In Just As You Are: Buddhism for Foolish Beings, Rev. Satyavani Robyn writes that when exploring something new, like Pureland Buddhism, we can take from it the things that we like and set the rest aside. We can then later explore the tradition more deeply in our own time (Thompson & Robyn, 2015).
I find that my journey to Pureland has been much like this. At first, I started practicing just because I liked the Vietnamese phrase “Namu A Di Da Phat.” I had my doubts about the Pureland in general, but the phrase was nice. Little by little, however, I further explored the teachings and found a rich spirituality and many wonderful friends in the Dharma. It took some time but I’ve definitely found a home in Pureland Buddhism.
If you too are wading into this tradition, take it slow. If you are saying the nembutsu and find something good in it, that’ great. If you decide to explore the practice a little more, then all the better.
Namo Amida Bu
Reference:
Thompson, K., Robyn, S. (2015) Just As You Are: Buddhism for Foolish Beings. Woodsmoke Press.
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