--- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Mel <gunnar19632000@...> wrote:
>
> Hey Steve!
> Â
> Question...
> Â
> - Are you with this I've been hearing lately about called Pure Land Buddhism?
> Â
> - I've come across some passage in some library book somewhere that the
> Chinese Buddhists believe that one has to first be cleansed in Hell before
> entering Heaven. Is this true? I ask because you give me the impression of
> following the Chinese way of things when it comes to the Buddha
>
> - .....Which brings to something I'm curious about....Is there a connection
> between the Chinese work JOURNEY TO THE WEST(Tales of Monkey?) and the above
> belief(s)?
> Â
> Thanks Steve!
> Â
> be well
> Mel
Hi Mel. Yes. Not too far from where I live is the Cloudwater Zendo, which
teaches the combined Chan/Pureland practice. I learned that approach from them.
Originally, I learned zazen from those karate-ka who were Japanese Soto. The
Chan teachers approached the Pureland story as being representational of states
of consciousness. In regards to Heaven and Hell, here is a wonderful story from
the Japanese tradition that illustrates this way of looking at it.
A samurai came to Hakuin and asked him about Heaven and Hell. Hakuin looked at
him with contempt and spat out, "You call yourself a samurai, but you are
obviously just some fool. You couldn't possibly understand the profound
doctrine of Heaven an Hell! Idiot!" Well, the samurai was a high-ranking
attendant to the Shogun, and he certainly wasn't used to being talked to like
that! In fury, he drew his sword and raised it above his head in order to cut
Hakuin down. At that moment, Hakuin pointed his finger at him and shouted,
"That's Hell!"
The samurai, suddenly realizing what Hakuin was doing, smiled and lowered his
sword. At that moment, Hakuin pointed again and yelled, "That's Heaven!" So
yes, we all have to go through Hell in order to get to Heaven, imo. However,
I'm afraid that I am not familiar with the work entitled Journey to The West,
although I have heard of it. You know, The Pure-Land is a place that is perfect
for realizing enlightenment. It is presided over by Amitabha, The Infinite
Light of enlightenment who has two assistants, Compassion (Kwan Yin) and Wisdom
(Ta Shih Chih). When the small self let's go of self-will and entrusts itself
to The Infinite Light, then in that one-thought-moment one dies and is reborn
in the Pure-Land. Then Compassion and Wisdom appear, in inummerable guises, to
help and guide on the Way. In serene trust, one sees that everything is
conspiring to lead one to enlightenment, and one will never fall back into
lower levels of delusion. Good Friends, like you, appear to point the way.
Namo Amitabha!
"To study the Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the
self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things." -Dogen
"This very body is the body of Buddha, and this very land is The Pure-Land!"
-Hakuin
>
>
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