Kosho Uchiyama: The Heart of Nembutsu

The following is a poem written by Kosho Uchiyama, the great 20th century teacher of Soto Zen. Uchiyama Roshi was a great exponent and practitioner of Dogen Zen as taught by Kodo Sawaki, his teacher. The poem comes from his a collection of his writings about his teacher’s way, The Zen of Homeless Kodo.

Despite his grounding in Dogen and Soto Zen, Uchiyama Roshi also appreciated Shin (Pure Land) Buddhism and Christianity and spoke on them in his dharma talks and poetry. The “Nembutsu” is the mantra Namu Amida Butsu, “Homage to Amitabha Buddha’, a Buddha Shin practitioners believe to have vowed to save all who chant his name. Many Zen practitioners interpret Shin practice symbolically, as did Uchiyama. Uchiyama translated the Nembutsu as ” I practice (butsu) returning (namu) to the totality of heaven and earth (amida)”:

The Heart of Nembutsu

I eat food from the whole heaven and earth
I drink water from the whole heaven and earth
I live the life of the whole heaven and earth
Pulled by the gravity of the whole heaven and earth
I become pure and clear, one with the whole heaven and earth
The whole heaven and earth is where I return