The Jijang Bosal Book Club

The is the “Master” page for everything related to the “Jijang Bosal Book Club”. This reading/discussion group will meet twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays, starting at 7pm on March 14.

We will be reading and discussing four books related to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, known as Jijang Bosal to Korean Buddhists (and as Jizo in Japan and Dizang to Mandarin speakers).

禪者淨土之禪、淨土者禪之淨土 ([True] Chan is the Chan of the Pure Land, [True] Pure Land is the Pure Land of Chan)

禪 = chán
者 = zhě = “is defined as” (Used after a term, to mark a pause before defining the term)
淨土 = jìngtǔ = Pure Land
之 = zhī = possessive particle

Zhongfeng Mingben (中峰明本 1263-1323)
See: The Nianfo in Ōbaku Zen: A Look at the Teachings of the Three Founding Masters by James Baskind

“Paradise and Amita Buddha with his forty-eight vows really do exist”, Sosan Taesa

So we can see from all of this that the teachings can freely use
seemingly different expedient means and expressions to point to the
same universal substance. Only the words themselves have a
different appearance and meaning, yet the point they communicate
is the same. For one whose insight is in accord with his actions, it is
possible to see through what is said to be “near” or “far.” This is why
our tradition can embrace both ways of practice: calling out to Amita
Buddha, like Hui-yuan, and looking directly into true nature, like
Jui-yen.

A good friend at the end of life

When such a foolish person is dying, he encounters a good teacher and gives him all kinds of comfort, in order to teach the wonderful Dharma and instruct him to recite the Buddha . The good friend said, “If you can’t recite that Buddha, you should be called the Buddha of Infinite Life.” With such a sincere heart, he keeps his voice incessant recitations , he is called Namo Amitabha. Because of the name of the Buddha, in the thought of it, the sin of birth and death for eight billion kalpas is removed.