Shin Aphorism (6)
Zuiken's Sayings
Translated by Zuio H. Inagaki

"How wonderful are the Tathagata's words of truth!"

The Tathagata's words of truth are wonderful. They are the store of profound and abstruse teachings. We, ordinary persons, foolish and dark-minded, burdened with heavy karmic hindrances, have nothing to do but revere and uphold - accept them in faith.
The Tathagata is the Great Compassionate One, the One of Great Wisdom. The Power of his Vow of Great Compassion is inconceivable. This means that the working of Amida Buddha, the fully Enlightened One,is inconceivable. The Tathagata is the greatest store of merit; he is the ocean of Great Wisdom.
The Tathagata is our compassionate Father-and-Mother, and we are his children.
Shinran Shonin says in a hymn:

"Shakyamuni and Amida are our compassionate father and mother;
Providing various skillful means,
They lead us to awaken in us
The Faith, supreme and unparalleled."

Our compassionate Father-and-Mother, Amida, has realized the Great Enlightenment, in which the saved and the saving power are united in harmony and the two kinds of benefit - Amida's self-benefit and our benefit - are perfectly consummated. It is manifested as "Namo Amida Butsu." How inconceivable it is! How grateful I am! The Buddha's Mind isinconceivable, so is the Buddha's Vow-Power.
Faith is the Pure Faith, vast and without hindrance. The birth we will attain is the inconceivable Birth.

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