Shin and "Bhakti Devotion"?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:29 pm
Wiki states that Bhakti Devotion: "...in Hinduism and Buddhism is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine"
I am curious as to why Jodo Shinshu seems to have no Amida devotion in the bhakti sense - other than, of course, the nembutsu itself. Considering all that Amida has done, continues to do, and will do in the future, for us ... it amazes me that there seems to be no such devotion in Shin. There seems to be nothing in Shin like the gods-devotion in Hinduism, or the "Sacred Heart"-type of devotion found in Catholicism. I realize, of course, that Amida is not a creator or an intervener or even a god. But he is in many of his roles the functional equivalent of a loving deity. So it puzzles me that Shin practicers do not relate to Amida as - say - evangelical Christians or devout Catholics relate to Jesus. I have read some lovely poetry addressed in gratitude to Amida, but - apparently in line with Shin's claim that Amida is not a god - such devotion as appears in poetry and prayers still maintains a devotional restraint and reserve appropriate to people of Shinjin who eschew Amida's divinity, as opposed to people of god-or-Jesus devotionm who espouse their gods' full deity.
So I'm interested in any ideas on why, granted Amida's ultimacy in the life of Shin folk, practicers' gratitude never seems to have slipped over the line from nembutsu-thankfulness to full-blown "deistic-type" heart-devotion.
As usual, thanks in advance for any opinions
I am curious as to why Jodo Shinshu seems to have no Amida devotion in the bhakti sense - other than, of course, the nembutsu itself. Considering all that Amida has done, continues to do, and will do in the future, for us ... it amazes me that there seems to be no such devotion in Shin. There seems to be nothing in Shin like the gods-devotion in Hinduism, or the "Sacred Heart"-type of devotion found in Catholicism. I realize, of course, that Amida is not a creator or an intervener or even a god. But he is in many of his roles the functional equivalent of a loving deity. So it puzzles me that Shin practicers do not relate to Amida as - say - evangelical Christians or devout Catholics relate to Jesus. I have read some lovely poetry addressed in gratitude to Amida, but - apparently in line with Shin's claim that Amida is not a god - such devotion as appears in poetry and prayers still maintains a devotional restraint and reserve appropriate to people of Shinjin who eschew Amida's divinity, as opposed to people of god-or-Jesus devotionm who espouse their gods' full deity.
So I'm interested in any ideas on why, granted Amida's ultimacy in the life of Shin folk, practicers' gratitude never seems to have slipped over the line from nembutsu-thankfulness to full-blown "deistic-type" heart-devotion.
As usual, thanks in advance for any opinions