JoshoAdrianCirlea

If you find my videos useful please click LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my channel. Click here if you wish to become a patron or make a donation to support my Dharma work. Any little help is appreciated and very much needed - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html

In my book WORSHIPING AMIDA BUDDHA - Liturgies and Ceremonies of Amidaji temple, I have a special chapter on how to help nonhuman beings make connections with Amida Buddha and entrust to Him, including hungry spirits (pretas), bardo beings and animals (pages 121-154) You can order a printed version of this book or download it for free at this link - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/12/new-book-worshipping-amida-buddha.html Click here to read a detailed explanation of all samsaric states of existence, including pretas (hungry spirits) and gods - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-six-realms-of-samsaric-existence.html Other useful links: Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation. Any little help is appreciated and very much needed - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html

Fragment from one of our zoom meetings with members of Amidaji sangha. Here I was making reference to the EKO (merit transference) part of our recitations in Jodo Shinshu which reads as follows: doshi: GA-N NI SHI KU DO KU [1] May the merits of the [Primal] Vow [of Amida] doon: BYO – U DO – U SE IS – SA – I be received equally by all beings DO – U HO – TSU BO DA – I SHI – N May all develop bodhicitta [2], O – U JO – U A – A – A – A – N RAK – KOKU And may they be born in the Land of Peace and Bliss Notes: [1] In the practices based on personal power the practitioner “earns” virtues which he transfers for his own Enlightenment. But in the case of Other Power (Pure Land) way, the transference of merits takes place from Amida Buddha to those who entrust to Him. This transference of merit (eko) carries the follower to the Pure Land where he attains Nirvana or perfect Enlightenment. Shinran Shonin says in a hymn: “When sentient beings of this evil world of the five defilements Entrust themselves to the selected Primal Vow, Virtues indescribable, inexplicable, and inconceivable Fill those practitioners." The merit transference from Amida to the practitioner has two aspects: 1) the merit transference of going forth (Oso-Eko) and 2) the merit transference of returning to this world (Genso-Eko). The first refers to the fact that through Amida's transference of merit we go to His Pure Land where we become Buddhas, while the second one means that after we become Buddhas in the Pure Land by sharing the same Enlightenment as Amida, we return to the various samsaric realms and universes, to save all beings. [2] Bodhicita or Bodhi Mind is the aspiration to attain Budhahood for oneself and all beings. This is fulfilled in the Awakening of Faith (shinjin) in the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha. Master Shan-tao said: “Awake your Bodhi Mind to Amida’s Compasion”, that is, aspire to your and other beings Liberation by relying on the Compasion of Amida (His Primal Vow). So, the Awakening of the Bodhi Mind, the obligatory condition in Mahayana for attaining the supreme Enlightenment, appears in Jodo Shinshu in the form of the entrusting heart (shinjin). Shinran Shonin said, “The mind aspiring to become Buddha Is the mind seeking to save sentient beings; The mind that seeks to save sentient beings Is True Faith endowed by Amida’s Compassion.” (Hymns on the Patriachs, 18) Click here to see a record of Amidaji Nembutsu liturgy - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2018/11/simple-nembutsu-service-from-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to support my Dharma activities by donations. Any little help is useful and very much needed - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jszXi3peShSlb7G-C-Z5J7PayYOBo9Oy/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Fragment from one of our zoom meetings with members of Amidaji sangha Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html

Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html

This is a fragment from my Dharma discussion with Myoshin Jason Harris from UK after his online kieshiki (refuge ceremony). As you probably know, I offer online kieshiki ceremonies for those who want to become members of Amidaji temple and accept the orthodox views of our organization. Here are some useful articles posted on my website: Faith in Amida Buddha is not the creation of our mind - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2018/05/faith-in-amida-buddha-is-not-creation.html A detailed explanation of the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-detailed-explanation-of-primal-vow-of.html * Other useful links: Click here if you want to know about Amidaji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download all my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

In this video I made reference to my book Simple Teachings on Emptiness and Buddha Nature. You can listen to the audio version of this book here - https://youtube.co/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOCL18UMe2aDdFiBnivWsOx You can buy the printed version or download the book for free at this link - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/new-book-simple-teachings-on-emptiness.html Other useful links: Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html

