Before Shinran, to repeat Amida Buddha's name was a kind of practice to be saved by Amida Buddha. So if you wanted to be saved by him sooner you should repeat it many, many times. That was the idea of repeating Amida Buddha's name. But according to Shinran, because we are originally saved by Amida Buddha, even if you say it just once that is enough [laughs]. If you are aware of your true nature, that is enough. -------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-07-21 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC
