Buddhism

I practice shikantaza and nembutsu, and throughout the day, I mentally recite in my mind whenever I remember it. I’ve found that these two practices are complementary, which is also a widely practiced combination in mainland Buddhism. Nembutsu plays a role in connecting with the Pure Land of Amitabha and my own Buddha Nature at the same time. Shikantaza, on the other hand, embodies realization itself and, in a more Chan/Zen sense, the here and now Satori (practice of no-practice).

You may wonder why I practice both the Pure Land and Chan. The answer is that Chan points to our inherent nature, but it doesn’t mean that after truly realizing emptiness we instantly attain the same level of enlightenment as a fully realized Buddha, not even higher grades Bodhisattvas. Therefore, for me, the Pure Land serves as a kind of assurance for continuing my practice even after this body dissolves.