Our experience is of a God who acts, in the lives of individual people, in communities and in the world. The active verbs we use – God acts, God intervenes – are metaphorical but also profoundly truthful. There is a strong element on the Christian tradition, going back to Jesus, which speaks of God in personal terms while recognising that this does not limit the Divine to the personal. Speaking of God as a person does not reduce God to being a person.
Beth Allen – “Ground and Spring. Foundations of Quaker discipleship”
I like this quote a lot. I see parallels within Pureland Buddhism. One can speak of Amida in personal terms while recognising that this does not limit the Buddha of Infinite Light & Life to the personal. Speaking of Amida as a person does not reduce Amida to being a person.
Which is why I can speak of being held in the arms of Amida.
Thanks Ray.
Its inevitable that we, human beings, encounter and relate to the divine in language and feeling that is in our own image. At the same time though it is amazing how easily it can skew our perceptions. Frequently in the Pure Land path, I encounter people struggling with theological problems and questions that can easily be dissolved by more deeply appreciating the formless and non-anthropomorphic aspect of Amida.
A crude analogy that comes to mind is that if you cut out a person’s shape in a piece of card and shine a light through it, it will cast the shape of a being of light. In reality though the light is so much greater and exceeds the limits of the sensed image.
The difficulty is that even with an awareness such as Beth Allen describes we are so easily seduced into thinking of the activity of the Light in terms of human categories. I guess its something we have to be ever vigilant over … though the name Amida (Infinite Light/Life) is a clue that is always at hand. Namuamidabutsu.
Thanks for the reminder. Gassho, K
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks K. – P.S. I edited out my reference to “Amidism” as I didn’t feel it was helpful. Actually, I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable using most -isms at the moment! Path or way seems simpler. Always appreciate your comments and perspectives. ~ray
[...] 7, 2008 Link: Dharmakara’s Prayer Posted by Kyōshin under 1 There’s an interesting quote and post over at Ray’s Quaker Faith and Pure Land Practice [...]
I borrow a lot of my thinking on this subject from John Hick. I believe he uses a general term, the Ultimate, to define that which is the referent of various religious faiths. Some faiths emphasize the personal nature of this Ultimate and call it God; others use more impersonal terminology. Maybe these are all just different ways of trying to understand in our limited human ways that which is beyond our full comprehension. We have to use metaphors because that is all we have to go by.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yes, this speaks to me. I look forward to reading more about John Hick – You have reminded me of a passage he wrote about pluralism which I shall try to find and post. Thanks! Good to see your review of The Other Buddhism – I hope you get a chance to read Who loves, dies well too, I been interested to read your thoughts on it.
~ray
Hi Dharmakara,
I’ve been here on your blog before (here: http://inwardlight.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/tbh/#comments) but this time round have had a much longer look – and am delighted to see how you are exploring Quakerism alongside your Pure Land Buddhism.
Although I currently live in Korea, I have spent many years previously attending Quaker meetings and, like you, see no contradiction at all between my Buddhist practice and my Quaker (and even wider Christian) roots.
My first experience of Buddhism was Therevadan, due to living in Thailand for many years, but I actually took refuge and received my Buddhist name in a Korean Zen temple – but one with a strong devotional slant.
My partner is Japanese and was brought up Jodo-shinshu, but I am much more familiar with Korean Pure land than Japanese.
I remember a couple of years ago first reading David Brazier’s “The Feeling Buddha” and being blown away by it and (although I do have some disagreements with him and his organisation) still think it to be one of the best and most clear sighted Buddhist books I’ve ever read.
All this is way of pre-amble. My point is just to introduce myself properly and to say that I’ve added your site to the list of links on my own.
All beings, one Buddha-Nature
Namu Amita Bul
Kuan Seum Bosal
Marcus
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello Marcus,
thank you for your comments. It is good to hear of your Quaker experience and please do feel free to add further thoughts as you wish. I am finding attending my local group very rewarding and have met some lovely people.
“The Feeling Buddha” is a wonderful book, but I would recommend David Brazier’s “Who loves, dies well” because of its emphasis on Pure Land. I’m aware of your reservations about Amida-shu – I have been connected to the Amida Trust for many years now and am grateful to the support and friendship I have found there. I’m not going to re-hash all that e-sangha stuff (this is my personal blog and I am keen not to be “representing” any organisaton – these are just my foolish ramblings and if people find any of them helpful along the way then I am happy.)
Amida’s light is reflected imperfectly through any human institution. Namo Amida Bu!
I shall look forward to reading your blog and hear of your experiences of Korean Pureland. Its good to see you writing about devotional spirituality. Welcome!
~ray
PS Check out the social networking site, Friends of Amida Be good to have your contributions there.
Thank you Ray!
Peace Ray, and everyone else too,
The Islamic tradition has pondered many of the same issues. How are references in the Quran to God having hands and so forth to be understood? What does it mean to speak of such things? Overall, the Islamic tradition has been very wary of speaking anthropomorphically of God, in any but the most metaphoric sense – for exactly these kinds of reasons.
Abdur Rahman
The personal…aspect? manifestation? hypostasis? whatever of Amita is a grace and mercy, just as Amita’s wisdom and compassion are also graces and mercies. We know very well that Amita is much bigger than all these, and just rest in that reality, enjoy the grace of the personal when needed, and keep listening to the Name that calls at all times.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks for this comment, Clint
~ray
:)