Threefold Devotional Heart?

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greenobeeno
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Threefold Devotional Heart?

Post by greenobeeno »

Hey again all,

I figured with this one a new topic may be best. The Threefold Devotional Heart/Mind is referenced by Honen Shonin many times but some things regarding it escape me:

What is the relationship between the threefold heart and Pure Land Birth, is it necessary for the birth?

Honen makes clear that nembutsu recitation leads to the threefold heart but does that mean the nembutsu is the threefold heart?

Can the threefold heart be weak or strong, as in how Honen makes clear a single nembutsu said in earnestness sets one irreversibly towards the Pure Land in the next life therefore a weak threefold heart must be present in that case?

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated,

James
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明安 Myoan
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Re: Threefold Devotional Heart?

Post by 明安 Myoan »

Honen Shonin, Instruction to a Lady wrote:Put succinctly, the Three-fold Devotional Heart is nothing more than just the earnest desire for birth in the Pure Land. The wish for birth in the Pure Land, truthfully and without pretension, is called the "Genuine Heart."

The purity of this heart, which bears no doubt even for a moment that the vocal Nembutsu leads to Buddha Amitabha to come to welcome one at the time of death, is called the "Profound Heart."

One's desire to be born in that Pure Land and to transfer one's accumulated merits of practice and wholesome deeds for Ojo (birth in the Pure Land) are called the "Heart Aspiring Ojo through the Transference of Merit."

In short, if one wishes for birth in the Pure Land with purity of heart, one will by nature embody the Three-fold Devotional Heart.
Honen Shonin, Dialogue on Ten Issues at Todai-ji Temple wrote:Q.(3): Is birth in the Pure Land always certain for the nembutsu practitioner who possesses the threefold devotional heart?

Answer: Birth in the Pure Land is possible without exception. There are two types of the threefold devotional heart: the threefold devotional heart that encompasses wisdom and the threefold devotional heart that encompasses practice.

The threefold devotional heart that encompasses wisdom means thus: It is hard for those who have studied in Buddhist schools other than the Jodo school to believe in the teaching of attaining birth in the Pure Land through nembutsu. Therefore, in order to understand the nembutsu teaching, they need to refer to Pure Land texts, interpret their meaning, and gradually develop faith in nembutsu.

Regarding the threefold devotional heart that encompasses practice, it is the genuine heart if one totally relies on Amida Buddha; it is the profound heart if one has no doubt about attaining birth in the Pure Land: and it is the heart that seeks birth in the Pure Land through the dedication of merit if one sincerely desires birth in the Pure Land. Therefore, the threefold devotional heart with practice points to devotion in the recitation of nembutsu, unshakable faith, and aspiration for birth in the Pure Land.

Both the five aspects of meditation and the four modes of exercise will be naturally embodied with the nembutsu practitioners.
Namu Amida Butsu
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greenobeeno
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Re: Threefold Devotional Heart?

Post by greenobeeno »

This has answered everything so perfectly! Thank you! :anjali:
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FiveSkandhas
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Re: Threefold Devotional Heart?

Post by FiveSkandhas »

On the one hand, in some of his writings, Honen explicated in some detail the nature and significance of the three aspects that comprise the Threefold Heart. However, in A Reply to Taro Sanhide in Ogo, he states:
It is essential that the concept of the threefold devotional heart be understood in this [somewhat detailed] manner, but that does not mean it is beyond your grasp. One who does not know the name of the threefold devotional heart is still able to possess this heart. Conversely, one who has a thorough understanding of the threefold devotional heart may not necessarily embody it without difficulty.
It seems Honen differentiates between understanding the heart and embodying it.

To my mind, it's a bit as though some of his more detailed writings that are based in the doctrines if Shan Tao and the like resemble a technical manual for a cardiologist, say...but this does not mean one has to have knowledge of such details to have a healthy, functioning heart. One can "embody" it without "understanding" it, and vice versa. And clearly the former is more vital for actual salvation.

How then does one more simply "embody" the threefold devotional heart? In his Single-Sheet Covenant (Ichimakishomon), he states:
The nembutsu I preach is not meditation as taught by the learned men of China and Japan; neither is it recitation through scholarly endeavors to master its profound meanings. To attain birth in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss of Amida Buddha requires nothing but implicit faith that mere recitation of Namu Amida Butsu ensures attainment of birth in the Pure Land. The teachings of the threefold devotional heart and the four modes of exercise are encompassed by the firm belief that birth in the Pure Land is assured by the recitation of Namu Amida Butsu.
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi

"Just be kind." -Atisha
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Konchog Thogme Jampa
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Re: Threefold Devotional Heart?

Post by Konchog Thogme Jampa »

明安 Myoan wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:51 am
Honen Shonin, Instruction to a Lady wrote:Put succinctly, the Three-fold Devotional Heart is nothing more than just the earnest desire for birth in the Pure Land. The wish for birth in the Pure Land, truthfully and without pretension, is called the "Genuine Heart."

The purity of this heart, which bears no doubt even for a moment that the vocal Nembutsu leads to Buddha Amitabha to come to welcome one at the time of death, is called the "Profound Heart."

One's desire to be born in that Pure Land and to transfer one's accumulated merits of practice and wholesome deeds for Ojo (birth in the Pure Land) are called the "Heart Aspiring Ojo through the Transference of Merit."

In short, if one wishes for birth in the Pure Land with purity of heart, one will by nature embody the Three-fold Devotional Heart.
Honen Shonin, Dialogue on Ten Issues at Todai-ji Temple wrote:Q.(3): Is birth in the Pure Land always certain for the nembutsu practitioner who possesses the threefold devotional heart?

Answer: Birth in the Pure Land is possible without exception. There are two types of the threefold devotional heart: the threefold devotional heart that encompasses wisdom and the threefold devotional heart that encompasses practice.

The threefold devotional heart that encompasses wisdom means thus: It is hard for those who have studied in Buddhist schools other than the Jodo school to believe in the teaching of attaining birth in the Pure Land through nembutsu. Therefore, in order to understand the nembutsu teaching, they need to refer to Pure Land texts, interpret their meaning, and gradually develop faith in nembutsu.

Regarding the threefold devotional heart that encompasses practice, it is the genuine heart if one totally relies on Amida Buddha; it is the profound heart if one has no doubt about attaining birth in the Pure Land: and it is the heart that seeks birth in the Pure Land through the dedication of merit if one sincerely desires birth in the Pure Land. Therefore, the threefold devotional heart with practice points to devotion in the recitation of nembutsu, unshakable faith, and aspiration for birth in the Pure Land.

Both the five aspects of meditation and the four modes of exercise will be naturally embodied with the nembutsu practitioners.
:good:
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