actions this time will never prevent you from going to the Pure Land.

I also understand the feeling that you feel uneasy about “not being able to help yourself.” The devotion of another power to “leave everything to Amida” is easy to put into words, but it is very difficult even for us monks to truly realize it. In the book “Shoisho,” when his apprentice Yuien asked, “Even if you praise Nembutsu, the joy of jumping up doesn't spring up,” even Shinran Shonin answered, “Actually, me too.” Even Shinran Shonin was hesitant, so it is natural for us to feel uneasy.

In the Jodo Shinshu sect, onembutsu is not a “please” word “please take me to the Pure Land.” When praising you as “Namu Amida Buddha,” Amida's wish to “save you without fail” has already reached you. Nembutsu is a “thank-you” word for “thank you” for that great mercy.

Taking my daughter to Zenko-ji Temple and having them praise Nembutsu was a wonderful act of establishing a precious relationship with the Buddha. There's absolutely no need to blame yourself.

Amida will hold you as you are when you are lost and troubled. Instead of asking “because I want to go to the Pure Land with my daughter,” please let go of unnecessary worries, simply thank “that you are already in the midst of salvation,” and continue praising Nembutsu with peace of mind.

Worship
Engiji Temple Shakujo

Why don't you try doing a memorial service

If the purpose is to give your daughter a chance to nembutsu, why not try doing a memorial service for someone in your family?
Alternatively, if you have a Buddhist altar at home, you can have a monk come and work during the Obon season.
Read sutras and nembutsu with the monk, and ask questions after work.
It depends on the temple, but when it comes to the Jodo Shinshu, I feel that there are relatively many monks who preach during memorial services.
Now, let's talk about other powers and self-strength.
There are ways of thinking that classify Buddhism into two categories, Tariki Jodo Gate and Jiriki Seidomon, and the method for getting people to pass away in the Pure Land using Amida Buddha's original power is Tariki Jodomon, and all other Buddhist practices (aiming for enlightenment by oneself) are all Jiritsu Seidomon.
Therefore, whether it is other power or self-power is originally a term that divides Buddhist training into genres.
I think recommending nembutsu to my daughter is a part where you don't need to worry about self-strength or other powers.

Amida's good morning message has reached you, and I wish for your child.

I want to stay connected to my loved ones for a long time, and after I run out of life in this world, I want to pass away in Amida Buddha's Pure Land of Paradise. Above all else, I always want to meet the people I want to meet.

Me too. I've broken up with my loved ones.
Then, due to that person's relationship, I was introduced to the Nembutsu Hosen (Amida's wish).

If you do that, you'll feel at ease. It's Amida's “I'll definitely save you. So count on me. Call the name of Namu Amida Buddha. That's because it's a joy for them to work (call out) for me by making a wish, “I'm there.” How big and deep is it that they cared about me, prepared the Pure Land so that I could be born, and shouted “I'm by your side” even now.

And that relationship is because the deceased made it to me.
My grandparents and parents enthusiastically said Nembutsu and said, “Thank you. It's reassuring. They lived, saying, “I'm happy.” I grew up watching that figure, so I learned not only about being born in the Pure Land, but also about the richness of the heart to be hoped for and supported in peace of mind from the world we live in today.

This is probably Amida's handiwork too. Also, it's probably an ancestral wish (connection of life) that has been passed down to grandparents and parents.

Shinran Shonin said that it wasn't a coincidence that I was able to put my hands together; it was because countless wishes for marriage from the far distant past have been connected. Let's continue to be deeply grateful and happy for that encounter. They say, “Celebrate your long-distance marriage.”

It would be “planning” rather than self-help for you to work for your daughter to encounter this peace of mind and to have it reach Amida's will. Amitaba-sama's good morning message has reached you, and I wish for your child. Just like I passed it down from my grandparents to my parents to me.

My daughter is also desired by Amida. I'm happy.
I'm sure someday there will come a time when my heart will fall head over heels in my head. Until then, let's keep calling out and showing your joy as you say Nembutsu.

My child is also putting their hands together without understanding it yet. I also want to rely on Amida to live my life until that becomes a great relief for this child.
The appearance and wishes of parents will surely arrive someday. That's because everyone is in the hands of Amida's wishes.

Let's live our lives now and in future generations.