Bitter in The Mouth - Sweet in the Stomach

Fogueira: If I have understood correctly, even if I drop everything right now and think Shinran was onto something, and I believe his vow is going to “save” me, I’m not going to “become a Buddha” until “next time”.

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That is exactly what Buddha teaches in the Larger Sutra, when it comes to plain people like me, Fogueira.

In that same sutra he also teaches that there are beings who are capable of doing great practices with complete dedication - who can do what Shakyamuni did - and in this lifetime come to True Buddhahood - NIRVANA - the END of suffering at last.

I’m just not one of them.

I could no more do that than - say - become an NBA basketball player in this life. I’m just too short, too old, too fat and too much of a klutz.

You actually say it well in the tagline from your emails to me: “A man’s got to know his limitations”.

That statement actually sums up Part 2 of “The Easy Path to Buddhahood”, as taught by Shinran - which you can find here.

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Fogueira: That means I’m still stuck with this particular life and all its problems right now.

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What you and I and all of us are still stuck with is the endless SUFFERING of this particular life that is the inevitable product of our blind passion - our intractable egotism - our ineradicable ignorance.

Even though our primal nature is Buddhahood and even though we may have moments of pure pristine awareness of that nature, we’re all still stuck with our endless cravings and aversions.

It’s the SHIN UGLY truth, my friend - of your life as much as mine.

For many stuck in deep denial - including many sincere and well-intentioned Buddhists - that’s a VERY bitter pill to swallow. It was for me - until I finally swallowed it.

And then - miraculously - bitter in the mouth became sweet in the stomach, as true entrusting arose and gratitude emerged out of sorrow.

Best as ever -

Paul

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