Songs Of True Entrusting Poem by Richard St. Clair

by Richard St. Clair

(Shaku Egen)


I

Amida, My Savior

I take refuge in the Light
Of the Buddha day and night:
I'm grateful for this bliss,
Thus Amida's feet I kiss!

I'm travelling through time,
My life but a tortured rhyme;
Yet listening I have heard
Amida's Name's sweet sound!

The gift of true salvation
Throughout the whole creation
Is offered without strings
To fly on Buddha's wings!

Embraced by Other Power
In my nearing final hour
With gratitude I sing
That Amida is my King!

In Naturalness do I live,
Shinjin did Amida give
To me, a foolish being,
My eyes now opened, seeing.

Through miraculous Shinjin
The Further Shore I win
Through Amida's loving Light,
The end of endless night!




II

Amida Buddha's Loving Call

Amida Buddha's Loving Call
Resounding here and yonder
Invites the suffering beings all
To partake of His Saving Wonder.

The Mystery of the Vow is more
Than I can ever understand;
Thus Amida do I ever adore
To join Him in His Blessed Land.

This birth of mine in dark samsara
Is the last one I will ever receive:
I reject the sirens' song of Mara
And cling in faith to Amida's sleeve.

My next birth in His Blissful Land
I look forward to with gratitude,
Amida grasping me by the hand
To merge with His Infinitude.

My endless wandering will end,
My chattering monkey mind will cease:
On Amida's Primal Vow I depend
To attain my karma's full release.

This humble little verse I sing
An offering in Amida's praise,
And bells I loud in worship ring
In joy throughout my nights and days!




III

Grateful for The Sangha

Thank You, Amida Buddha
For the blessings of the Sangha
And for saving foolish me
Through Your Meritorious Karma.

The power of Your Sacred Name
Brings joy to a suffering world,
The wisdom of the Larger Sutra
Is a banner here unfurled.

I'm relieved of painful rebirths,
No longer here will I roam:
In Your Land of Peace and Bliss
Have I found my lasting Home.

This Gift of Shinjin and
The promise of Pure Land birth
Is a treasure I've received
Of incalculable worth.

This day I give my thanks
To my loving Parent True,
That Buddhahood awaits me,
Never again a lost bombu!




IV

My Savior, Amida Buddha

As I look out through my frosted window
I feel the presence of Amida's Holy Light
Pouring into my very being, my very self,
Throughout the darkness of lingering night.

Amida grasps me, never to abandon:
He cares not my enormous karmic debt,
He only asks my full entrusting in Him,
And thus my destiny as a Buddha is set.

I worship and adore my Savior Amida,
The Light of my life from kalpas past;
Today I can say without any doubt
That my future as a Buddha is cast!

The Pure Land is a Realm of Peace
And a Land of everlasting Bliss;
For my Amida has made it so,
Thus His Holy Feet I gratefully kiss!

Namu Amida Butsu, the Name that Saves
Is my Refuge, now and forevermore;
The Buddha of Boundless Compassion
Is the Only One whom I adore!



V

True Entrusting

Amida Buddha by His loving Power
Draws good and evil to His Saving Vow:
Our karmic debt he has already paid
And to Him we deep in gratitude bow.

We but need accept His Loving Light
And put aside our nagging doubts and fears;
When singlemindedly we open our hearts
We'll have no further births in this realm of tears.

Buddhahood beckons as Amida calls
To join Him in His Land of Bliss Supreme;
And when we joyously respond in faith
Our lives of birth-and-death seem but a dream.

Yes, all our lives of bygone births are now
A dream, a drop of dew, a lightning flare;
Amida, holding us in His loving arms,
Removes all doubt, all fear, all lingering care.

Thus open up your hearts of doubt and fear:
Amida's Way is the path to truly trust!
Our sin and ignorance no bar to His Love,
Which saves us from our lives of wayward dust!

Infinite is Amida Buddha's Light
Extending to the edge of the cosmos vast;
His Limitless Wisdom and Boundless Compassion
Grasp you and me and all to the very last!



VI

Bodhi Day (December 8)

Peacefully awaiting Bodhi Day
My heart is joyful bringing this to mind!
This wondrous holiday reminds me that
Through Amida's Vow salvation did I find.

Shakyamuni Buddha, my Teacher great,
Yes, by His holy words did I discover
Amida's Dharma saving one and all
Despite what evil dross one's mind does cover.

Throughout my past births I wandered aimlessly
Returned to life to suffer untold pain
By the weight of my evil karma in samsara
Born to suffer yet again and again.

No longer in the cycle of birth and death,
I'm saved by Amida Buddha's Great Compassion
Embracing me, a bombu in this world,
No longer trapped in a self of blinding passion.

