why i say the nembutsu...

[Zenshin 善心]

i don't say the nembutsu for my birth in the Pure Land
that was already accomplished by Dharmakara Bodhisattva aeons ago

i say the nembutsu because some people infuriate me
i say the nembutsu because i lose my temper about petty shit
i say the nembutsu because i use people
i say the nembutsu because i hurt the ones i love

(and love discriminately)

i say the nembutsu because i cling to what does not last
i say the nembutsu because i always want more of what i do not have
i say the nembutsu because i am ignorant
i say the nembutsu because i believe it is me saying the nembutsu

i say the nembutsu because i lie to others and myself
i say the nembutsu because i pretend to be humble
i say the nembutsu because i am arrogant
i say the nembutsu because i am full of pride

i say the nembutsu because i am not a bridge
i say the nembutsu because i am not a raft
i say the nembutsu because i am not Santideva
i say the nembutsu because i am not a bodhisattva

i say the nembutsu because i am human all too human
with all the frak up contradictions, inadequacies and blind passions which ensue
and because i am loved and held in spite of myself

i say the nembutsu

namandabu
namandabu
namandabu

[plwk]

who is saying the nembutsu...

[steveb1]

dumbbombu:

Excellent prose-poem on why you say the nembutsu

[DGA]

excellent!

[Rakz]

[jikai]

Very nicely done

[Shutoku]

Your post prompts uttering the nembutsu for me!

[Admin_PC]

i don't say the nembutsu for my birth in the Pure Land
that was already accomplished by Dharmakara Bodhisattva aeons ago

i say the nembutsu because some people infuriate me
i say the nembutsu because i lose my temper about petty shit
i say the nembutsu because i use people
i say the nembutsu because i hurt the ones i love

(and love discriminately)

i say the nembutsu because i cling to what does not last
i say the nembutsu because i always want more of what i do not have
i say the nembutsu because i am ignorant
i say the nembutsu because i believe it is me saying the nembutsu

i say the nembutsu because i lie to others and myself
i say the nembutsu because i pretend to be humble
i say the nembutsu because i am arrogant
i say the nembutsu because i am full of pride

i say the nembutsu because i am not a bridge
i say the nembutsu because i am not a raft
i say the nembutsu because i am not Santideva
i say the nembutsu because i am not a bodhisattva

i say the nembutsu because i am human all too human
with all the frak up contradictions, inadequacies and blind passions which ensue
and because i am loved and held in spite of myself

i say the nembutsu

namandabu
namandabu
namandabu

Stumbled on this today and it hits very close to home...
Thought it deserved a necro-posting.

[steveb1]

Yes, it is lovely, heartfelt, and true.

[Rakz]

love it, no BS

[Osho]

Thanks for re-posting.
Most excellent.

[DiamondSutra]

Really wonderful.

[Jainarayan]

Nice! I think I should recite this when offering at my shrine, as well as other times, of course. If this doesn't engender mindfulness, I don't think anything will.

[myoshin]

I love this poem, it brought tears to my eyes and reminded of all my self-power concerns and not the unconditional love and compassion of the Buddha of Improbable Light, Thank you. I am going to share this at our next Dharma Gathering.

[Fortyeightvows]

I just read that like a dozen times. Awesome!