As Shinran Shonin’s awareness of his ki (karmic existence) grew deeper and more profound, he came to see that, of the twelve different kinds of light that are the attributes of Amida Buddha, that of Unimpeded Light was by far the most important and virtuous.
Although, not only in the Larger Sutra of Eternal Life but also in the Shoshinge, the last of these different kinds of light is referred to as “the Light that Surpasses both Sun and Moon”, Shinran Shonin himself declares in one of his letters in the Goshosokushu or Collection of Letters (御消息集), “Ultimately, the vital importance of Amida being called the Buddha of Unimpeded Light is something that all of you must comprehend. Please realise that he is called the Buddha of Unimpeded Light in order to show that it is he who saves us, all sentient beings, unimpeded by our wretched and impure state.”
Because Shinran Shonin’s awareness of his own karma was so deep, the transition from the visible image – “Light that Surpasses the Sun and the Moon” – to the notion of inner illumination – “ Unimpeded Light” – was inevitable.
Unimpeded Light is none other than the fundamental wisdom that enabled Shinran Shonin to receive “the nembutsu of wisdom” from Honen Shonin.
One who has become a true disciple of the Buddha shall surely behold the darkness of the three times (past, present and future) as already broken through. The nembutsu of wisdom opens up our future.
Humbly and respectfully
Chimyo Takehara
聖人の機受が深くなられるに従って、十二光の中で「無碍光」が最も重要な阿弥陀様の光明の徳を顕す名とされるようになりました。
『大無量寿経』の順序と同じく「正信偈」でも十二光佛の最後は「超日月光」となっていますが、聖人は『御消息集』において、
「詮ずるところは、無碍光佛とまふしまいらせさふらふことを本とさせたまふべくさふらふ。
無碍光佛は、よろづのものの、あさましきわるきことに、さはりなくたすけさせたまはん料に、無碍光佛とまふすとしらせたまふべくさふらふ」と仰っておられます。
聖人の宿業感の深さが、可視的な「超日月光」から、内奥から照破する「無碍光」にならざるを得なかったのです。
この「無碍光」こそが、智慧であり、聖人をして「智慧の念佛」を上人から給わられた根底です。
真の佛弟子となった者は、必ず三世の闇が晴れます。智慧の念佛が、未来を開きます。