Are samsara and nirvana on the same corner? That is a “biggie” question amongst Buddhists. Buddhist sects answer in their own way. But even in the same sect there are variations. So what do we, the everyday, non-monastic people, do?
A simple definition of the terms on the internet is: “Samsara ends if a person attains nirvana. Nirvana is the “blowing out” of the desires and gaining of true insight into impermanence and non-self as reality.” Well, that sounds pretty clear and also, pretty impossible for people like me.
In our branch of Buddhism, the Pure Land practitioners rely upon Amida Buddha. We’ve talked about Amida Buddha over the years. We are in the age of mappō, a time that Shakyamuni Buddha explained when it will be nearly impossible for humans to attain Nirvana by their own effort. We call this effort, to do it on one’s own, “self-power.” It is called Jiriki in Shin Buddhist terminology.
Shin Buddhists rely upon Amida Buddha in this age of mappō – on “other-power.” It is called Tariki
in Shin Buddhist terminology. The sutras (ancient texts) tell of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, predicting the time mappō. They also tell of Dharmakara who eventually achieves Buddhahood with the purpose of creating a path to enlightenment in the age of mappō for the rest of us, who have no ability to do so on our own. Relying on this “other-power” is tariki.
What exactly does tariki
get us? Tariki, other-power by way of Amida Buddha, gets us on the road to nirvana. But what about samsara and nirvana, what does that have to do with tariki? Everything and nothing.
Standing on a street corner is a bit ambiguous. Are you on the street of samsara or on the street of nirvana? If we think about the two in this way, it is easy to see the choice we make when we decide where to place our next step. Now back to tariki and Amida Buddha…
We are told we need to be open to the “call” of Amida Buddha. Many iconic statues of Amida Buddha, in human form, show the statue taking a step toward us. That is the “call.” In other words, Amida Buddha is already open to us, but we really have to be open to wanting to do this. We may say we are miserable, afraid, anxious, but we rarely are willing to risk doing something to change it. We are stuck in a habit and are afraid to take that first step.
If you read the words of the Dhammapada 174 (above section), even in Shakyamuni Buddha’s time he tells us few are the people who see clearly and can escape samsara. Even in his time! So what about now when he told us it will be less possible if not impossible?
We heed the call of Amida Buddha, we are embraced just as we are, and we entrust that when we begin to walk on that path we will be safe, we will be liberated from our own bonbuness of greed, anger and folly. Samara and nirvana are at the same corner. We either hear the call to take that step toward awakening, or we take the familiar step back to illusions and remain on the street of samsara. May we all be willing to hear the call and take that step toward liberation, toward the “‘blowing out’ of the desires and gaining of true insight into impermanence and non-self as reality.”
Namo Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butsu
Rev. Anita
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