I rejoice to know that soon I'll cross the river
Beyond to the blessed Land of Peace and Bliss!
I sing a song of deepest gratitude
I'll never again wander in samsara amiss.

Thank You, Amida Buddha, for Your Gift
Of adamantine faith in this world of sorrow;
I'll soon awaken as a full-fledged Buddha
In Your Pure Land, years to come if not tomorrow.



VII

A Destiny Sublime

Though full of karmic sin,
Still I know I am freed
Through the Gift of Shinjin
And Other Power indeed.

Guaranteed by the Buddha
Is my birth in His Land
By my simple faith alone
Grasped by Amida's own Hand.

This world of sorrow
Overflowing with tears
Yesterday, now, tomorrow,
For endlessly long years.

Now I'm certain at last
Buddhahood I'll attain
The Way Easy and Fast
By my faith, simple and plain.

But let it be known
That my faith adamantine
Is not of my own doing,
T'is wondrously seen,

For Amida Nyorai
Grasps and holds me dear:
Not a single doubt have I
Nor a single fallen tear.

From Amida flows Shinjin
Not by effort of mine,
Soon my birth will begin
In His Pure Land sublime!


VIII

A Holy Loneliness: Five Tanka

Amida's Holy Name
pierces my loneliness
and lifts me
to moments of bliss
in this bombu body

Waiting
I long for the end
of suffering
in the Pure Land
where I'm going

Buddhahood
is the Great Promise
in the Great Vow,
my hope
and my consolation

I thank Amida
for this gift of Shinjin
and the knowledge
of my salvation
secured for me long ago

Namu Amida Butsu:
I take refuge
In Amida Buddha
My Lord and Master
and Blessed Savior!




IX

The Practice of Faith: Six Tanka

Frustrated
by hours of practice
not an exit
for the Buddha within
trapped in my heart

Dharma
a blessed refuge
from today's
relentless flailing
of distant karma

Having renounced
all practices and efforts
I listen
serenely to the Buddha's
sanctified Name

In the Pure Land
he'll sweep all dust from my eyes
the Buddha
knows my every fault
accepts me as I am

Peace and bliss
Is nirvana's release
From all
The pain of erstwhile lives
through Amida Buddha's Great Vow

His name
is Amida Buddha
His Vow
is Buddhahood for all
no barriers defeating.



X

Namu Amida Butsu - A Recitation


Namu Amida Butsu
My Sole Refuge

Namu Amida Butsu
My Heart Singing

Namu Amida Butsu
Gratitude Each Day

Namu Amida Butsu
My Salvation

Namu Amida Butsu
Buddhahood for Sure

Namu Amida Butsu
Alone True and Real

Namu Amida Butsu
Saving Other Power

Namu Amida Butsu
Great Compassion

Namu Amida Butsu
Comforting Light

Namu Amida Butsu
My True Destiny

Namu Amida Butsu
True Wonderment

Namu Amida Butsu
Inconceivable Wisdom


Namu Amida Butsu
Truth Revealed

Namu Amida Butsu
Becoming My True Nature

Namu Amida Butsu
Blessings Every Day

Namu Amida Butsu
Praised by All the Buddhas

Namu Amida Butsu
The Glorious Holy Name

Namu Amida Butsu
Penetrating the Darkness

Namu Amida Butsu
Everywhere Shining Light

Namu Amida Butsu
Buddhahood for All

Namu Amida Butsu
Peace and Bliss Assured

Namu Amida Butsu
The Name that Saves

Namu Amida Butsu
A Buddha for All Time

Namu Amida Butsu
Nothing Obstructs

Namu Amida Butsu
The Natural Life

Namu Amida Butsu
My True Parent

Namu Amida Butsu
Grasped and Never Abandoned

Namu Amida Butsu
Shinjin Is Everything

Namu Amida Butsu
Humbly Bowing

Namu Amida Butsu
Wisdom of Shinjin

Namu Amida Butsu
The Great Vow Fulfilled

Namu Amida Butsu
Words Cannot Express

Namu Amida Butsu
Listening Deeply

Namu Amida Butsu
Precious Dharma

Namu Amida Butsu
All Questions Answered

Namu Amida Butsu
All the Buddhas Praising

Namu Amida Butsu
Thank You, Amida Buddha!



XI

An Outpouring of Thanks

Gratitude is but
A three-syllable word
That expresses
Infinite syllables of Praise
And Worship of Amida Buddha!

I am amazed
Every day
At the wondrous Peace
Amida has brought
Into my bombu life.

Though I do not
Welcome death
As one addicted
To the pleasures
Of samsara,

I yearn nonetheless
For the Peace and Bliss
And release from suffering
That Amida Buddha
Will usher into my life

When the time comes
For me to make
That amazing transition
To the Pure Land
And to Buddhahood!

Thank You Amida Buddha,
Thank You for the Assurance
Of Enlightenment and Nirvana
Which You Have Secured
For Me and for One And All!

