3rd movement: Light of Blue Wind – Part 2

Posted date：2023-12-07
Author：じゅうべい(Jubei) Transrator：ポンタ(Ponta)
Category：The Sacred Biography of Heian Buddhism: Amitabha Sage (Hijiri) Kuya, ed.

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The latter part: The light of blue wind

“The East Market is now transcending above-and-below distinctions of any hierarchy and is made up due to activities of greatly diverse of people.”

Then Kuya Shonin wrote “shishi” (marketer) at the top, “shijin” (seller) at the right, “buyer” at the bottom, and “maker” and “carrier” at the left on the ground written the character, “kuu” and “the West Market”then surrounded these letters with circles and connected them with lines.

“I see… then?”

“Even now, here in the East City, all things and all people support each other’s lives as they are, transcending the above-and-below distinctions between hierarchies, in diverse relationships with each other. There is no longer any discrimination or distinction there. They are all equal beings living in the present moment as bodhisattvas who are working hard for the salvation of this world.”

“As long as this East City is made up of a truly diverse range of relationships, it is likely to disappear at some point if those relationships disappear. But even if the East City disappears, as long as you Bodhisattvas are here, the world of life where we support each other will never disappear.”

“Then, am I a bodhisattva, too?”
“Yes, Shibaki. You are also a servant serving the nobilities in the capital. I think, then, your working is supporting lives and livings of the nobilities. You should live your life in your position, in your place, and do your best. You must put aside distinctions, discriminations, and all other forms of discrimination, and simply do everything you can for the sake of someone else.”

Then, Kuya Shonin wrote “Amitabha Buddha” on the ground with a tree branch and circled the word.

“Putting aside discrimination, distinctions, wisdom, complaining, and everything else, simply serve others as a Bodhisattva. To act for the sake of someone else. That is what Amitabha Budda is teaching us. That you can’t see Amitabha Buddha is because…”

Kuya Shonin now points to the character for “sky” written on the ground.

“It is because it is always showing us this teaching of emptiness”

“Everything that exists in this world, not just material things, not just certain ideas, not just anything, they do not have any fixed substance to begin with.

It said: “You must put aside all unnecessary thoughts and do your best to serve others as a bodhisattva and act for the sake of others. I would say this teaching itself is Amitabha Buddha.”

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“It’s not visible but it’s there as a teaching…”
I, who had been listening to Kuya Shonin the whole time, was mumbling to myself.
“Is that what you mean, Kuya Shonin?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Kuya Shonin pointed toward me with his left hand.
“Amitabha Buddha has been here all along as the teaching of “emptiness”. It has been watching over us all along.”

Then, Kuya Shonin-sama began to quietly recite Nembutu. With the cudgel in his right hand, striking the metal drum around his neck, he recited the Nembutu of the Amida Jodo whose meaning are living our lives by entrusting ourselves entirely to Amitabha Buddha.