hasunoha

I'm afraid of dying even though I was saved

A person who believes in the Jodo Shinshu sect.
I met Mr. Amida and made my religious decision, but I'm afraid of dying.

Until now, my head has been full of doubts, and I've always been worried about whether or not I can be saved.

However, I didn't know much about what would happen after death and death, and now I relied on sutras translated into modern language on the internet.

The written content was difficult and I couldn't read everything, but after death, I interpreted it as meaning that after death, after being allowed to go to the Pure Land of Paradise, they received an unending life and practiced ascetic training all the time. Also, I understood that I might not be able to go to this world anymore.

Until now, I had misinterpreted it, and I misunderstood that returning to the present world after becoming a Buddha is being able to go back to this world and save my family and friends.

Now that I know that, even though Amida has solved the most important thing in my life, it's very painful because there are so many worries that are really extremely disrespectful, such as the fact that it's painful to live with my whole life after death, I don't want to do it because of the pain of training, and I don't want to be able to see my family or friends anymore.

What's more, ideas that are extremely rude and contrary to reason have come up, such as that if I hadn't made a religious decision, I might be reborn and meet my family again, and I'm falling into self-loathing.

If there are people whose faith has been decided, I would be happy if you could tell me how they perceive things after they have passed away.

4 Zen Responses

It seems that they are suffering from being slightly misunderstood about the teachings of the Pure Land

Thank you for your consultation. I understand the worry of “I'm afraid of dying” very well. Everyone is afraid of death. Buddhism explains the four pains of “life, old age, illness, and death,” but among them, fear of “death” can be said to be the greatest suffering that comes from humans instincts to protect themselves. As a monk, I myself am still afraid of “death.” So please don't blame yourself.

It is said that they met Amida, and that relationship is truly precious. Now, it seems that they are suffering from a slight misunderstanding about the teachings of the Pure Land, so I'll tell you so that you can feel safe.

First, it's about “phase reduction rotation (phase reduction),” but your initial understanding is definitely not a misunderstanding. It is “the work of becoming a Buddha, returning to this lost world (this world) again, and saving and leading precious family and friends.” Also, in the “Buddha theory, Amida Sutra,” it is described as “club one place (kueissho).” This is a promise, “Let's meet again together in one place called the Pure Land.” The Pure Land is not a place where you are forced to practice painful ascetic practices; it is a peaceful world where you can be reunited with your loved ones and complete them together as a Buddha.

They have fallen into self-loathing, saying “there are so many worries that it's extremely disrespectful,” but we “ordinary people (bonbu)” can never cut off our worries with our own strength. “Fear of death” is also, on the other hand, the affliction of “obsession with the present life.”

Amida was sworn to “save as is, never abandon (discard ingestion)” precisely because we are so afflicted. The Jodo Shinshu sect leaves it up to that heart. Rather than anxiety about “death,” which we still don't see right now, let's be relieved that we are being held by Amida's mercy, and live our “now” with care in this world. I hope that Nembutsu will ease your mind.

Worship
Engiji Temple Shakujo

If you realize it in paradise, your worries and suffering will go away

The reason for the long lifespan in the Pure Land of Paradise is to prevent people from running out of life before they are fully enlightened (before attaining Buddhism) and being reincarnated outside of paradise and unable to practice.
In other words, you can train for a long period of time, so you can train for a long period of time (students who enter Gokuraku Gakuen are not expelled until they reach the level they graduate).
Then, the residents of Paradise are given supernatural powers, and they go out to other worlds in a short time before breakfast (instantaneous movement?) You can do it, so it doesn't mean you can't leave paradise until you realize it.
Then, once enlightenment is complete, the affliction that is the cause of worry and suffering will disappear, leading to complete peace.
Also, it probably doesn't necessarily mean that we have to go back to phase.
When enlightenment is reached, there is an option to go straight into Nirvana (peaceful destruction), and there is also an option to become a Buddha and set up a new pure land to save sentient beings.
In the Jodo sect, which follows the Mahayana Buddhism trend, the idea of going back and forth to save people is mainstream, but there is also a saying, “Once I realize it, I quietly graduate from being a living being and enter nirvana.”
Well, it's a good idea to think about it after actually realizing it.
Namu Amidabu Namu Amidabu

May you feel at ease

I read it.
I read your feelings. I think it's reasonable for you to think so. Everyone is afraid of death. You're definitely not alone. I'm scared too. I understand your feelings from the bottom of my heart.

Amida always greets us when we pass away, and accompanies Kannon, Seishi Bosatsu, and Amata Bosatsu. Also, our close friends and ancestors who went there kindly welcomed us, and we were able to rejoice at the reunion.

We were born in Amida's Pure Land of Paradise, saved from any hesitation, suffering, and pain, and we can practice Buddhism with a clear mind without any sorrow.
There is no suffering at all when practicing Buddhism in paradise, and you can practice very peacefully, sincerely, and easily.

There, your faith will never waver, and your worries such as hesitation, worry, anger, hate, envy, devouring, etc. will go away. Then, you can open your senses and become a Buddha.
I can guide people with relationships who have become Buddha and live in this world.

Please don't worry.

I sincerely pray that you will be saved by Amida and do nembutsu, and when you have given your full life, be sure that Amida will guide you with Kannon, Seishi Bosatsu, and Amata Bosatsu, and that close people and ancestors who have gone there will kindly welcome you, so that you can pass away in paradise, feel safe from the bottom of your heart, and rejoice in the reunion. Shishin Gassho Nanmu Amida Buddha Namu Amidabutsu

I'm happy that I was able to become a person who says Nembutsu, and that a love relationship has reached far away

As someone who believes in and relies on Amida, I am also afraid of “death.”
Even if they are promised that they will meet again, it will be hard to leave, and that obsession will go away forever, until the time of death. It really is a human being.

The suffering we have to break up with, the pain we leave behind in this world...

They can see that far, and not only do they cause people to pass away, but they also give them a chance to return to the government. “Being able to go back to this world and save my family and friends” is certainly not a mistake.

However, it is not a figure that comes and goes like a ghost, and it changes the suffering and regret that cannot be thrown away into a form of nenbutsu those left behind as a connection that connects you with feelings. There, your wishes that you care about become a function of delivering (connecting) Amida's salvation as a form of return, and reach the other party.

If you think about it the other way around, the reason you are meeting Amida's relationship now is probably because the return (appearance) of someone who thinks of you has arrived. That's why you too were able to receive Amitabha's wishes.

The founder, Shinran Shonin, said let's rejoice that he was able to become a nembutsu person, and that his sukugan has reached that place far away. The marriage that connects you will nurture you into a nembutsu surrender, and you too can not only simply pass away due to Amida's work, but also become a “life” leading to the next relationship.