Kiyozawa Manshi speaks of the Tathagata, or "he who has thus come", or "the voice that calls." Not in the sense of "accept me or else" (as in certain Christian belief systems) but simply appearing, calling, in infinite ways. This according to the wider Mahayana understanding of upaya, or "convenient means".
Manshi writes:-
...the Tathāgata is for me infinite compassion.....the Tathāgata is for me infinite wisdom....the Tathāgata is for me infinite potentiality. Thus my faith consists in believing in the reality of infinite compassion, wisdom, and potentiality.
The rest here is not posted as any attempt at "oneupmanship". Nevertheless....
The passage comes from "River of Fire, River of Water" by Taitetsu Unno.
Great compassion awaits us with open arms. Namu-Amida-Butsu is the beckoning call, "Come, just as you are."
This openhearted welcome is quietly described by Koshin Ogui in an article carried in the Cleveland Buddhist Temple Newsletter. He relates an experience he once had of returning home from a trip. In his absence the answering machine had recorded four phone calls from the same person. The message was, "Jesus is the only saviour. Believe in him and you'll be saved. Love him and you'll be loved. Anyone who does not believe in him will go to hell." Ogui comments.....
What do you say about this message? I don't know why, but then I recalled meeting with my mother on my recent trip to Japan. I hadn't seen her for five years. As soon as I opened the door to the house where I was born, there she was standing right in front of me. She didn't say anything much, but she held my hand and with tears in her eyes, she said, "You came home." Isn't that nice, to be welcomed without any justification, whether I believe in her or not. I realize that I have always been living in her love. I am grateful. Namu-Amida-Butsu.
Namu-Amida-Butsu.
Thank you.
That is all.
