The cook said, “The study of written words is to understand the purpose of written words. Exertion in pursuit of the way requires an affirmation of the purpose of pursuing the way.” I asked him, “What are written words?” The cook answered, “One, two, three, four, five.” I also asked, “What is pursuit of the way?” He said, “In the whole world, it can never be hidden.”

Okumura is consistently clear, calming, and insightful. I also appreciated his portrayal of Buddha’s compassionate light and wisdom illuminating us, a form of “other power” frequently discussed in Pure Land schools, yet no school is strictly other or self power, because there is no self or other to start with 🙏🏼

Giant statue representing Amitabha Buddha, placed in Kamakura