In this video I made reference to “The wrong view of nihilistic emptiness” from my book Simple Teachings on Emptiness and Buddha Nature. You can listen to the audio version of this book here - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOCL18UMe2aDdFiBnivWsOx You can buy the printed version or download the book for free at this link - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/new-book-simple-teachings-on-emptiness.html Related video on my youtube channel: On the Buddha nature, wrong understanding of emptiness and self exclusion from Amida’s salvation https://youtu.be/LW9Qmsuw49E Other useful links: Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download all my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

Related articles: Some Buddhist explanations on the origin and existence of the universe - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2015/03/some-buddhist-explanations-on-origin.html Fragment from my book The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land that you can download from here - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2015/09/my-new-book-true-teaching-on-amida.html The illusory nature of samsara - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-illusory-nature-of-samsara.html Fragment from my book, Simple Teachings on Emptiness and Buddha nature which you can download from here - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/new-book-simple-teachings-on-emptiness.html Other useful links: Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download all my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

Related articles: Some Buddhist explanations on the origin and existence of the universe - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2015/03/some-buddhist-explanations-on-origin.html Fragment from my book The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land that you can download from here - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2015/09/my-new-book-true-teaching-on-amida.html The illusory nature of samsara - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-illusory-nature-of-samsara.html Fragment from my book, Simple Teachings on Emptiness and Buddha nature which you can download from here - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/new-book-simple-teachings-on-emptiness.html Other useful links: Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download all my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ECOW9Qpldt8LZxU2adougKIYFc0Dpw6R/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Discusión de fe y karma con miembros de la Sangha de Amidaji en Latinoamérica (Inglés con traducción a Español). Este es un fragmento de nuestra primera reunión el día sábado 15 de Mayo.

Click here if you want to know about Amidaji temple - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Click here if you want to read my autobiography - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-path-between-thorns-my-spiritual.html Click here to download my books for free - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here if you want to order the printed copies of my books - https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to support my Dharma work with a little donation - http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html

Click here to get the pdf version of this essay: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vc1mzwKvIR2vQU2ZzY6nzJajO3Ljiua8/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch Sensei is an Australian lay teacher of Amidaji International Temple. He is also the author of "Pure Land Poems" that you can listen at this link, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTMxxmDi_33sE8y_99ysy0ay and the narrator of my books in English. Click here to read about Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.ro/p/about-me.html Click here to download for free a selection of Amidaji books, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here to buy the printed editions of Amidaji books, https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to donate and support Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/11lrsLRAk51L1j31NaUHwhSYDWQFPBtrm/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cK8Ryf-WLGy1nJJEr1gG_-xK9WkG1tM-/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Click here to get the pdf version of this essay: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wfIbdemahXaLaoKRh84HHsHm5kYCW_9K/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch Sensei is an Australian lay teacher of Amidaji International Temple. He is also the author of "Pure Land Poems" that you can listen at this link, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTMxxmDi_33sE8y_99ysy0ay and the narrator of my books in English. Click here to read about Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.ro/p/about-me.html Click here to download for free a selection of Amidaji books, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here to buy the printed editions of Amidaji books, https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to donate and support Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PgHeoQmf0HqAq1Ww83BjHg0PvF-7AK4d/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Click here to get the pdf version of this essay: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-7d_vOzHNxOG69B3kXnfZhykiXwl9EcW/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch Sensei is an Australian lay teacher of Amidaji International Temple. He is also the author of "Pure Land Poems" that you can listen at this link, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTMxxmDi_33sE8y_99ysy0ay and the narrator of my books in English. Click here to read about Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.ro/p/about-me.html Click here to download for free a selection of Amidaji books, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here to buy the printed editions of Amidaji books, https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to donate and support Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/16ZZy_hpnS1M_Ohru9dW3WRyF_jwUe0Mn/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Click here to get the pdf version of this essay: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aGoXQAeg9eRBNqPuGfJ86W78FU744PA2/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch Sensei is an Australian lay teacher of Amidaji International Temple. He is also the author of "Pure Land Poems" that you can listen at this link, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTMxxmDi_33sE8y_99ysy0ay and the narrator of my books in English. Click here to read about Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.ro/p/about-me.html Click here to download for free a selection of Amidaji books, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/the-true-teaching-on-amida-buddha-and.html Click here to buy the printed editions of Amidaji books, https://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/2020/08/amidaji-bookstore-libreria-amidaji.html Click here if you wish to donate and support Amidaji temple, http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/donation.html Namo Amida Bu

