Will you be saved just by chanting "Namu Amida Butsu"? The "Mystery of Vows" and "Mystery of the Name" [Illustrated Tannisho: So Interesting You'll Lose Sleep]
//Summary - Level-B2//
In Pure Land Buddhism, chanting "Namu Amida Butsu" expresses faith in Amida Buddha's vow to save all beings. Some people question whether they believe in the Buddha's promise or in the power of the chant itself. However, these are not separate things. The "wonder of the vow" and the "wonder of the name" both represent Amida's power to save. Even those who don't fully understand or believe can still reach the Pure Land by chanting. According to Shinran, salvation comes through Amida's vow—not personal effort—but through the power of Amida Buddha alone.
1)
Believing in Amida Buddha and chanting Nembutsu:
Amida Buddha promises to save us if we chant the words "Namu Amida Butsu". Some people then wondered, "Do I believe in Amida Buddha's promise?" or "Do I believe in the power of the words of Namu Amida Butsu?"
Article 11 states that individuals who have such thoughts should exercise caution. Firstly, the Amida Buddha promises to save us through the practice of Nembutsu.
2)
And so they came up with the easy-to-chant name, "Namu Amida Butsu". Therefore, there is no need to think of "Amida Buddha's promise" and "the power of the words of Namu Amida Butsu" as separate things. Both are the same "power of Amida Buddha's salvation".
The "promise of Amida Buddha" is the mysterious power contained in Amida Buddha's vow, which transcends human understanding, that is, the "wonder of the vow," and the "power of the words" of Namu Amida Butsu is the mysterious power contained in "Namu Amida Butsu," that is, the "wonder of the name."
If there is someone who thinks of the "wonder of the vow" and the "wonder of the name" separately, that person will feel that they will go to the Pure Land by their own power, and will not believe in Amida Buddha.
3)
However, even people who think like this can go to the "wonder of the name," that is, as long as they chant the "wonder of the name," that is, the Nembutsu, they will be able to go to an incomplete Pure Land and then be reborn in the true Pure Land through Amida Buddha's "vow of accomplishment" (final wish), which is his salvation.
This is due to the "wonder of the vow," so "the wonder of the vow and the wonder of the name are the same thing."
4)
The "wonder of the vow" and the "wonder of the name" are the same thing, so there is no need to think of them separately!
Shinran considers the "wonder of the vow" and the "wonder of the name" to be the same thing.
In other words, this concept involves attaining rebirth in the Pure Land through the power of others.
Even those who do not believe in the power of Amida Buddha can be led to the true Pure Land through the "vow for achievement."
Will you be saved just by chanting "Namu Amida Butsu"? The "Mystery of Vows" and "Mystery of the Name" [Illustrated Tannisho: So Interesting You'll Lose Sleep]
https://love-spo.com/article/z_tannisyo-017/#goog_rewarded
