"Hongaku Jodo"
translates as Original
Nature Pure Land...our Buddha Nature....our Pure Land. The temporal
concept of attainment is the Tendai doctrine of original enlightenment (Hongaku)
according to which all beings, because they possess Buddha-nature as
their innate reality, are inherently enlightened.
As Pure Land practitioners we therefore acknowledge the T'ien T'ai
historic bonds and the lineage tying us to the great Patriarch Chih-i
through the founder of the Compassionate Lotus Tradition in the U.S.A.,
Master Dokyo Chozen, and to its present leader and Haiku Master, Ven.
Tasogare Shinju. The Presiding Abbot of Hongkau Jodo Compassionate Lotus
is Ven. Taicho.
As Compassionate Lotus Pure Land practitioners, we follow the simple
teachings of Master Chozen who saw the potential in all paths for making
Dharma available to each person according to expedient means, and
turning away no one who wishes to grow in the knowledge of the Dharma.
Nor did he see any reason to belittle others for their beliefs. Indeed,
he taught that all previous preconceptions of other WAYS should be left
behind and the mind thrown open to Dharma, pure and simple, without
ourselves accidentally falling into the mind-trap of sectarianism.
Therefore, reaching out to all sentient beings, the Hongaku Jodo
Compassionate Lotus sangha is dedicated to Buddha's mission of
alleviating suffering by awakening to our Original Nature & by
experiencing "oneness" with the Source.
In Pure Land Buddhism, this concept of Source is referred to in Japanese
as Oya-sama, the all-inclusive PARENT from which all things arise, THAT
which is love and compassion. It is also known as "Thusness" or "Suchness".
Amida Buddha, the Buddha of Light (Amitabha) and of Life (Amitayus) is
the manifesting aspect of the Living Power, and is the universal
Form-giver.
To experience our oneness, the ALL, we practice and teach the Pure Land
meditation method known as the "Name Recitation" or "Nembutsu", the
chanting of the name "Amida", the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life.
This is a simple and straightforward way of calming the mind and
bringing about spiritual awakening. It is a method anyone can use at any
time, anyplace.
We affirm what Buddha taught: that there are 84,000 "dharma
gates"...many ways to awaken to our Original Nature. These dharma gates
are provided to serve the needs of many different people in diverse
circumstances. Buddha encouraged each of us to use those expedient means
which suit our own capacities, temperaments and needs.
Our Mission:
To awaken to our "oneness" - our Original Buddha Nature, and help others
who desire to awaken.
To serve people in our local communities, in prisons, and the grip of
the saha world by sharing the teachings of Pure Land & Compassionate
Lotus Buddhism in its universal forms without creating barriers.
To train others who wish to serve.
Calling yourself a Buddhist for any other reason than a devotion to
practice is like a fly whose feet are attached to flypaper but whose
wings continue to make lots of noise.