Namu Amida Butsu
Thank You Amida Buddha!
I Take Refuge
In Amida Buddha,
My Lord and Master and Savior!




XII

Amida Buddha Is Always With Me

Amida Buddha You are with me
Through all my suffering
I know You are there always:
I know You care for me
As parents do their children
You are my Oya-Sama!
You are my Refuge!
You are my Savior!

I know this bombu life
Will be over and done with
For all eternity
When I join You
By Your great Vow Power
In Your Land of Pace and Bliss
As a Buddha myself.

Dear Amida Buddha,
I cling to Master Shinran's words,
The Nembutsu alone is true and real.
I live a life of karmic delusion;
Only Your Great Light
Of Boundless Compassion
Will heal my karmic burden
In Your Land of Peace and Bliss!

Thank You Amida Buddha
For the Great Blessing
Of Settled Shinjin
And my assurance of rebirth
As a fully enlightened Buddha
In Your Pure Land
At this life's end!

Namu Amida Butsu



XIII

Amazed!

Such a karma-ridden being
as myself
The grantee of salvation
by Amida Buddha
So grateful, so grateful,
grateful beyond words!

I await that glorious day
when I'll be reborn
in the Land of Peace and Bliss
As a full-fledged Buddha
leading all whom I've ever known
to Buddhahood!

What a glorious dispensation!
Buddhahood
the end of all my longings
and frustrations
The beginning of true freedom!

Namu Amida Butsu
Thank You, Amida Buddha!



XIV

A Psalm of Praise and Thankfulness

Yea, Thou art always with me


O Great Amida Buddha


Your Light shines on my darkness


Giving me joy and hope

And the assurance of Your

Great Gift of Buddhahood


When I join You in Your

Blessed Land of Peace and Bliss!

For years I wandered

In the desert of delusion


In the hell of confusion


In the darkness of my obscurations, 


Unaware of Your ever-present


Guiding Light on my wayward


Path towards this Holy Gate.

You knew me before I was born,


O Great Amida Buddha, 


You had already saved me


From my burden of evil karma


Which I carried since


The inconceivable past


Of innumerable kalpas of birth-and-death.

I give thanks, O Amida Buddha, 


For Your gift of this Dharma,


For Your gift of the Sangha,


For leading this foolish bombu


Through the thicket of samsara


To sail on Your Great Ship of the Primal Vow


To the Promised Land of Nirvana.

I sit in wonderment


At how little I have deserved


Your Gift of Salvation, 


O my Glorious Savior Amida, 


Yet knowing that my very undeservedness


Is the Cause of my salvation


Through Your profound Vow Power.

Thank You, Amida Buddha! 


I Sing and Chant Your Holy Name!


I Worship Thee Night and Day, 


I Bow before Thy eternal Presence


I Rejoice in Your Boundless Compassion


Saving One and All by Your unobstructed


Light of Mercy and Light of Love


Filling the entire Cosmos below and above!

Namu Amida Butsu


Namu Amida Butsu


Namu Amida Butsu


Namu Amida Butsu


Namu Amida Butsu



XV

Amida Buddha's Great Gift

Amida Buddha has given me
A true mind of serenity;
A peace beyond description
Through His great Dharmic prescription!

Amida grants salvation
Regardless of race, creed or nation;
Good and evil, young and old
In His Loving Arms does he enfold.

A loving parent for sure,
Filled with salvific nurture
That lifts us out of the fire:
Never does Amida tire!

At my last breath I will go
To the Pure Land, this I know:
Amida invites one and all
To accept His Wondrous Call.

Yes, the Call offers great Shinjin,
To be held in His Merciful Arms,
To embrace the Buddha Within,
Set free from all karmic harms.

Amida Tathagata's Dharma
Removes all burdens of karma
By saving each suffering being
Through His Primal Vow redeeming.

The greatest Nyorai of all,
All Buddhas His Sacred Name call.
For in His Light of Salvation
We abide in grateful elation!


XVI

His Bright Light All-Reaching

Oh, what a great blessing it is to share,
Be it hither or yonder or anywhere,
The blessed teachings of Buddhahood
And how it is truly understood!

A friend in the Dharma is a true treasure,
A gift of the Buddha without measure:
Amida surrounds us with His Pure Light,
Ending the nightmare of endless night!

Let us rejoice from the depths of our hearts,
Accepted by Amida despite all our warts,
And given the promise of Buddhahood sure,
How wondrously wrought, His Merciful Cure!

Faith we don't come to create by our will:
Amida gives it to us, our heart-minds to fill,
Listening deeply to His compassionate teaching,
The legacy of His Bright Light All-Reaching!

Namu Amida Butsu
Thank You, Amida Buddha!



NAMU AMIDA BUTSU