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yFvUH-8AJXqD0_LOlv_6RFK_-qD9m_N-/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qKDw68-D5XRwMi_xbJiXafNJQvInaW_9/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Introduction by Gansen John Welch, I wrote this new poem to thank and honour my teachers Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea and Paul Roberts as well as our Amida Dharma Masters, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Daochuo, Shandao, Genshin, Honen,Shinran and Rennyo without whom I could not have found and understood (in my case, to some small extent) Amida Dharma and my utter helplessness, trapped in the endless suffering of samsara. Never forget these wise words from Tannisho by Yuienbo: “As I humbly reflect on the past [when the late master Shinran was alive] and the present in my foolish mind, I can not but lament the divergences from the true shinjin that he conveyed by speaking to us directly, and I fear there are doubts and confusions in the way followers receive and transmit the teaching. For how is entrance into the single gate of easy practice possible unless we happily come to rely on a true teacher whom conditions bring us to encounter? Let there be not the slightest distortion of the teaching of Other Power with words of an understanding based on personal views.” My hope is that readers and listeners will find that certain words, phrases, ideas and concepts in this poem resonate with their past and present experience and prove to be helpful and meaningful in increasing their understanding of this profound and precious Amida Dharma. As Master Rennyo wrote: “There will also be those who are lacking in faith (fushinjin). This is an extremely serious matter. For unless there is a decisive settling of faith, the birth that is to come in the fulfilled land is uncertain. Therefore, those whose faith is lacking (fushin)should in all haste attain the decisive mind.The human realm is a place of uncertainty. The Land of utmost bliss is one of eternity. Hence we should not make our abode in the uncertain human realm, but rather aspire to [birth in] the eternal Land of Utmost Bliss. In our tradition, therefore, the matter of faith is placed before all else; unless we are fully aware of the reason for this, everything is meaningless. We must promptly undergo a decisive settling of faith (anjin) and aspire to birth in the Pure Land.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 11: On the Anniversary of Master Shinran’s Death) “There is, then, no anxiety over becoming a Buddha. How incomparable is the all-surpassing Primal Vow! And how gracious Amida Tathagata’s light! Without encountering the [receptive] condition of this light, there can be no cure at all for the fearful sickness of ignorance and karma-hindrance, which has been ours from the beginningless past. Prompted by the condition of this light, and with the ripening of good from the past, we assuredly attain other-power faith now. It is immediately clear, however, that this is faith granted by Amida Tathagata. Hence we know now, beyond question, that this is not faith generated by the practitioner, but that it is Amida Tathagata's great other-power faith. Accordingly, all those who have once attained other-power faith should reflect gratefully on Amida Tathagata’s benevolence and repeat the nembutsu, saying the Name of the Buddha always, in gratitude for the Buddha’sbenevolence.” (The Letters of Master Rennyo, Fascicle Five, 12: On the Sleeve of Amida) I would encourage readers and listeners to share these PDFs and recordings with family and friends(especially the audio recordings for those who may have difficulties with reading) so that as many people as possible may benefit. I also hope that these verses help others and motivate them to find a good teacher like Reverend Josho Adrian Cirlea, listen deeply to Amida Dharma and think and say: Namo Amida Butsu Namo Amida Butsu NamoAmidaButsu Thank you Amida Buddha Homage to Amida Buddha I take refuge in Amida Buddha Click here to download the poem in pdf, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DwOF8LRbp_0WXF1vLBOVzXIXy7c1xaCL/view?usp=sharing Gansen John Welch is a member and lay teacher of Amidaji temple and narrator of Josho Adrian Cirleas's books. You can listen to the audio versions of Rev Josho's books at these links: Amida Dharma (the essential doctrine of Amidaji temple), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN50AWSV9KK_y1VYZZ4Kh0G The Meaning of Faith and Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNten2hOrWQTGXhcMfpZ_3Z The Four Profound Thoughts Which Turn The Mind Towards Amida Dharma https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTNun5JJtVnqXvAx3JxYq_NZ The True Teaching on Amida Buddha and His Pure Land https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTN8Vk7gD2wh0LmfV4hu-0fc The Path of Acceptance - Commentary on Tannisho https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1TmuLHxJGTOFtQBVGL7vx3ouFnn_K5li More will follow soon! Contact details and information about Rev Josho and Amidaji temple: http://amida-ji-retreat-temple-romania.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html