Tao of Nembutsu
One could see why Shinran criticsism Taoism. Pure Land Buddhism and Taoism reflect each other. I feel Pure Land is moree to the point.
Tao means “way”or “path” and can also be found in Buddhist philosophies and religions other than Taoism. In Taoism, however, Taoisms essence is to gain immortality through obtaining eqaulity in harmony with the great ultimate.
In The Pure Lands case, The Tathagarba Sutra speaks about gaining Immortality. In Buddhism, Immortality is obtaianing Buddha. Buddha is eternatla niot beause the mortal loives forever, but the essence of Buddha Nature is etrnal in all humanity. Since Siddartha gained Buddha, he taught gaining Buddha happened to many begore him, and many will obtain Buddha (enlightenment) genreations after hius demse. The potential for obtaining Nirvana is in all humans through out humanity at all times in history or otherwsise.
The Amida Buddha is the personification on the equality of wisom and compassion with brings our Buddha Nature to fruition. This brings on qualities of peace and harmony in our minds.
In many ways Amida is the Great Ulimate.
Naturalness is Pure Land is Jinen Honi, is regarded as a central value in Taoism. It describes the “primordial state” of all things (Things as they are, as they truly exist) as well as a basic feature of the Tao, and is usually associated with spontaneity and obtainment. Pure Land Buddhist recite Namo Amida Buddha, but the real Nebutsu takes place when we obtain Amida Buddhas merit and spontainiously enter the Pure Land.
] To attain naturalness, one has to identify with the Tao; this involves freeing oneself from selfishness and desire, and attachents.
“original nature” is a statement used by both, is usually referred to as a state one returns to. Because our original being is Pure and undefiles.
One could look at the Amida Buddha, as having both qualities of parents, Oyasama is a Japanese word meaning both qualities, as Yin and Yang (male amd female.)
The Taoist Path and Pure Land Path: The Pure Land school opens the channel to attain salvation for those unliberated through the way of wisdom and compassion.Pure Land Buddhism is described as the Path of Serene Trust, interpreted as “faith,” and means that one has serene trust and confidence in the power and wisdom of Buddhas, or that one has the firm conviction that the Bodhisattva Vow made by all Buddhas, namely, to lead all sentient beings to Enlightenment, has been or will be fulfilled. Taoism also has faith, the Great Way is broad, Neither easy nor difficult. This essay is an effort to clarify Faith in Mind, a text of seminal importance. Taoism can be filled with magical practices at times, but the pure tao is about obtainment with out contrivences or special means, we obtain the path of enlightenment throuhj naturalness and means that are true and real. There are stutras that express sudden enlightenment after certain Karmic events that where inpontainious and natural events that happened with out the mind for enlightenment to happen. The causes and conditions where fulfilled for those events in the True Path.
